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← Fame through time1920-1929

The 1920s

Whose names filled the books of the 1920s - 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 1920s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers15
  2. 2Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century13
  3. 3Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures12
  4. 4Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics8.4
  5. 5Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures7.5
  6. 6Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures5.3
  7. 7Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC5.2
  8. 8Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers4.4
  9. 9Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century4.1
  10. 10Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC4.0
  11. 11Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century3.7
  12. 12Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers3.7
  13. 13Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics3.6
  14. 14Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century3.5
  15. 15Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers3.4
  16. 16Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures3.1
  17. 17Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics2.4
  18. 18Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics2.0
  19. 19Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers2.0
  20. 20Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers1.7
  21. 21Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers1.6
  22. 22Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics1.6
  23. 23Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century1.6
  24. 24Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians1.5
  25. 25Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers1.4
  26. 26Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics1.1
  27. 27Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics1.0
  28. 28Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.99
  29. 29Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century0.90
  30. 30Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany0.87
  31. 31Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.84
  32. 32Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century0.81
  33. 33Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.80
  34. 34Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.79
  35. 35Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.72
  36. 36Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.70
  37. 37Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century0.68
  38. 38Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.67
  39. 39Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers0.65
  40. 40Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.64
  41. 41Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.62
  42. 42Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland0.57
  43. 43Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.57
  44. 44Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.55
  45. 45Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.51
  46. 46Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia0.50
  47. 47Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.48
  48. 48Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.45
  49. 49Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.44
  50. 50Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.44
  51. 51Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.44
  52. 52Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.41
  53. 53Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.40
  54. 54Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.36
  55. 55Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.33
  56. 56Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.31
  57. 57Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.30
  58. 58Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.29
  59. 59Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.28
  60. 60Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.28
  61. 61Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.26
  62. 62Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.25
  63. 63Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models0.25
  64. 64Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.24
  65. 65Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.24
  66. 66Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.24
  67. 67Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.23
  68. 68Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.20
  69. 69Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.18
  70. 70Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.17
  71. 71Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.17
  72. 72Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.16
  73. 73Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.15
  74. 74Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.15
  75. 75Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.14
  76. 76Isaac Albalag1300-1300 · 14th century · Academics0.14
  77. 77Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.12
  78. 78Tobiah ben Eliezer1080-1150 · 12th century · Actors0.11
  79. 79Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.10
  80. 80Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.10
  81. 81Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.10
  82. 82Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.07
  83. 83Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.06
  84. 84Judah ben David Hayyuj945-1000 · 10th century · Writers0.06
  85. 85Berechiah ha-Nakdan1200-1300 · 13th century · France · Writers0.05
  86. 86Rachel, wife of Rabbi Akivaborn 100 · 2nd century0.05
  87. 87Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740-1809 · 18th century · Russia · Musicians0.04
  88. 88Yefet ben Ali950-1010 · 10th century · Actors0.04
  89. 89Joseph ben Judah ibn Aknin1150-1266 · 12th century · Academics0.04
  90. 90Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.04
  91. 91Abraham Goldfaden1840-1908 · 19th century · Russia · Writers0.03
  92. 92Ben Sira300 BC-150 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.03
  93. 93Daniel Bomberg1483-1549 · 16th century0.03
  94. 94Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.03
  95. 95Tzvi Ashkenazi1660-1718 · 17th century0.03
  96. 96Nissim ben Jacob990-1062 · 11th century · Writers0.03
  97. 97Judah ibn Kuraish850-1000 · 9th century · Writers0.03
  98. 98Chananel ben Chushiel990-1053 · 11th century · Academics0.02
  99. 99Ibn Shaprutborn 1400 · 15th century · Spain · Actors0.02
  100. 100Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.02

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1920s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · Austria · Politicians10 decades
  2. 2Mao Zedong1893-1976 · China · Politicians13 decades
  3. 3Charlie Chaplin1889-1977 · United Kingdom · Actors11 decades
  4. 4Dwight D. Eisenhower1890-1969 · United States · Politicians9 decades
  5. 5J. R. R. Tolkien1892-1973 · United Kingdom · Writers7 decades
  6. 6Charles de Gaulle1890-1970 · France · Politicians9 decades
  7. 7Agatha Christie1890-1976 · United Kingdom · Writers10 decades
  8. 8Nikita Khrushchev1894-1971 · Russia · Politicians10 decades
  9. 9Hermann Göring1893-1946 · Germany · Politicians9 decades
  10. 10Chiang Kai-shek1887-1975 · Taiwan · Politicians4 decades
  11. 11Francisco Franco1892-1975 · Spain · Politicians9 decades
  12. 12Edward VIII1894-1972 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures9 decades
  13. 13Jawaharlal Nehru1889-1964 · India · Politicians10 decades
  14. 14B. R. Ambedkar1891-1956 · India · Academics8 decades
  15. 15Srinivasa Ramanujan1887-1920 · India · Academics0 decades
  16. 16Ho Chi Minh1890-1969 · Politicians8 decades
  17. 17Erwin Rommel1891-1944 · Germany · Historical Figures8 decades
  18. 18Josip Broz Tito1892-1980 · Hungary · Activists8 decades
  19. 19H. P. Lovecraft1890-1937 · United States · Writers6 decades
  20. 20Haile Selassie1892-1975 · Historical Figures0 decades
  21. 21Sergei Yesenin1895-1925 · Russia · Writers11 decades
  22. 22Rudolf Hess1894-1987 · Egypt · Politicians9 decades
  23. 23George S. Patton1885-1945 · United States · Writers8 decades
  24. 24David Ben-Gurion1886-1973 · Israel · Politiciansnot measured-
  25. 25Karl Dönitz1891-1980 · Germany · Politicians8 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.