Paul sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Saul, Raul, and Hall are the closest matches by sound. Most share Paul's Latin-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"small, humble"
"ruler of the elves"
"one who resembles God"
"son of the blessed one"
"hound lover, dog enthusiast"
"hillside dweller"
"kingly, of royal blood"
"brave and powerful"
"feller of trees, hewer"
"bowman, one who shoots arrows"
"defender of the people"
"noble, strong"
"God will uplift, exalt"
"riverbank, shore"
"lion-bold; brave as a lion"
"dark one, black"
"shelter, dwelling"
"from the long ridge"
"young seal, seal-born"
"descendant of the dark one"
"victory of the people"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Paul — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Latin Paulus origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Paul.
Rhythm: Paul is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.