Meryl sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Merrill, Muriel, and Cheryl are the closest matches by sound. Most share Meryl's Welsh cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright sea, shining pool"
"willow meadow, willow clearing"
"gracious, beautiful"
"map-maker, cartographer"
"crowned one"
"dweller in the valley"
"royal meadow, kingapos;s clearing"
"modern invented name"
"God is my father"
"supplanter"
"one's own meadow"
"princess, born of royalty"
"fifth meadow (if from Latin quintus)"
"great mother, goddess"
"life, living"
"grace, favor"
"pearl"
"land of the Norsemen"
"son of John, God is gracious"
"descendant of Raghallach"
"bright-headed, warlike"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Meryl — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Celtic/Welsh origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Meryl.
Rhythm: Meryl is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.