Nell sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Belle, Nell, and Ellie are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nell's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright, shining one"
"dear one, beloved"
"oak tree, strength"
"one who understands"
"royal greatness, grandeur"
"healer, one who makes whole"
"graceful beauty"
"modern invented name; jay bird + lyn suffix"
"heaven spelled backwards"
"ten (from French dix)"
"grace, favor"
"day's work, daily passage"
"variant of Nyla: champion, achiever"
"traveler"
"prophetess"
"whole, universal"
"torch of light (from Eleanor)"
"gate by a lake or moor"
"grace, mercy"
"pearl"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nell — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nell.
Rhythm: Nell is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.