Monterey sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Rosemary, Delaney, and Brittany are the closest matches by sound. Most share Monterey's Spanish (Monte Rey)-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"Royal Hill, King's Mountain"
"Possibly from derdriu, meaning raging woman or feared one"
"Beloved"
"queen, regal grace"
"creative coinage combining Mon- (advisor) and -ella (beautiful)"
"yew wood"
"iris flower"
"peace"
"sweet baked treat"
"hare meadow"
"plain, fertile flatland"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Monterey — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Spanish (Monte Rey) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Monterey.
Rhythm: Monterey is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.