Muriel sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Harriet, Miriel, and Miriam are the closest matches by sound. Most share Muriel's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright sea, shining sea"
"brightness, beauty"
"meadow of pearls"
"slim, slender one"
"in charge, leader"
"strong, healthy, vigorous"
"breath of God"
"gentle horse, tender"
"son of the fair warrior"
"bright, shining one"
"son/daughter of Kenneth"
"pure"
"gift, wealthy (from Jesse)"
"golden one, gilded"
"young ceremonial attendant"
"captivating, charming one"
"sparkling, clear"
"of noble character (from aethel)"
"from Paisley, Scotland (basilica church)"
"loyal"
"beloved, darling"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Muriel — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old Irish muirgeal origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Muriel.
Rhythm: Muriel is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.