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"
"joyful, merry, carefree"
"joy, happiness"
"blind"
"breath, the living one"
"little flower"
"noble and bright"
"of the sorrows (religious title)"
"well-born, noble"
"pearl"
"moon"
"celestial, divine"
"from the island of Thera"
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.