Malcolm sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Callum, Falcon, and Alcott are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malcolm's Scottish cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"round barrel, lump"
"strong man, warrior"
"young warrior (folk etymology)"
"little warrior, war-associated"
"lover of hounds"
"comforted by God"
"valley dweller"
"child"
"handsome"
"elf counsel, supernatural wisdom"
"God is my strength"
"narrow road, path"
"one who finishes cloth"
"gracious, dear, beloved"
"to tame, to subdue"
"the herb sage"
"frisky, energetic youth"
"helper, one who helps"
"blazing iron"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malcolm — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Rhythm: Malcolm is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.