Desmond sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Raymond, Edmund, and Hammond are the closest matches by sound. Most share Desmond's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"man from South Munster"
"protector of people"
"befitting a king"
"one who lives near a riverbank"
"Finnish person, Norseman"
"hunter"
"dweller in the wild, untamed land"
"he has heard, God has heard"
"rising in the sky, boundary"
"young creature, cub"
"descendant of Grádaigh"
"man of laurels, from Laurentum"
"steadfast defender"
"man, the light"
"rye clearing"
"fair-haired hero; white warrior"
"victory of the people"
"pledge of peace"
"dispenser of provisions, household steward"
"valley settlement"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Desmond — 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 Desmond.
Rhythm: Desmond is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.