How to read the band →
Solid line = floor (spellings that unambiguously belong to the group). Shaded band up to the dashed edge = ceiling (the most it could reach if every ambiguous spelling counted here).
Axel
Axel has climbed over the years and is holding near its high. All-time it's been given to 79,642 U.S. babies, the 147th most common name by sound today, peaking at 5,161 in 2020, with 4,493 in 2025.
By sound, Axel also includes the spellings Axl, Aksel.
Rising