Yanky sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Yankee, Yankel, and Yank are the closest matches by sound. Most share Yanky's Hebrew-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"he who supplants, heel-grabber"
"flint, thorn bush"
"one who strides, ranger, wanderer"
"Yahweh has shown favor"
"from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation"
"peaceful"
"jovial, full of good cheer"
"vigilant in battle (from Casey/Cathasach root)"
"of the gods"
"leader, commander, chief"
"founder, first king"
"hero, valiant"
"heir, inheritor"
"son of the gray-haired one"
"settlement of Holston, holly stone homestead"
"from Arcy (place name)"
"forest, wood, timber"
"God has helped"
"asked of God, prayed for"
"army man, warrior"
"fighter, battle"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Yanky — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Yanky.
Rhythm: Yanky is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.