Tai sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Ty, Kai, and Thai are the closest matches by sound. Most share Tai's Chinese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"great, supreme, exalted"
"from the swampy land"
"shining, brilliant"
"chess castle piece"
"narrow strait, slender (via Kyle)"
"nobleman, earl"
"blessed one"
"prince, leader (from -mir)"
"settlement by a church, church village"
"God saves"
"Romantically associated with the poet Lord Byron meaning noble and ..."
"God heals, God supports"
"defender, protector, warrior"
"joy, music (original Old English meaning)"
"of Shawn (Da prefix intensifier)"
"belonging to the Tiber (sacred river of Rome)"
"little fire"
"Dack's settlement"
"God is my justice"
"flourishing, long-lived"
"swift warrior"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Tai — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Chinese origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Tai.
Rhythm: Tai is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.