Claim profile
1890–1899

The 1890s

Whose names filled the books of the 1890s — 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 Russian books during the 1890s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish16,297German3,409French3,146Italian1,714Spanish1,109Russian242Hebrew99Chinese3
  1. 1Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · 17th century · Religious Figures5.6
  2. 2Macarius, Metropolitan of MoscowMacarius, Metropolitan of Moscow1482–1563 · 16th century · Writers4.3
  3. 3Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of RussiaGrand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia1859–1919 · 19th century · Historical Figures2.1
  4. 4Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of RussiaNicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia1843–1865 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.3
  5. 5Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy1828–1910 · 19th century · Writers1.0
  6. 6Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.0
  7. 7Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia1827–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.0
  8. 8Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · 16th century · Politicians0.95
  9. 9Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia1777–1825 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.87
  10. 10Ivan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of SmolenskIvan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of Smolenskdied 1359 · 14th century0.82
  11. 11Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · 16th century · Politicians0.78
  12. 12Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia1779–1831 · 19th century · Politicians0.76
  13. 13Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia1832–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.76
  14. 14Nikolay SemyonovNikolay Semyonov1896–1986 · 20th century · Scientists0.75
  15. 15Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · 18th century · Politicians0.71
  16. 16Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of Russia1796–1855 · 19th century · Models0.70
  17. 17Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia1864–1931 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.65
  18. 18Alexandra VelyaminovaAlexandra Velyaminova1301–1364 · 14th century0.60
  19. 19Patriarch JoachimPatriarch Joachim1621–1690 · 17th century0.60
  20. 20Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · 18th century · Politicians0.58
  21. 21Avraamy PalitsynAvraamy Palitsyn1550–1626 · 16th century · Writers0.52
  22. 22Maximus the GreekMaximus the Greek1475–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.51
  23. 23Ivan I of TverIvan I of Tver1357–1425 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.48
  24. 24Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.39
  25. 25Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaOlga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.39
  26. 26Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.35
  27. 27Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia1858–1915 · 19th century · Writers0.35
  28. 28Grigory OrlovGrigory Orlov1734–1783 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.30
  29. 29Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia1899–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.29
  30. 30Dimitry of RostovDimitry of Rostov1651–1709 · 17th century · Writers0.28
  31. 31Konstantin AksakovKonstantin Aksakov1817–1860 · 19th century · Writers0.28
  32. 32Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia1783–1801 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.27
  33. 33Symeon of PolotskSymeon of Polotsk1629–1680 · 17th century · Writers0.26
  34. 34Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.25
  35. 35Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.24
  36. 36Catherine Pavlovna of RussiaCatherine Pavlovna of Russia1788–1819 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.23
  37. 37Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.21
  38. 38Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia1825–1844 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.20
  39. 39Alexander II of RussiaAlexander II of Russia1818–1881 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.20
  40. 40Ivan Ivanovich ShuvalovIvan Ivanovich Shuvalov1727–1797 · 18th century · Writers0.20
  41. 41Konstantin of UglichKonstantin of Uglich1389–1434 · 15th century0.19
  42. 42Stefan YavorskyStefan Yavorsky1658–1722 · 17th century · Academics0.18
  43. 43Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · 18th century · Politicians0.15
  44. 44Michael of RussiaMichael of Russia1596–1645 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.15
  45. 45Alexander III of RussiaAlexander III of Russia1845–1894 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.15
  46. 46Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia1728–1762 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.12
  47. 47Vasily Vasilyevich GolitsynVasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn1643–1714 · 17th century · Politicians0.12
  48. 48Ivan AksakovIvan Aksakov1823–1886 · 19th century · Writers0.12
  49. 49Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia1871–1899 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.12
  50. 50Tikhon of ZadonskTikhon of Zadonsk1724–1783 · 18th century · Religious Figures0.12
  51. 51Boris of TverBoris of Tver1400–1461 · 15th century0.11
  52. 52Grigory PotemkinGrigory Potemkin1739–1791 · 18th century · Politicians0.11
  53. 53Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia1850–1908 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.11
  54. 54Ivan DmitrievIvan Dmitriev1760–1837 · 18th century · Writers0.11
  55. 55Alexander IvanovAlexander Ivanov1806–1858 · 19th century · Artists0.10
  56. 56Nikolai LeskovNikolai Leskov1831–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.10
  57. 57Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin1799–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.09
  58. 58Pyotr Andreyevich TolstoyPyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy1645–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.09
  59. 59Catherine I of RussiaCatherine I of Russia1684–1727 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.09
  60. 60Nikita PaninNikita Panin1718–1783 · 18th century · Politicians0.09
  61. 61Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich of RussiaGrand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.09
  62. 62Joseph VolotskyJoseph Volotsky1440–1515 · 15th century · Writers0.08
  63. 63Oleg I of ChernigovOleg I of Chernigov1052–1115 · 11th century · Historical Figures0.08
  64. 64Nikolai GogolNikolai Gogol1809–1852 · 19th century · Writers0.08
  65. 65Maxim GorkyMaxim Gorky1868–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.08
  66. 66Mikhail PogodinMikhail Pogodin1800–1875 · 19th century · Writers0.08
  67. 67Kirill RazumovskyKirill Razumovsky1728–1803 · 18th century · Politicians0.08
  68. 68Anton RubinsteinAnton Rubinstein1829–1894 · 19th century · Musicians0.08
  69. 69Sofia KovalevskayaSofia Kovalevskaya1850–1891 · 19th century · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Academics0.07
  70. 70Pyotr PaninPyotr Panin1721–1789 · 18th century0.07
  71. 71Alexander SuvorovAlexander Suvorov1730–1800 · 18th century0.07
  72. 72Mikhail VorontsovMikhail Vorontsov1782–1856 · 19th century · Politicians0.07
  73. 73Ivan GoncharovIvan Goncharov1812–1891 · 19th century · Writers0.07
  74. 74Olga Constantinovna of RussiaOlga Constantinovna of Russia1851–1926 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.06
  75. 75Nikolay KaramzinNikolay Karamzin1766–1826 · 19th century · Writers0.06
  76. 76Andrei BelyAndrei Bely1880–1934 · 20th century · Writers0.06
  77. 77Alexander MenshikovAlexander Menshikov1673–1729 · 18th century · Politicians0.06
  78. 78Maksim KovalevskyMaksim Kovalevsky1851–1916 · 19th century · Academics0.06
  79. 79Mikhail of TverMikhail of Tver1271–1318 · 14th century · Politicians0.05
  80. 80Peter Ivanovich ShuvalovPeter Ivanovich Shuvalov1711–1762 · 18th century · Politicians0.05
  81. 81Antiochus KantemirAntiochus Kantemir1708–1744 · 18th century · Academics0.05
  82. 82Pavel NakhimovPavel Nakhimov1802–1855 · 19th century0.05
  83. 83Peter II of RussiaPeter II of Russia1715–1730 · 18th century · Politicians0.05
  84. 84Denis DavydovDenis Davydov1784–1839 · 19th century · Writers0.05
  85. 85Aleksandr KuprinAleksandr Kuprin1870–1938 · 20th century · Writers0.04
  86. 86Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia1847–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.04
  87. 87Maria FeodorovnaMaria Feodorovna1847–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.04
  88. 88Alexander OstrovskyAlexander Ostrovsky1823–1886 · 19th century · Writers0.04
  89. 89Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov1860–1904 · 19th century · Writers0.04
  90. 90Ivan FyodorovIvan Fyodorov1510–1583 · 16th century0.04
  91. 91Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia1897–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.04
  92. 92Francysk SkarynaFrancysk Skaryna1486–1541 · 16th century · Academics0.04
  93. 93Alexei Grigoryevich OrlovAlexei Grigoryevich Orlov1737–1807 · 18th century · Politicians0.04
  94. 94Vladimir SolovyovVladimir Solovyov1853–1900 · 19th century · Academics0.04
  95. 95Alexander HerzenAlexander Herzen1812–1870 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0.04
  96. 96Nicholas RepninNicholas Repnin1734–1801 · 18th century · Writers0.04
  97. 97Nikolay MikhaylovskyNikolay Mikhaylovsky1842–1904 · 19th century · Writers0.03
  98. 98Paul of KolomnaPaul of Kolomna1600–1656 · 17th century · Writers0.03
  99. 99Luka ZhidiataLuka Zhidiatadied 1059 · 11th century0.03
  100. 100Mikhail LermontovMikhail Lermontov1814–1841 · 19th century · Writers0.03

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1890s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Nikola TeslaNikola Tesla1856–1943 · Scientists13 decades
  2. 2Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov1860–1904 · Writers15 decades
  3. 3Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud1856–1939 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Writers12 decades
  4. 4Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt1858–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians16 decades
  5. 5Wilhelm II, German EmperorWilhelm II, German Emperor1859–1941 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures17 decades
  6. 6Gustav MahlerGustav Mahler1860–1911 · Musicians13 decades
  7. 7Giacomo PucciniGiacomo Puccini1858–1924 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades
  8. 8Arthur Conan DoyleArthur Conan Doyle1859–1930 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers12 decades
  9. 9Henry FordHenry Ford1863–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades
  10. 10Pope Pius XIPope Pius XI1857–1939 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures10 decades
  11. 11Gabriele D'AnnunzioGabriele D'Annunzio1863–1938 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers14 decades
  12. 12Max WeberMax Weber1864–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  13. 13Max PlanckMax Planck1858–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  14. 14Gustav KlimtGustav Klimt1862–1918 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Artists12 decades
  15. 15Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson1856–1924 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians14 decades
  16. 16Archduke Franz Ferdinand of AustriaArchduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria1863–1914 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  17. 17Philippe PétainPhilippe Pétain1856–1951 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians8 decades
  18. 18Edvard MunchEdvard Munch1863–1944 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Artists7 decades
  19. 19Konstantin TsiolkovskyKonstantin Tsiolkovsky1857–1935 · Scientists5 decades
  20. 20Claude DebussyClaude Debussy1862–1918 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians12 decades
  21. 21George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw1856–1950 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers13 decades
  22. 22Miguel de UnamunoMiguel de Unamuno1864–1936 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades
  23. 23Pierre CuriePierre Curie1859–1906 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists13 decades
  24. 24Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-PowellRobert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell1857–1941 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writersnot measured—
  25. 25Theodor HerzlTheodor Herzl1860–1904 · Journalists13 decades
  26. 26Rudolf SteinerRudolf Steiner1861–1925 · Writers14 decades
  27. 27Gerhart HauptmannGerhart Hauptmann1862–1946 · Writers13 decades
  28. 28Henri de Toulouse-LautrecHenri de Toulouse-Lautrec1864–1901 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists10 decades
  29. 29Henri BergsonHenri Bergson1859–1941 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  30. 30Richard StraussRichard Strauss1864–1949 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians13 decades
  31. 31Émile DurkheimÉmile Durkheim1858–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  32. 32Thérèse of LisieuxThérèse of Lisieux1873–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics10 decades
  33. 33Clara ZetkinClara Zetkin1857–1933 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians11 decades
  34. 34Konstantin StanislavskiKonstantin Stanislavski1863–1938 · Actors9 decades
  35. 35Joseph ConradJoseph Conrad1857–1924 · Writers14 decades
  36. 36Jean JaurèsJean Jaurès1859–1914 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades
  37. 37Selma LagerlöfSelma Lagerlöf1858–1940 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Writers7 decades
  38. 38David HilbertDavid Hilbert1862–1943 · Academics14 decades
  39. 39Pierre de CoubertinPierre de Coubertin1863–1937 · 🇫🇷 France · Educators14 decades
  40. 40Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore1861–1941 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers11 decades
  41. 41Alfred DreyfusAlfred Dreyfus1859–1935 · 🇫🇷 France13 decades
  42. 42Knut HamsunKnut Hamsun1859–1952 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Writers10 decades
  43. 43Pyotr StolypinPyotr Stolypin1862–1911 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians6 decades
  44. 44William Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft1857–1930 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians12 decades
  45. 45Fridtjof NansenFridtjof Nansen1861–1930 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Politicians13 decades
  46. 46John DeweyJohn Dewey1859–1952 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades
  47. 47Edmund HusserlEdmund Husserl1859–1938 · Academics12 decades
  48. 48Raymond PoincaréRaymond Poincaré1860–1934 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades
  49. 49Rudolf DieselRudolf Diesel1858–1913 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists10 decades
  50. 50Arthur SchnitzlerArthur Schnitzler1862–1931 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Writers14 decades
  51. 51Vladimir VernadskyVladimir Vernadsky1863–1945 · Academics8 decades
  52. 52Yuan ShikaiYuan Shikai1859–1916 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians11 decades
  53. 53Heinrich HertzHeinrich Hertz1857–1894 · Scientists13 decades
  54. 54Ferdinand de SaussureFerdinand de Saussure1857–1913 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics12 decades
  55. 55L. L. ZamenhofL. L. Zamenhof1859–1917 · Doctorsnot measured—
  56. 56Maurice MaeterlinckMaurice Maeterlinck1862–1949 · Writers13 decades
  57. 57Aristide BriandAristide Briand1862–1932 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians12 decades
  58. 58David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George1863–1945 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians11 decades
  59. 59Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda1863–1902 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics13 decades
  60. 60Georges MélièsGeorges Méliès1861–1938 · 🇫🇷 France · Directors9 decades
  61. 61Georgi PlekhanovGeorgi Plekhanov1856–1918 · Academics11 decades
  62. 62Alphonse MuchaAlphonse Mucha1860–1939 · Artists1 decades
  63. 63J. M. BarrieJ. M. Barrie1860–1937 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers13 decades
  64. 64Emmeline PankhurstEmmeline Pankhurst1858–1928 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians7 decades
  65. 65Lou Andreas-SaloméLou Andreas-Salomé1861–1937 · Writers1 decades
  66. 66Italo SvevoItalo Svevo1861–1928 · Writers10 decades
  67. 67Mehmed VIMehmed VI1861–1926 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades
  68. 68Edward ElgarEdward Elgar1857–1934 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians13 decades
  69. 69Georges SeuratGeorges Seurat1859–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists11 decades
  70. 70J. J. ThomsonJ. J. Thomson1856–1940 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists0 decades
  71. 71Edith WhartonEdith Wharton1862–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers13 decades
  72. 72Nellie BlyNellie Bly1864–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Journalists13 decades
  73. 73José RizalJosé Rizal1861–1896 · Writers13 decades
  74. 74Alfred North WhiteheadAlfred North Whitehead1861–1947 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics10 decades
  75. 75Sholem AleichemSholem Aleichem1859–1916 · Writers10 decades
  76. 76Paul DoumerPaul Doumer1857–1932 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades
  77. 77Pietro MascagniPietro Mascagni1863–1945 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
  78. 78Svante ArrheniusSvante Arrhenius1859–1927 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists6 decades
  79. 79Alexander Stepanovich PopovAlexander Stepanovich Popov1859–1905 · Scientists15 decades
  80. 80Georg SimmelGeorg Simmel1858–1918 · Academics13 decades
  81. 81George SantayanaGeorge Santayana1863–1952 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics9 decades
  82. 82Camille ClaudelCamille Claudel1864–1943 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists11 decades
  83. 83Emilio SalgariEmilio Salgari1862–1911 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers13 decades
  84. 84Gustaf V of SwedenGustaf V of Sweden1858–1950 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  85. 85John Singer SargentJohn Singer Sargent1856–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Artists11 decades
  86. 86Philipp LenardPhilipp Lenard1862–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  87. 87Isaac LevitanIsaac Levitan1860–1900 · Artists7 decades
  88. 88Eleonora DuseEleonora Duse1858–1924 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Actors14 decades
  89. 89Venustiano CarranzaVenustiano Carranza1859–1920 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians12 decades
  90. 90Maurice BarrèsMaurice Barrès1862–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  91. 91Alexandre MillerandAlexandre Millerand1859–1943 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians11 decades
  92. 92Theobald von Bethmann-HollwegTheobald von Bethmann-Hollweg1856–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians6 decades
  93. 93Alois AlzheimerAlois Alzheimer1864–1915 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors3 decades
  94. 94Paul DeschanelPaul Deschanel1855–1922 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians14 decades
  95. 95Gaston DoumergueGaston Doumergue1863–1937 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades
  96. 96L. Frank BaumL. Frank Baum1856–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers8 decades
  97. 97Jane AddamsJane Addams1860–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades
  98. 98Georgy LvovGeorgy Lvov1861–1925 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians2 decades
  99. 99Klara HitlerKlara Hitler1860–1907 · 🇦🇹 Austria1 decades
  100. 100Isaac AlbénizIsaac Albéniz1860–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians12 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.