Darlene sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Darleen, Darlene, and Marlene are the closest matches by sound. Most share Darlene's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"beloved darling"
"shining, pale"
"initials: various combinations (Andrew Charles, Anthony Cole, etc.)"
"to throw overboard, to cast away"
"rejoice, happy"
"The lord is high"
"farm by the fen"
"one who farms the land"
"divinely favored"
"weapon, mace bearer"
"Dealer in cloth and fabrics, cloth merchant"
"hawk-like; stately"
"undulating; like a wave"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Darlene — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English via American creation origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Darlene.
Rhythm: Darlene is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.