Carlton sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Charlotte, Carleton, and Carlton are the closest matches by sound. Most share Carlton's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"Carl's town, farmer's settlement"
"little brown one"
"Princess"
"reborn"
"from the western town or settlement"
"deep sleep"
"mistress, lady of the house"
"follower of Christ"
"island of the bear (from Old Norse place name)"
"Strength of power; hardy and brave"
"linden tree valley"
"little rock, wise protector"
"violet flower, purple color"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Carlton — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Carlton.
Rhythm: Carlton is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.