Miriam sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Mary, Maryam, and Marion are the closest matches by sound. Most share Miriam's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"wished-for child"
"high, lofty"
"dawn, rising light"
"peaceful, complete"
"faith, trust, belief"
"attendant at religious ceremony"
"noble"
"sea of bitterness"
"the Holy Trinity; threefold"
"play, amusement"
"night"
"sublime, exalted"
"dark beauty"
"Abstainer from evil"
"night, dark beauty"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Miriam — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Miriam.
Rhythm: Miriam is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.