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"
"strength (mari component)"
"upright, righteous"
"God will uplift"
"rock, stone"
"great tide"
"from the wooded hollow"
"journey, voyage"
"the sky, abode of God"
"greatest"
"keeper of grain, granary worker"
"son of Owen, young warrior"
"having supreme power"
"from Chester, the walled city"
"noble watchman"
"gift of God (via Zane/Zayn root)"
"gift"
"caiman, crocodilian reptile"
"one who soars to great heights"
"strong, powerful"
"hospitality toward strangers"
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.