Orson sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Carson, Arson, and Horton are the closest matches by sound. Most share Orson's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"little bear, bear cub"
"God is gracious (John root)"
"jewel, precious"
"tree"
"castle, fortress, palace"
"of the sea (possible etymology)"
"from the place of wide waters"
"famous in battle"
"raven, crow"
"old town, settlement"
"little king"
"western town, western settlement"
"bold, fearless one"
"mourning (symbolic)"
"to light up, illuminate"
"selected, chosen one"
"handsome, fair one"
"son of the fiery one"
"father of God"
"blue-purple dye, the color indigo"
"from Clare (Suffolk)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Orson — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old French origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Orson.
Rhythm: Orson is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.