Verlen sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Verlene, Verna, and Merle are the closest matches by sound. Most share Verlen's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"alder tree grove (from Gaulish via Vernon)"
"tuft, bump, rounded protrusion"
"peaceful ruler"
"little Jon, feminine form of Jon"
"noble strength (via Audrey root)"
"Island (from the Scottish island of Tiree)"
"lake, pool"
"feminized form of Burl with melodic -line suffix"
"noble one, of aristocratic birth"
"From the north; a northerner"
"night"
"resolute protector"
"God is gracious (from Jean component)"
"little warrior, dedicated to Mars"
"Variant of Joan/Joanne, from Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious..."
"the dawn, daybreak"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Verlen — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Gaulish/French origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Verlen.
Rhythm: Verlen is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.