Woodley sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Bradley, Hadley, and Bentley are the closest matches by sound. Most share Woodley's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"woodland clearing"
"lord, ruler"
"word, principle"
"nobleman, patrician (via Patrick)"
"modern nature compound name"
"black, swarthy"
"zero, the concept of nothing"
"holly tree"
"spear ruler"
"pure, clear"
"the sky, abode of God"
"thankful, God has heard"
"royal clearing"
"slender, narrow"
"Yahweh has treasured"
"overcoming, prevailing"
"greatest conqueror"
"peaceful will"
"helpful, from Cody's Irish root"
"first light"
"bright mind, shining spirit"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Woodley — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Woodley.
Rhythm: Woodley is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.