Wali sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Wally, Vali, and Wale are the closest matches by sound. Most share Wali's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"guardian, protector"
"son, child"
"new house"
"geographic name (Rakai District, Uganda)"
"God is gracious, he will live"
"small piece of iron"
"announcement, proclamation"
"born of light"
"enduring, strong"
"rest, comfort"
"glory of Rome"
"immense, vast, magnificent"
"to grow, increase"
"gates of paradise, lush"
"beauty, grace"
"piety, devoutness"
"lion"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Wali — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Wali.
Rhythm: Wali is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.