Merian sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Miriam, Marian, and Marion are the closest matches by sound. Most share Merian's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"sea of bitterness"
"from Berlin; little shining one"
"merriment, joyful laughter"
"she who maintains possessions"
"Blind; sixth; associated with Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians"
"lily flower, night"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Merian — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Merian.
Rhythm: Merian is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.