Nihal sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Nihal, Nidal, and Mikael are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nihal's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"young plant, sapling"
"ember, glowing coal"
"merciful, compassionate"
"shining like the moon"
"divine judge"
"desire, wish, longing"
"king of kings, realm"
"protector, guardian, defender"
"the sky, heavenly"
"God is gracious, he will live"
"ease, wealth"
"prince, high-born"
"one who grants blessings"
"generosity, nobility, virtue"
"trusted companion"
"flowing water, river"
"blessed by Lakshmi"
"growth, increase"
"unmanifest, divine essence"
"contentment, satisfaction"
"the Vedic scriptures"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nihal — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Turkish/Persian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nihal.
Rhythm: Nihal is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.