Zai sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Zay, Sai, and Kai are the closest matches by sound. Most share Zai's Chinese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"to be, to exist, present"
"descendant of Bradan (salmon)"
"stammering"
"God is gracious"
"hollow"
"modern invented name variant"
"spear ruler"
"right-handed, skillful"
"one from the sea"
"white man, fair-haired man"
"that which is about to arrive"
"wide, vast"
"dweller at the broad woodland clearing"
"modern coined name"
"green gemstone"
"the cleansing one, the rinser"
"faith, religion"
"my God is Yahweh"
"blind one (folk etymology)"
"doctor, healer"
"acquired, possession"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Zai — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Chinese (在) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Zai.
Rhythm: Zai is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.