Russel sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Russell, Rustle, and Roosevelt are the closest matches by sound. Most share Russel's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"red-haired, little red one"
"victory of the people (via Nicasen interpretation)"
"craftsman, smith"
"moonlight, lunar"
"warrior's settlement, warrior's town"
"the precious metal silver"
"son of one with a bright mind"
"one who cuts"
"battle worthy, eager in battle"
"bold war fighter"
"high, noble, strong"
"one near the woodland clearing"
"sky (variant of Kai)"
"ruler, one who rules"
"his peace"
"Eorla's settlement (personal name etymology)"
"from the east, eastern settlement"
"from Pacy-sur-Eure"
"modern invention, noble and bold"
"from the Cassius Roman family clan"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Russel — 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 Russel.
Rhythm: Russel is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.