Zay sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Zane, Ray, and Jay are the closest matches by sound. Most share Zay's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"light, radiance"
"son of Thomas, son of the twin"
"who is like God?"
"one who resembles God"
"the strong one"
"God is gracious"
"earthworker (as short for George)"
"increasing, growing, abundance"
"gentle breeze, fresh air"
"morning star (Venus before sunrise)"
"God is gracious"
"man of the forest"
"small"
"increase, wisteria"
"adult male deer, stag"
"hill"
"elm grove"
"servant of God"
"rule, standard"
"oak trees, oak grove"
"son of William"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Zay — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Zay.
Rhythm: Zay is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.