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).
Paul
Paul is now well below its former popularity. All-time it's been given to 1,404,135 U.S. babies, the 535th most common name by sound today, peaking at 27,076 in 1957, with 1,316 in 2025.
Paul has no common alternate spellings by sound.
Rising
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, “National data” baby-names files (1880–2025).