Marlie sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Marley, Harlie, and Carlie are the closest matches by sound. Most share Marlie's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"boundary meadow"
"journey, day's travel"
"she who is loved"
"pearl"
"Jay + lake (modern American coinage)"
"modern invented name"
"sun gift (Sunniva variant)"
"rocky clearing"
"bright, clear, famous"
"lapis lazuli beauty"
"whole, universal"
"God is gracious"
"bird (from Germanic Avila)"
"gracious, dear, beloved"
"powerful; in a state of bliss"
"the blue princess (fictional)"
"sacred shrine, palace"
"dream, vision"
"dark meadow or pale clearing"
"clearing with bent grass"
"light is mine"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Marlie — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Marlie.
Rhythm: Marlie is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.