Dolly sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Molly, Polly, and Goldie are the closest matches by sound. Most share Dolly's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"gift of God (via Dorothy)"
"beloved, wished-for child"
"bright, shining one"
"date palm tree"
"soft, tender"
"brilliant, radiant, luminous"
"illusion"
"a falling, a flowing"
"smiley, cheerful one"
"Christmas, born at Christmas"
"new, star-like"
"wide island"
"most beautiful"
"dark-complexioned"
"sunny, full of sunshine"
"blissful, from Elysium"
"land of Amerigo Vespucci"
"blind, heaven's gate"
"from the ash tree farm"
"gentle horse"
"alive, living, lively"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Dolly — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Dolly.
Rhythm: Dolly is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.