215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1900-1909

The 1900s

Whose names filled the books of the 1900s - 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 German books during the 1900s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians2.9
  2. 2Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures2.3
  3. 3Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers2.2
  4. 4Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers2.2
  5. 5Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers2.2
  6. 6Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  7. 7Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.5
  8. 8William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists1.2
  9. 9Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians1.1
  10. 10Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.0
  11. 11Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians1.0
  12. 12Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.94
  13. 13Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors0.93
  14. 14Gottfried Keller1819-1890 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.77
  15. 15Emil Fischer1852-1919 · 19th century · Germany · Scientists0.75
  16. 16Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.75
  17. 17Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.74
  18. 18Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.72
  19. 19George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models0.65
  20. 20Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.65
  21. 21Karl Marx1818-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.64
  22. 22Robert Koch1843-1910 · 19th century · Germany · Doctors0.58
  23. 23Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers0.57
  24. 24Hugo Wolf1860-1903 · 19th century · Musicians0.57
  25. 25Otto Ludwig1813-1865 · 19th century · Writers0.55
  26. 26Kuno Fischer1824-1907 · 19th century · Academics0.55
  27. 27Friedrich Nietzsche1844-1900 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.54
  28. 28Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.54
  29. 29Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.47
  30. 30Rudolf Virchow1821-1902 · 19th century · Doctors0.47
  31. 31Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.46
  32. 32Paul Heyse1830-1914 · 19th century · Writers0.45
  33. 33Richard Strauss1864-1949 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.43
  34. 34Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.42
  35. 35Friedrich Hebbel1813-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.42
  36. 36Franz Liszt1811-1886 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.42
  37. 37William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar1662-1728 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.41
  38. 38Gustav Freytag1816-1895 · 19th century · Writers0.41
  39. 39Conradin1252-1268 · 13th century · Germany · Musicians0.41
  40. 40Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden1710-1771 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.41
  41. 41Fritz Reuter1810-1874 · 19th century · Writers0.40
  42. 42Gerhart Hauptmann1862-1946 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.39
  43. 43Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.39
  44. 44Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.38
  45. 45Catherine the Great1729-1796 · 18th century · Russia · Historical Figures0.37
  46. 46Heinrich von Kleist1777-1811 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.35
  47. 47Wilhelm Müller1794-1827 · 19th century · Writers0.32
  48. 48Robert Schumann1810-1856 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.32
  49. 49Peter Cornelius1824-1874 · 19th century · Musicians0.31
  50. 50Ludwig Richter1803-1884 · 19th century · Artists0.31
  51. 51Nicholas I of Werle1210-1277 · 13th century · Germany0.30
  52. 52Otto Henry1502-1559 · 16th century · Germany0.30
  53. 53Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor1768-1835 · 19th century0.30
  54. 54Immanuel Kant1724-1804 · 18th century · Academics0.29
  55. 55Julius von Mayer1814-1878 · 19th century · Germany · Scientists0.29
  56. 56Justus Perthes1749-1816 · 18th century0.29
  57. 57Friedrich Schiller1759-1805 · 18th century · Germany · Writers0.29
  58. 58Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.28
  59. 59Hans Thoma1839-1924 · 19th century · Germany · Artists0.28
  60. 60Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.28
  61. 61Agnes Bernauer1410-1435 · 15th century · Germany0.27
  62. 62Władysław of Głogów1420-1460 · 15th century · Germany0.27
  63. 63Charles XII of Sweden1682-1718 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.26
  64. 64Frederick of Saxony1474-1510 · 16th century · Germany0.26
  65. 65Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.26
  66. 66Philip IV, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1514-1590 · 16th century · Germany0.26
  67. 67Ernst Haeckel1834-1919 · 19th century · Germany · Scientists0.25
  68. 68Johannes Brahms1833-1897 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.25
  69. 69Karl Kraus1874-1936 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.25
  70. 70Nicholas III1230-1289 · 13th century · Germany0.24
  71. 71Moses Mendelssohn1729-1786 · 18th century · Germany · Academics0.24
  72. 72Francis Anthony, Count of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch1657-1702 · 17th century · Germany0.24
  73. 73Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor1678-1711 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.23
  74. 74Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken1722-1775 · 18th century · Germany0.23
  75. 75Count Anton Alexander von Auersperg1806-1876 · 19th century · Politicians0.23
  76. 76E. T. A. Hoffmann1776-1822 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.23
  77. 77Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg1505-1571 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.23
  78. 78Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.23
  79. 79Heinrich Frauenlob1255-1318 · 13th century · Writers0.23
  80. 80Max Reger1873-1916 · 20th century · Germany · Musicians0.23
  81. 81Theodor Mommsen1817-1903 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.22
  82. 82Paul Gerhardt1607-1676 · 17th century · Germany · Academics0.22
  83. 83Hermann Bahr1863-1934 · 19th century · Austria · Writers0.22
  84. 84Karl II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg1728-1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.22
  85. 85Franz Schubert1797-1828 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.22
  86. 86Nicholas II of Werle1283-1316 · 14th century · Germany0.22
  87. 87Florian Geyer1490-1525 · 16th century · Germany · Politicians0.22
  88. 88Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden1407-1453 · 15th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.22
  89. 89Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor1697-1745 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.22
  90. 90Max Weber1864-1920 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.22
  91. 91Theodor Storm1817-1888 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.22
  92. 92John Louis of Nassau-Hadamar1590-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.22
  93. 93Friedrich Ratzel1844-1904 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.22
  94. 94Otto of Freising1111-1158 · 12th century · Germany · Writers0.22
  95. 95Max Klinger1857-1920 · 19th century · Germany · Artists0.22
  96. 96Hans von Bülow1830-1894 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.21
  97. 97Nicholas V of Werleborn 1400 · 15th century · Germany0.21
  98. 98Ulrich von Hutten1488-1523 · 16th century · Germany · Academics0.21
  99. 99Friedrich List1789-1846 · 19th century · United States · Academics0.20
  100. 100Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden1655-1707 · 17th century0.20

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1900s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Winston Churchill1874-1965 · United Kingdom · Politicians13 decades
  2. 2Vladimir Lenin1870-1924 · Russia · Politicians12 decades
  3. 3Mahatma Gandhi1869-1948 · India · Activists10 decades
  4. 4Marie Curie1867-1934 · France · Scientists4 decades
  5. 5George V1865-1936 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures16 decades
  6. 6Grigori Rasputin1869-1916 · Russia · Politicians11 decades
  7. 7Herbert Hoover1874-1964 · United States · Politicians11 decades
  8. 8Nicholas II of Russia1868-1918 · Russia · Historical Figures14 decades
  9. 9Sun Yat-sen1866-1925 · China · Politicians12 decades
  10. 10Calvin Coolidge1872-1933 · United States · Politicians11 decades
  11. 11Warren G. Harding1865-1923 · United States · Politicians11 decades
  12. 12Rudyard Kipling1865-1936 · United Kingdom · Writers13 decades
  13. 13Frank Lloyd Wright1867-1959 · United States · Architects12 decades
  14. 14Rosa Luxemburg1871-1919 · Germany · Activists13 decades
  15. 15Neville Chamberlain1869-1940 · United Kingdom · Politicians16 decades
  16. 16H. G. Wells1866-1946 · United Kingdom · Writers16 decades
  17. 17Bertrand Russell1872-1970 · United Kingdom · Academics13 decades
  18. 18Harry Houdini1874-1926 · United States · Actors7 decades
  19. 19Marcel Proust1871-1922 · France · Writers12 decades
  20. 20Henri Matisse1869-1954 · France · Artists12 decades
  21. 21Sergei Rachmaninoff1873-1943 · United States · Musiciansnot measured-
  22. 22Robert Frost1874-1963 · United States · Writers13 decades
  23. 23W. B. Yeats1865-1939 · Writers12 decades
  24. 24G. K. Chesterton1874-1936 · United Kingdom · Writers12 decades
  25. 25Beatrix Potter1866-1943 · United Kingdom · Writers10 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.