Cavan sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Gavin, Calvin, and Kevin are the closest matches by sound. Most share Cavan's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"little gentle one (variant of Kevin)"
"craftsman, skilled maker"
"cutting edge of a sword or tool"
"red-haired, auburn-haired"
"mountain of strength, exalted"
"valley, dell"
"the art of the Magi (Persian wise men)"
"the great beast, tiger"
"defender of men"
"divine wonder"
"manly, masculine (as variant of Drew/Andrew)"
"short form of James, via Jacob from Ya'aqov"
"noble, distinguished"
"manly beauty, sun god"
"black, dark; time"
"from the hare's den"
"ocean, sea (from Kai)"
"dwellers in wooded hills"
"the realization that every stranger has a full and vivid life"
"Brad's farm or town"
"small fort"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Cavan — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Irish Gaelic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Cavan.
Rhythm: Cavan is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.