Marlyn sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Marilyn, Marlene, and Marlee are the closest matches by sound. Most share Marlyn's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"beloved lake; sea of bitterness + lake"
"beloved, drop of the sea (Mary) + house of God (Beth)"
"princess, noblewoman"
"member of the Gauts tribe"
"literary invention, name of the Mother Confessor"
"the bright one"
"bright, shining one"
"flower that blooms in adversity"
"wild searcher, long seeker"
"symbol of peace and wisdom"
"Where is the prince? Not exalted"
"life, living essence"
"from the city of Verona, Italy"
"free woman (via German Charlene connection)"
"God has promised, promised by God"
"pretty, lovely"
"dry (referring to the plant's habitat)"
"grace, favor"
"care, protection, solicitude"
"pledged to God, God is my oath"
"creative modern construction"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Marlyn — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew/Welsh origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Marlyn.
Rhythm: Marlyn is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.