Carmen sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Karma, Carmel, and Carmine 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"
"divine grace, blessing"
"defender of people"
"little ruler, impulsive one"
"favored by Yahweh"
"strong, noble, high"
"defender of men (from Alexandra)"
"rule, sovereignty"
"lily flower"
"noble kind, of noble birth"
"from Latin papaver (poppy plant)"
"clear (as in clear skies)"
"noble, nobility"
"storm demon, wind spirit"
"dawn, rising light"
"bent river or stream"
"ruler of the household"
"from the River Severn (Sabrina Fluvius)"
"from Laurentum, the laurel city"
"crown, garland"
"supplanter, one who grasps the heel"
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.