Meiling sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — May-ling, Mailing, and Mei are the closest matches by sound. Most share Meiling's Chinese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"beautiful spirit/soul"
"dear little cross (term of endearment)"
"free man"
"from the alder grove clearing"
"faithful, honest, genuine"
"blessed"
"will helmet"
"Power fortress (short form of Valborg)"
"of the elder tree"
"noble hill; Ella hill"
"little Ireland (historical settlement)"
"bright sea"
"Free one; one from France"
"grace"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Meiling — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Chinese origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Meiling.
Rhythm: Meiling is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.