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"
"rope dancer, acrobat"
"red-haired, from the russet one"
"speckled, variegated"
"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"
"free ruler, powerful peace"
"bright day, day's light"
"intelligent, wise"
"village by the street"
"sky father, father of gods"
"place name: from Kelton"
"Ruler of the army"
"born from the ocean, son of the sea"
"keeper of enclosed parkland"
"glorious ruler"
"enlightened rice (kanji: 悟飯)"
"praised by God (theophoric construction)"
"creative combination name"
"safe and sound"
"joy, music (original Old English meaning)"
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.