Kirk sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Kirby, Kurt, and Clark are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kirk's Scottish cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"church, one who lives by a church"
"red-haired, from the russet one"
"narrow strait (from Kyle)"
"beloved of God, beloved of Yahweh"
"of divine origin"
"of the crow, raven-haired"
"God given, divine gift"
"son of the right hand"
"from Laurentum (city of laurels)"
"modern invented name in the -ayden tradition"
"hunter, one who hunts or pursues"
"pledge, oath"
"wise one, seer"
"the best, highest card"
"friend to everyone, ally to all"
"little warrior"
"young warrior"
"God has remembered"
"shrine maiden (ceremonial)"
"eastern town"
"one who sails, mariner"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kirk — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old Norse kirkja origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kirk.
Rhythm: Kirk is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.