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← Fame through time1880-1889

The 1880s

Whose names filled the books of the 1880s - anyone at all, however long dead - counted as mentions per million words printed, so a period that simply published more does not inflate anyone.

Talked about then

Whose names appeared most in Hebrew books during the 1880s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century19
  2. 2Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century13
  3. 3Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures8.9
  4. 4Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics8.3
  5. 5Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century7.0
  6. 6Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures7.0
  7. 7Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers6.6
  8. 8Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC4.5
  9. 9Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC3.9
  10. 10Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century3.4
  11. 11Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics2.9
  12. 12Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers2.7
  13. 13Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures2.6
  14. 14Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers2.2
  15. 15Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century2.1
  16. 16Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics2.0
  17. 17Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers1.9
  18. 18Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers1.6
  19. 19Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures1.5
  20. 20Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers1.5
  21. 21Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics1.2
  22. 22Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists1.2
  23. 23Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France1.1
  24. 24Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century1.1
  25. 25Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics1.1
  26. 26Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers0.93
  27. 27Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.88
  28. 28Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland0.85
  29. 29Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.82
  30. 30Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers0.82
  31. 31Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers0.81
  32. 32Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics0.76
  33. 33Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.70
  34. 34Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany0.63
  35. 35Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians0.59
  36. 36Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics0.57
  37. 37Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.57
  38. 38Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.55
  39. 39Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.43
  40. 40Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.42
  41. 41Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.38
  42. 42Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.37
  43. 43Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.35
  44. 44Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.34
  45. 45Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.34
  46. 46Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.32
  47. 47Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.28
  48. 48Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century0.28
  49. 49Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.25
  50. 50Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.24
  51. 51Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.18
  52. 52Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.15
  53. 53Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.15
  54. 54Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.15
  55. 55Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.14
  56. 56Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century0.14
  57. 57Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.14
  58. 58Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.13
  59. 59Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.13
  60. 60Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers0.13
  61. 61Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.13
  62. 62Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.12
  63. 63Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.11
  64. 64Shemariah of Negropont1275-1352 · 14th century · Academics0.10
  65. 65Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century0.08
  66. 66Tzvi Ashkenazi1660-1718 · 17th century0.07
  67. 67Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.06
  68. 68Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.06
  69. 69Tobiah ben Eliezer1080-1150 · 12th century · Actors0.06
  70. 70Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.06
  71. 71Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.06
  72. 72Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.05
  73. 73Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.04
  74. 74Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.04
  75. 75Isaac Albalag1300-1300 · 14th century · Academics0.04
  76. 76Ben Sira300 BC-150 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.03
  77. 77Joseph ben Judah ibn Aknin1150-1266 · 12th century · Academics0.03
  78. 78Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers0.03
  79. 79Isaac ibn Ezra1114-1158 · 12th century · Spain · Writers0.03
  80. 80Ibn Shaprutborn 1400 · 15th century · Spain · Actors0.02
  81. 81Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia0.02
  82. 82Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models0.02
  83. 83Berechiah ha-Nakdan1200-1300 · 13th century · France · Writers0.01
  84. 84Abraham de Balmes1440-1523 · 15th century · Doctors0.01
  85. 85Nissim ben Jacob990-1062 · 11th century · Writers0.01
  86. 86Levi ben Abraham ben Hayyimborn 1245 · 13th century · Writers0.01
  87. 87Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.01
  88. 88Menahem Recanati1250-1310 · 13th century · Musicians0.01
  89. 89Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.01

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1880s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Vincent van Gogh1853-1890 · Netherlands · Artists12 decades
  2. 2Oscar Wilde1854-1900 · Ireland · Writers14 decades
  3. 3Thomas Edison1847-1931 · United States · Scientists13 decades
  4. 4Alexander Graham Bell1847-1922 · United States · Scientists15 decades
  5. 5Arthur Rimbaud1854-1891 · France · Writers14 decades
  6. 6Antoni Gaudí1852-1926 · Spain · Architects5 decades
  7. 7Robert Louis Stevenson1850-1894 · United Kingdom · Writers15 decades
  8. 8Guy de Maupassant1850-1893 · France · Writers14 decades
  9. 9Paul von Hindenburg1847-1934 · Germany · Politicians10 decades
  10. 10Alexander III of Russia1845-1894 · Russia · Historical Figures16 decades
  11. 11Paul Gauguin1848-1903 · France · Artists13 decades
  12. 12Bram Stoker1847-1912 · Ireland · Writers12 decades
  13. 13Emperor Meiji1852-1912 · Japan · Historical Figures11 decades
  14. 14Ivan Pavlov1849-1936 · Russia · Scientists16 decades
  15. 15Cecil Rhodes1853-1902 · United Kingdom · Politicians12 decades
  16. 16Wilhelm Röntgen1845-1923 · Germany · Scientists11 decades
  17. 17Pope Benedict XV1854-1922 · Italy · Religious Figures11 decades
  18. 18José Martí1853-1895 · Spain · Writers16 decades
  19. 19Ludwig II of Bavaria1845-1886 · Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  20. 20Billy the Kid1859-1881 · United States12 decades
  21. 21Henri Poincaré1854-1912 · France · Academics13 decades
  22. 22H. H. Asquith1852-1928 · United Kingdom · Politicians11 decades
  23. 23Ferdinand Foch1851-1929 · France · Historical Figures7 decades
  24. 24Annie Besant1847-1933 · United Kingdom · Activists15 decades
  25. 25George I of Greece1845-1913 · Denmark · Historical Figures0 decades
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.