Merritt sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Merit, Meret, and Merritt are the closest matches by sound. Most share Merritt's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"boundary gate"
"soft, tender"
"torch, light"
"other Aenor, foreign honor"
"brave, heroic"
"not intoxicated"
"little stream, flowing water"
"ardor, enthusiasm, passion"
"royal dignity, sovereign power"
"land of the Scots + lake"
"renewal, life-giving water (symbolic)"
"linden tree"
"beautiful, lovely"
"foreigner, guest"
"to shine upon men"
"holly tree settlement"
"graceful beauty"
"lovable"
"beautiful"
"fierce, powerful one"
"royal valley"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Merritt — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Merritt.
Rhythm: Merritt is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.