Paul sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Paula, Pauline, and Pearl are the closest matches by sound. Most share Paul's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"little one"
"well-born, noble"
"of the sorrows (religious title)"
"noble and bright"
"breath, the living one"
"little flower"
"moon"
"blind"
"joyful, merry, carefree"
"from the island of Thera"
"joy, happiness"
"heavenly, of the sky"
"pearl"
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 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.