Yan sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Ian, Jan, and Dan are the closest matches by sound. Most share Yan's Chinese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"God is gracious"
"pure, obedient"
"may God protect the king"
"defender, helper of mankind"
"God-like, comparable to God"
"gift of God"
"deer, stag"
"proclaimer of peace"
"associated with Vladimir Lenin, revolutionary leader"
"hollow"
"sun"
"lord, master"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Yan — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Yan.
Rhythm: Yan is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.