Ted sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Fred, Ned, and Ed are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ted's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"gift of God"
"young warrior"
"lord, master (via Kyrie element)"
"fertile valley dweller"
"son of Thomas, son of the twin"
"clever, astute"
"hill, headland, enclosure"
"visitor, pilgrim"
"son of Jan (John)"
"brave ruler"
"friend, darling"
"jay bird + Latin -ian suffix"
"hill"
"little fire (interpretive)"
"to conquer"
"free man"
"beloved, darling"
"connected to healing arts"
"steep rock face by a crossing"
"thunder"
"enlightened, strong"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ted — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ted.
Rhythm: Ted is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.