Maurice sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Marisol, Moriah, and Maureen are the closest matches by sound. Most share Maurice's French-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"dark-skinned, Moorish"
"helmet, protection"
"lives near a brook or stream"
"gift of God"
"Sweet and lovely as a peach; endearing and warm-spirited"
"from the Scottish place called Melvin"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Maurice — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Latin origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Maurice.
Rhythm: Maurice is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.