Hershel sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Herschel, Hershell, and Marshall are the closest matches by sound. Most share Hershel's Yiddish (from German Hirsch)-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"deer, little deer"
"short form of Trevor meaning large homestead"
"skilled craftsman with cutting tools"
"the Lord is my God"
"success, triumph (from Arabic Najah)"
"little raven"
"peak, summit, apex"
"son of Hans (John)"
"American creative variation"
"visitor, pilgrim"
"one of a kind, without equal"
"oracle, dark-complexioned"
"son of grace; graceful"
"improvement, change for the better"
"champion"
"God is gracious"
"hollow, small cavity"
"brilliant, shining"
"of the mountains, mountain dweller"
"free man"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Hershel — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Yiddish (from German Hirsch) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Hershel.
Rhythm: Hershel is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.