Russell sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Russel, Russel, and Roswell are the closest matches by sound. Most share Russell's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"red-haired, little red one"
"the one to whom it belongs"
"befitting a king"
"deep valley; hollow valley"
"mythical bird of rebirth"
"river"
"holy, sacred one"
"the great river"
"wealth, fortune, prosperity"
"Frankish person"
"ruler of the army"
"little red one (from red hair)"
"swift, alert"
"keeper of the pantry"
"friendly, allies, friend"
"powerful, brave king"
"always king"
"settlement of the raven's people; raven-town"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Russell — 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 Russell.
Rhythm: Russell is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.