Carmen sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Carmine, Damien, and Roman are the closest matches by sound. Most share Carmen's Spanish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"song, poem"
"man from Sebastia"
"flower (disputed folk etymology)"
"bright warrior, famous warrior"
"God's salvation"
"one who serves"
"divine strength"
"love"
"liberator of men"
"born on Sunday"
"wise ruler, counsel power"
"castle, new home"
"farmer, earth-worker"
"traveler, one who returns home"
"diminutive of Manuel"
"gift of Isis"
"gracious, honorable"
"courteous, polite"
"consecrated, set apart"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Carmen — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Latin origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Carmen.
Rhythm: Carmen is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.