Carey sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Cary, Kerry, and Carrie are the closest matches by sound. Most share Carey's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"dark, black"
"twin"
"fire of God"
"serious, sincere, determined"
"son of the pearl (via Margaret's meaning)"
"of the sea, the pool"
"descendant of Bradach (spirited one)"
"beloved one"
"my help, my helper"
"thankful, God has heard"
"diminutive of Nicholas"
"black, swarthy"
"enduring, steadfast"
"military rank above captain"
"Roman clan name Horatius (origin uncertain)"
"spear ruler"
"venerable, revered"
"the third (in family lineage)"
"servant of God"
"caiman, crocodilian reptile"
"firebrand, bold warrior"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Carey — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Irish (ciar) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Carey.
Rhythm: Carey is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.