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← 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 Hebrew books during the 1900s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century44
  2. 2Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures14
  3. 3Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers13
  4. 4Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures11
  5. 5Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC8.5
  6. 6Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures8.0
  7. 7Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century7.2
  8. 8Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics7.2
  9. 9Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers6.6
  10. 10Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century5.1
  11. 11Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC4.5
  12. 12Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics3.8
  13. 13Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century3.5
  14. 14Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers3.4
  15. 15Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics3.3
  16. 16Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures2.9
  17. 17Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics2.2
  18. 18Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century2.2
  19. 19Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century2.0
  20. 20Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics2.0
  21. 21Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers1.9
  22. 22Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers1.7
  23. 23Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics1.5
  24. 24Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics1.4
  25. 25Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians1.3
  26. 26Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland1.3
  27. 27Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers1.2
  28. 28Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany1.2
  29. 29Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers1.0
  30. 30Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers1.0
  31. 31Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.87
  32. 32Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.86
  33. 33Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers0.75
  34. 34Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.73
  35. 35Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.68
  36. 36Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.67
  37. 37Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century0.66
  38. 38Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.63
  39. 39Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.63
  40. 40Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.62
  41. 41Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.59
  42. 42Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.59
  43. 43Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.56
  44. 44Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.55
  45. 45Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers0.54
  46. 46Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.51
  47. 47Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.42
  48. 48Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.38
  49. 49Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.38
  50. 50Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers0.34
  51. 51Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.34
  52. 52Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.32
  53. 53Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.31
  54. 54Tzvi Ashkenazi1660-1718 · 17th century0.30
  55. 55Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.29
  56. 56Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.29
  57. 57Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.28
  58. 58Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.28
  59. 59Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century0.27
  60. 60Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia0.27
  61. 61Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.25
  62. 62Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.24
  63. 63Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.23
  64. 64Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.23
  65. 65Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.19
  66. 66Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.19
  67. 67Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.19
  68. 68Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.19
  69. 69Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.18
  70. 70Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.16
  71. 71Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.16
  72. 72Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.15
  73. 73Isaac Albalag1300-1300 · 14th century · Academics0.15
  74. 74Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.14
  75. 75Shemariah of Negropont1275-1352 · 14th century · Academics0.12
  76. 76Isaac ibn Ezra1114-1158 · 12th century · Spain · Writers0.11
  77. 77Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.10
  78. 78Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.09
  79. 79Yefet ben Ali950-1010 · 10th century · Actors0.08
  80. 80Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.07
  81. 81Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.07
  82. 82Nissim ben Jacob990-1062 · 11th century · Writers0.06
  83. 83Tobiah ben Eliezer1080-1150 · 12th century · Actors0.06
  84. 84Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.05
  85. 85Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.05
  86. 86Daniel Bomberg1483-1549 · 16th century0.05
  87. 87Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.05
  88. 88Chananel ben Chushiel990-1053 · 11th century · Academics0.04
  89. 89Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.03
  90. 90Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.03
  91. 91Levi ben Abraham ben Hayyimborn 1245 · 13th century · Writers0.03
  92. 92Ibn Shaprutborn 1400 · 15th century · Spain · Actors0.03
  93. 93Berechiah ha-Nakdan1200-1300 · 13th century · France · Writers0.03
  94. 94Rachel, wife of Rabbi Akivaborn 100 · 2nd century0.03
  95. 95Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.03
  96. 96Judah ben Barzilai Albargeloni1070-1140 · 12th century0.03
  97. 97Abraham ben Samuel ibn Hasdai ha-Levi1180-1240 · 13th century · Writers0.01
  98. 98Joseph ben Judah ibn Aknin1150-1266 · 12th century · Academics0.01
  99. 99Joseph Solomon Delmedigo1591-1655 · 17th century · Academics<0.01
  100. 100Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models<0.01

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.