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).
Howard
Howard is now well below its former popularity. All-time it's been given to 348,342 U.S. babies, the 1,676th most common name by sound today, peaking at 7,749 in 1921, with 226 in 2025.
Howard has no common alternate spellings by sound.
Rising
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, “National data” baby-names files (1880–2025).