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).
Nala
Nala climbed for decades and has been a steadily popular name ever since. All-time it's been given to 9,374 U.S. babies, the 1,160th most common name by sound today, peaking at 573 in 2021, with 377 in 2025.
By sound, Nala also includes the spellings Nahla.
Rising
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, “National data” baby-names files (1880–2025).