Mariah sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Maria, Mariya, and Moriah are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mariah's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"sea of bitterness"
"lion, lion of God"
"God is gracious"
"bold journey"
"laurel, symbol of victory"
"exalted, virtuous"
"light"
"will helmet"
"marsh flower"
"night, twilight"
"courageous, valiant"
"fair and smooth"
"God's gift"
"rocky land"
"pearl"
"from Latin papaver (poppy plant)"
"queen, ruler"
"from Saint-Denis"
"noble type"
"dream, aspiration, vision"
"One who lives near a brook"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mariah — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mariah.
Rhythm: Mariah is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.