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"
"home on the wooded hill"
"wolf counsel"
"man, husband (older Germanic sense)"
"skill acquired through experience"
"little raven"
"who is like God"
"land desiccated from water"
"messenger (angelos)"
"great fort, spacious hill"
"noble elder"
"charming, wily"
"man of power on the hill"
"earthly, of the earth"
"son of Brand, son of the sword"
"spiritually reborn through baptism"
"light"
"power of the tribe"
"boisterous, spirited, lively"
"city of God (alternate interpretation)"
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.