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).
Ella
Ella is down from its peak but still widely used. All-time it's been given to 352,214 U.S. babies, the 100th most common name by sound today, peaking at 9,898 in 2010, with 5,831 in 2025.
Ella has no common alternate spellings by sound.
Rising
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, “National data” baby-names files (1880–2025).