Mairead sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Margaret, Maura, and Morag are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mairead's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"pearl"
"Fierce protector with noble bearing"
"my God is abundance"
"friend, beloved"
"Derived from McKenzie; son of the fair one"
"dark one, dark-haired"
"gentle, beautiful"
"descendant of Gregor"
"smooth stream"
"Dark one, black-haired"
"God is light (folk etymology)"
"son/daughter of the fair one"
"headland, promontory, cape"
"arrow maker, one who makes arrows"
"free woman (via German Charlene connection)"
"descendant of Corraidhín (little spear)"
"ugly head (literal Old Irish)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mairead — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via Latin origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mairead.
Rhythm: Mairead is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.