Malu sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Malu, Malou, and Mila are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malu's Portuguese-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"peaceful, calm, shelter"
"heavenly breath, breath of heaven"
"of the Lord, belonging to God"
"holy, saint"
"gift of the goddess"
"beloved, wished-for child"
"the beloved one"
"friend"
"born at Christmas"
"heavenly flower, heavenly lei"
"the artist, the craftsperson"
"sea and sky"
"the heavens, peaceful"
"the cherished one"
"royal child of heaven"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malu — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hawaiian/Polynesian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malu.
Rhythm: Malu is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.