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).
Gladys
Gladys was a common American name in the 1920s but is rarely given today. It's been given to 270,817 U.S. babies all time and once ranked 113th by sound, peaking at 8,883 in 1920 (down to 60 in 2025).
By sound, Gladys also includes the spellings Gladis.
Rising
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, “National data” baby-names files (1880–2025).