Sonny sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Sunny, Honey, and Bonnie are the closest matches by sound. Most share Sonny's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright one, term of endearment"
"royal woodland clearing"
"supplanter, one who follows"
"illustrious, shining"
"modern invented name"
"ascent, rising"
"combination of Shay (Irish) and lee (meadow)"
"lily (pure, white flower)"
"slender and fair"
"bright, clear, famous"
"friend, ally"
"clear ice, rock crystal"
"rose meadow"
"son of the fair champion"
"precious, dear one (variant interpretation)"
"from the Wylye River"
"holy (folk association)"
"queen of the gods"
"victory of the people"
"star-shaped flower"
"rival, industrious"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Sonny — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Sonny.
Rhythm: Sonny is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.