Marlon sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Harlan, Carlos, and Marlin are the closest matches by sound. Most share Marlon's French-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"little hawk or blackbird"
"son of Judd"
"slender and fair"
"strong, enduring"
"genuine, bold"
"gift, wealthy possessor"
"courteous, well-bred"
"tile maker, one who tiles"
"Yahweh has shown favor"
"bright, full of sunshine"
"from the isle"
"pear tree"
"God is gracious"
"wealthy guardian"
"gift from God"
"lowlands"
"foreigner, Welshman (Celtic speaker)"
"the sound"
"throne of the eye (possible etymology)"
"aspen tree, quaking poplar"
"wealthy guardian, guardian of fortune"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Marlon — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old French origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Marlon.
Rhythm: Marlon is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.