Arlen sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Harlan, Marlon, and Darren are the closest matches by sound. Most share Arlen's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"pledge, oath"
"wooded land"
"crooked hill; bent (cam) nose (sron)"
"pebbly place, bald clearing"
"place of lime trees"
"huckleberry berry plant"
"occupational surname for cellar manager"
"son of Otto, helpful"
"beauty, ornament"
"army guard, protecting warrior"
"the brave ones, the warriors"
"crew, team, group"
"admirable, hawk-like"
"raven, crow"
"noble lord, feudal warrior"
"modern invented name"
"peaceful ruler"
"warrior, battle"
"steep hill meadow"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Arlen — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Irish Gaelic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Arlen.
Rhythm: Arlen is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.