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"
"elf counsel, supernatural wisdom"
"military commander, war leader"
"son of James"
"who is like God?"
"defender of the people"
"from the long ridge"
"gift of God, gift of Yahweh"
"lover of churches"
"God has given"
"derived from Calvus, bald"
"broom-covered hill"
"ever powerful"
"gracious, mild"
"protector of mankind"
"son of Lawrence"
"son of Brice, the speckled one"
"ash tree town"
"holy, sacred one"
"wealthy"
"flourishing, long-lived"
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.