Mariya sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Maria, Mariah, and Maya are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mariya's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"beloved, wished-for child"
"leader, chief"
"judged, vindicated"
"short form of -lina names"
"care, divine concern, providence"
"to sing, musical"
"bright one"
"brightness, cluster of stars"
"righteousness, goodness"
"free, independent"
"divine favor, God's pleasure"
"clear, unsullied"
"father's precious jewel"
"prayer, worship"
"predawn, early morning"
"safe, protected"
"calm, peaceful"
"daughter of the sun (folkloric)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mariya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mariya.
Rhythm: Mariya is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.