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).
Sam
Sam is now well below its former popularity. All-time it's been given to 128,810 U.S. babies, the 1,140th most common name by sound today, peaking at 2,529 in 1918, with 452 in 2025.
Sam has no common alternate spellings by sound.
Rising
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, “National data” baby-names files (1880–2025).