215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1930-1939

The 1930s

Whose names filled the books of the 1930s - 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 1930s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians6.4
  2. 2Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers3.7
  3. 3Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers3.6
  4. 4Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures2.5
  5. 5Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors2.3
  6. 6Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians1.8
  7. 7Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.7
  8. 8Karl Marx1818-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Academics1.6
  9. 9Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.4
  10. 10Max Weber1864-1920 · 19th century · Germany · Academics1.3
  11. 11William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists1.3
  12. 12Thomas Mann1875-1955 · 20th century · United States · Writers1.3
  13. 13Robert Koch1843-1910 · 19th century · Germany · Doctors1.3
  14. 14Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  15. 15Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians1.2
  16. 16Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.2
  17. 17Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  18. 18Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  19. 19Gottfried Keller1819-1890 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers1.1
  20. 20Gerhart Hauptmann1862-1946 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.0
  21. 21Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.99
  22. 22Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians0.98
  23. 23Stefan George1868-1933 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.92
  24. 24Friedrich List1789-1846 · 19th century · United States · Academics0.90
  25. 25Carl Schmitt1888-1985 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.78
  26. 26Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.76
  27. 27Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.73
  28. 28Hermann Göring1893-1946 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.72
  29. 29Alfred Rosenberg1893-1946 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.68
  30. 30Ricarda Huch1864-1947 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.67
  31. 31Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.65
  32. 32Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.64
  33. 33Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.63
  34. 34Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.60
  35. 35George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models0.60
  36. 36Friedrich Nietzsche1844-1900 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.56
  37. 37Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.55
  38. 38Rainer Maria Rilke1875-1926 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.54
  39. 39Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.54
  40. 40Rudolf Steiner1861-1925 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.52
  41. 41Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers0.52
  42. 42Otto Ludwig1813-1865 · 19th century · Writers0.51
  43. 43Wilhelm Raabe1831-1910 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.49
  44. 44Heinrich Frauenlob1255-1318 · 13th century · Writers0.49
  45. 45Nicholas I of Werle1210-1277 · 13th century · Germany0.48
  46. 46Heinrich von Kleist1777-1811 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.48
  47. 47Friedrich Engels1820-1895 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Academics0.47
  48. 48Adalbert Stifter1805-1868 · 19th century · Artists0.47
  49. 49Heinrich Mann1871-1950 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.47
  50. 50Nicholas II of Werle1283-1316 · 14th century · Germany0.46
  51. 51William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar1662-1728 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.46
  52. 52Catherine the Great1729-1796 · 18th century · Russia · Historical Figures0.45
  53. 53Rosa Luxemburg1871-1919 · 20th century · Germany · Activists0.43
  54. 54E. T. A. Hoffmann1776-1822 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.43
  55. 55Jakob Böhme1575-1624 · 17th century · Germany · Academics0.41
  56. 56Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.41
  57. 57Jacob Burckhardt1818-1897 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.41
  58. 58Charles XII of Sweden1682-1718 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.40
  59. 59Ernst Moritz Arndt1769-1860 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.40
  60. 60Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.40
  61. 61Wilhelm Busch1832-1908 · 19th century · Germany · Artists0.39
  62. 62Theodor Fontane1819-1898 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.37
  63. 63Hugo Wolf1860-1903 · 19th century · Musicians0.37
  64. 64Moses Mendelssohn1729-1786 · 18th century · Germany · Academics0.36
  65. 65Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.36
  66. 66Karl Kraus1874-1936 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.35
  67. 67Veit Stoss1447-1533 · 15th century · Germany · Artists0.35
  68. 68Conradin1252-1268 · 13th century · Germany · Musicians0.34
  69. 69Gustav Freytag1816-1895 · 19th century · Writers0.34
  70. 70Werner Sombart1863-1941 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.32
  71. 71Max Scheler1874-1928 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.32
  72. 72Angelus Silesius1624-1677 · 17th century · Writers0.32
  73. 73Hermann von Salza1170-1239 · 13th century · Politicians0.32
  74. 74Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg1578-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.32
  75. 75Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor1768-1835 · 19th century0.31
  76. 76Karl Barth1886-1968 · 20th century · Switzerland · Academics0.31
  77. 77Florian Geyer1490-1525 · 16th century · Germany · Politicians0.31
  78. 78Rudolf Hess1894-1987 · 20th century · Egypt · Politicians0.31
  79. 79Kuno Fischer1824-1907 · 19th century · Academics0.30
  80. 80Otto of Freising1111-1158 · 12th century · Germany · Writers0.30
  81. 81Arno Holz1863-1929 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.30
  82. 82Franz Liszt1811-1886 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.29
  83. 83Martin Buber1878-1965 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.29
  84. 84Heinrich Schütz1585-1672 · 17th century · Germany · Musicians0.29
  85. 85Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.28
  86. 86Jakob Fugger1459-1525 · 15th century · Germany · Founders0.28
  87. 87Ludwig Achim von Arnim1781-1831 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.28
  88. 88Francis Anthony, Count of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch1657-1702 · 17th century · Germany0.28
  89. 89Ludwig Richter1803-1884 · 19th century · Artists0.28
  90. 90Hermann Hesse1877-1962 · 20th century · Switzerland · Writers0.27
  91. 91Stefan Zweig1881-1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.27
  92. 92Ulrich von Hutten1488-1523 · 16th century · Germany · Academics0.26
  93. 93Oswald Spengler1880-1936 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.26
  94. 94Paul Heyse1830-1914 · 19th century · Writers0.26
  95. 95Karl II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg1728-1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.26
  96. 96Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden1407-1453 · 15th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.26
  97. 97Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach1691-1741 · 18th century0.25
  98. 98Friedrich Hebbel1813-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.25
  99. 99Johann Sebastian Bach1685-1750 · 18th century · Germany · Musicians0.25
  100. 100Wilhelm Müller1794-1827 · 19th century · Writers0.25

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1930s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Ernest Hemingway1899-1961 · United States · Writers10 decades
  2. 2Alfred Hitchcock1899-1980 · United Kingdom · Directors9 decades
  3. 3Walt Disney1901-1966 · United States · Directors10 decades
  4. 4J. Robert Oppenheimer1904-1967 · United States · Scientists8 decades
  5. 5Ruhollah Khomeini1902-1989 · Iran · Politicians5 decades
  6. 6George VI1895-1952 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures10 decades
  7. 7Joseph Goebbels1897-1945 · Germany · Politicians9 decades
  8. 8George Orwell1903-1950 · United Kingdom · Writers9 decades
  9. 9Heinrich Himmler1900-1945 · Germany · Politicians9 decades
  10. 10Hirohito1901-1989 · Japan · Historical Figures10 decades
  11. 11Deng Xiaoping1904-1997 · China · Politicians11 decades
  12. 12Amelia Earhart1897-1939 · United States · Writers10 decades
  13. 13Salvador Dalí1904-1989 · Spain · Artists10 decades
  14. 14Al Capone1899-1947 · United States9 decades
  15. 15C. S. Lewis1898-1963 · United Kingdom · Writers10 decades
  16. 16Cary Grant1904-1986 · United States · Actors9 decades
  17. 17Marlene Dietrich1901-1992 · United States · Actors9 decades
  18. 18Humphrey Bogart1899-1957 · United States · Actors9 decades
  19. 19Georgy Zhukov1896-1974 · Russia · Politicians6 decades
  20. 20Louis Armstrong1901-1971 · United States · Musicians9 decades
  21. 21Pope Paul VI1897-1978 · Italy · Religious Figures6 decades
  22. 22Bing Crosby1903-1977 · United States · Musicians9 decades
  23. 23Clark Gable1901-1960 · United States · Actors9 decades
  24. 24Werner Heisenberg1901-1976 · Germany · Scientists10 decades
  25. 25John Steinbeck1902-1968 · United States · Writers9 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.