Maher sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Mahir, Maher, and Mayer are the closest matches by sound. Most share Maher's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"skilled, expert, proficient"
"ascending, going upward"
"courteous, well-bred, polite"
"town of stone"
"vow to God, dedicated"
"son of Rollin, son of Roland"
"labor, effort"
"may Jehovah add"
"healer, to heal"
"black, dark-complexioned"
"little fire"
"gift of Isis"
"from Arcy (place name)"
"powerful, mighty"
"consecrated, majestic"
"the one who is firm"
"son of Tenney"
"intelligent, gifted"
"God is gracious"
"son of Ken, son of the bold"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Maher — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Maher.
Rhythm: Maher is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.