Claim profile
1940–1949

The 1940s

Whose names filled the books of the 1940s — 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 English books during the 1940s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish20,288German3,531French3,290Italian1,866Spanish1,287Russian599Hebrew133Chinese45
  1. 1JesusJesus5 BC–30 · 1st century · Religious Figures22
  2. 2HomerHomer900 BC–800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers8.3
  3. 3PlatoPlato428 BC–348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.2
  4. 4AristotleAristotle384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics6.7
  5. 5George WashingtonGeorge Washington1732–1799 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians4.5
  6. 6Johns HopkinsJohns Hopkins1795–1873 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders4.2
  7. 7AugustusAugustus63 BC–14 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4.0
  8. 8CiceroCicero106 BC–43 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians3.5
  9. 9VirgilVirgil70 BC–19 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3.4
  10. 10SocratesSocrates470 BC–399 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Academics2.8
  11. 11Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln1809–1865 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians2.8
  12. 12AAcmedied 5 BC · 1st millennium BC2.5
  13. 13WarmWarm1840–1924 · 19th century · Scientists2.2
  14. 14Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson1743–1826 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians2.2
  15. 15EuclidEuclid333 BC–285 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics2.1
  16. 16Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson1856–1924 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.9
  17. 17Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt1858–1919 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.8
  18. 18Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin1706–1790 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.7
  19. 19Mark TwainMark Twain1835–1910 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1.6
  20. 20Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill1874–1965 · 20th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians1.6
  21. 21OvidOvid43 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.5
  22. 22PocahontasPocahontas1596–1617 · 17th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1.4
  23. 23William HenryWilliam Henry1774–1836 · 19th century · Scientists1.3
  24. 24Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsCharles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1545–1617 · 16th century · Historical Figures1.2
  25. 25Charles II, Duke of SavoyCharles II, Duke of Savoy1489–1496 · 15th century · Historical Figures1.2
  26. 26Charles II, Lord of MonacoCharles II, Lord of Monaco1555–1589 · 16th century · Politicians1.2
  27. 27John BrownJohn Brown1800–1859 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders1.1
  28. 28EuripidesEuripides480 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.1
  29. 29RembrandtRembrandt1606–1669 · 17th century · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists1.1
  30. 30CleopatraCleopatra69 BC–30 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figures1.1
  31. 31PlutarchPlutarch40–120 · 1st century · Academics1.1
  32. 32Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson1767–1845 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.1
  33. 33John AdamsJohn Adams1735–1826 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.1
  34. 34John SmithJohn Smith1580–1631 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures1.00
  35. 35Henry FordHenry Ford1863–1947 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0.99
  36. 36CharlemagneCharlemagne748–814 · 8th century · Historical Figures0.99
  37. 37John HenryJohn Henry1322–1375 · 14th century0.97
  38. 38Prince George, Duke of CumberlandPrince George, Duke of Cumberland1653–1708 · 17th century0.96
  39. 39ThucydidesThucydides460 BC–395 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.95
  40. 40GalenGalen129–300 · 2nd century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors0.95
  41. 41SophoclesSophocles496 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.95
  42. 42HerodotusHerodotus484 BC–425 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.93
  43. 43Henry JamesHenry James1843–1916 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0.93
  44. 44William JamesWilliam James1842–1910 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.92
  45. 45William PennWilliam Penn1644–1718 · 17th century · Founders0.91
  46. 46SolonSolon630 BC–560 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.90
  47. 47Chevy ChaseChevy Chaseborn 1943 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0.86
  48. 48Adam SmithAdam Smith1723–1790 · 18th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics0.86
  49. 49Cordell HullCordell Hull1871–1955 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.85
  50. 50BedeBede672–735 · 8th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.84
  51. 51John HancockJohn Hancock1737–1793 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.83
  52. 52Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover1874–1964 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.81
  53. 53LivyLivy59 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.77
  54. 54John DayJohn Day1522–1584 · 16th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom0.76
  55. 55Henry IV, Duke of LimburgHenry IV, Duke of Limburg1195–1247 · 13th century · Historical Figures0.75
  56. 56Henry IV, Count of LuxembourgHenry IV, Count of Luxembourg1113–1196 · 12th century · Politicians0.75
  57. 57HIHenry IV, Count of Waldeck1300–1348 · 14th century0.75
  58. 58Henry IV, Duke of BrabantHenry IV, Duke of Brabant1251–1272 · 13th century0.75
  59. 59HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1463–1514 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany0.75
  60. 60Henry IV, Holy Roman EmperorHenry IV, Holy Roman Emperor1050–1106 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.75
  61. 61Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman1819–1892 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0.75
  62. 62Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton1757–1804 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.75
  63. 63PericlesPericles494 BC–429 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.75
  64. 64Henry ClayHenry Clay1777–1852 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.75
  65. 65Walter ScottWalter Scott1771–1832 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.74
  66. 66Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas1225–1274 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.73
  67. 67AeschylusAeschylus525 BC–456 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.73
  68. 68John DeweyJohn Dewey1859–1952 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.73
  69. 69Julius CaesarJulius Caesar100 BC–44 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.72
  70. 70Brigham YoungBrigham Young1801–1877 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.71
  71. 71Charles I, Count of FlandersCharles I, Count of Flanders1084–1127 · 12th century · Politicians0.71
  72. 72Charles I, Duke of SavoyCharles I, Duke of Savoy1468–1490 · 15th century0.71
  73. 73Charles I, Count of NeversCharles I, Count of Nevers1414–1464 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.71
  74. 74Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-PhilippsthalCharles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal1682–1770 · 18th century0.71
  75. 75CICharles I1516–1576 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.71
  76. 76Black HawkBlack Hawk1767–1838 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States0.71
  77. 77Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis1808–1889 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.70
  78. 78OsceolaOsceola1804–1838 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.70
  79. 79John MarshallJohn Marshall1755–1835 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.69
  80. 80Sam HoustonSam Houston1793–1863 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.69
  81. 81HippocratesHippocrates460 BC–370 BC · 1st millennium BC · Doctors0.67
  82. 82Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi1869–1948 · 20th century · 🇮🇳 India · Activists0.67
  83. 83John the BaptistJohn the Baptist6 BC–30 · 1st century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures0.66
  84. 84AristophanesAristophanes445 BC–385 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.66
  85. 85HVHenry VI, Count of Waldeck1340–1397 · 14th century0.64
  86. 86Henry VI, Count of LuxembourgHenry VI, Count of Luxembourg1240–1288 · 13th century · Politicians0.64
  87. 87Henry VIHenry VI1376–1454 · 15th century0.64
  88. 88J. P. MorganJ. P. Morgan1837–1913 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0.64
  89. 89XenophonXenophon430 BC–354 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.63
  90. 90Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman1884–1972 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.61
  91. 91Paul ReverePaul Revere1735–1818 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0.61
  92. 92T. S. EliotT. S. Eliot1888–1965 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0.60
  93. 93ArchimedesArchimedes287 BC–212 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.60
  94. 94LucretiusLucretius94 BC–55 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.60
  95. 95Charles DickensCharles Dickens1812–1870 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.60
  96. 96James I, Count of UrgellJames I, Count of Urgell1321–1347 · 14th century0.60
  97. 97OrigenOrigen185–254 · 3rd century · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academics0.59
  98. 98Patrick HenryPatrick Henry1736–1799 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.59
  99. 99DemosthenesDemosthenes384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.58
  100. 100CochiseCochise1812–1874 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States0.58

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1940s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Frida KahloFrida Kahlo1907–1954 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Artists8 decades
  2. 2Albert CamusAlbert Camus1913–1960 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics8 decades
  3. 3Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan1911–2004 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians9 decades
  4. 4Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Brezhnev1906–1982 · Politicians7 decades
  5. 5Anne FrankAnne Frank1929–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Directors7 decades
  6. 6Deng XiaopingDeng Xiaoping1909–1997 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians11 decades
  7. 7Pope John Paul IPope John Paul I1912–1978 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers2 decades
  8. 8Simone de BeauvoirSimone de Beauvoir1908–1986 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics8 decades
  9. 9Alan TuringAlan Turing1912–1954 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics4 decades
  10. 10Jean-Paul SartreJean-Paul Sartre1905–1980 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics9 decades
  11. 11Richard NixonRichard Nixon1913–1994 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians8 decades
  12. 12Mother TeresaMother Teresa1910–1997 · Musicians9 decades
  13. 13Hannah ArendtHannah Arendt1906–1975 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics8 decades
  14. 14Rosa ParksRosa Parks1913–2005 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers6 decades
  15. 15Willy BrandtWilly Brandt1913–1992 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians8 decades
  16. 16Yuri AndropovYuri Andropov1914–1984 · Politicians4 decades
  17. 17Salvador AllendeSalvador Allende1908–1973 · Politicians11 decades
  18. 18John WayneJohn Wayne1907–1979 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  19. 19Kim Il-sungKim Il-sung1912–1994 · Politicians8 decades
  20. 20Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson1908–1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians8 decades
  21. 21Katharine HepburnKatharine Hepburn1907–2003 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  22. 22Gerald FordGerald Ford1913–2006 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians6 decades
  23. 23Ayn RandAyn Rand1905–1982 · Writers3 decades
  24. 24Louis de FunèsLouis de Funès1914–1983 · 🇫🇷 France · Actors7 decades
  25. 25Astrid LindgrenAstrid Lindgren1907–2002 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Writers6 decades
  26. 26Dmitri ShostakovichDmitri Shostakovich1906–1975 · Musicians8 decades
  27. 27Wernher von BraunWernher von Braun1912–1977 · Scientists7 decades
  28. 28Adolf EichmannAdolf Eichmann1906–1962 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians8 decades
  29. 29Josephine BakerJosephine Baker1906–1975 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians11 decades
  30. 30Hedy LamarrHedy Lamarr1914–2000 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Actors3 decades
  31. 31Henry FondaHenry Fonda1905–1982 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  32. 32Konstantin ChernenkoKonstantin Chernenko1911–1985 · Politicians4 decades
  33. 33Erich HoneckerErich Honecker1912–1994 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians8 decades
  34. 34Samuel BeckettSamuel Beckett1906–1989 · Writers7 decades
  35. 35Akira KurosawaAkira Kurosawa1910–1998 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Directors6 decades
  36. 36Eva BraunEva Braun1912–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists8 decades
  37. 37Vivien LeighVivien Leigh1913–1967 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors8 decades
  38. 38James StewartJames Stewart1908–1997 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors12 decades
  39. 39Simone WeilSimone Weil1909–1943 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics9 decades
  40. 40Jacques CousteauJacques Cousteau1910–1997 · 🇫🇷 France · Directors5 decades
  41. 41PuyiPuyi1906–1967 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures8 decades
  42. 42Greta GarboGreta Garbo1905–1990 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Actors10 decades
  43. 43Ian FlemingIan Fleming1908–1964 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers7 decades
  44. 44Bette DavisBette Davis1908–1989 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  45. 45Enver HoxhaEnver Hoxha1908–1985 · Politicians8 decades
  46. 46Oskar SchindlerOskar Schindler1908–1974 · Founders4 decades
  47. 47Josef MengeleJosef Mengele1911–1979 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors4 decades
  48. 48Albert SpeerAlbert Speer1905–1981 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Architects9 decades
  49. 49Jackson PollockJackson Pollock1912–1956 · 🇺🇸 United States · Artists7 decades
  50. 50Aristotle OnassisAristotle Onassis1906–1975 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Founders6 decades
  51. 51Claus von StauffenbergClaus von Stauffenberg1907–1944 · 🇩🇪 Germany4 decades
  52. 52Laurence OlivierLaurence Olivier1907–1989 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors9 decades
  53. 53Milton FriedmanMilton Friedman1912–2006 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics9 decades
  54. 54Joan CrawfordJoan Crawford1905–1977 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors10 decades
  55. 55Howard HughesHoward Hughes1905–1976 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  56. 56Burt LancasterBurt Lancaster1913–1994 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  57. 57Alec GuinnessAlec Guinness1914–2000 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors8 decades
  58. 58Gene KellyGene Kelly1912–1996 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  59. 59Jesse OwensJesse Owens1913–1980 · 🇺🇸 United States · Athletes9 decades
  60. 60Viktor FranklViktor Frankl1905–1997 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Doctors6 decades
  61. 61Stepan BanderaStepan Bandera1909–1959 · Politicians1 decades
  62. 62Edward TellerEdward Teller1908–2003 · Scientists8 decades
  63. 63Menachem BeginMenachem Begin1913–1992 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians8 decades
  64. 64Barbara StanwyckBarbara Stanwyck1907–1990 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  65. 65Errol FlynnErrol Flynn1909–1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  66. 66Tenzing NorgayTenzing Norgay1914–1986 · Historical Figures3 decades
  67. 67Faisal of Saudi ArabiaFaisal of Saudi Arabia1906–1975 · Historical Figures2 decades
  68. 68Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams1911–1983 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers8 decades
  69. 69Christian DiorChristian Dior1905–1957 · 🇫🇷 France · Designers8 decades
  70. 70Georges PompidouGeorges Pompidou1911–1974 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians8 decades
  71. 71Nelson Aldrich RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller1908–1979 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians8 decades
  72. 72Kurt GödelKurt Gödel1906–1978 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics5 decades
  73. 73William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs1914–1997 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers5 decades
  74. 74Ginger RogersGinger Rogers1911–1995 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  75. 75Dietrich BonhoefferDietrich Bonhoeffer1906–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics8 decades
  76. 76Billy WilderBilly Wilder1906–2002 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors8 decades
  77. 77Osamu DazaiOsamu Dazai1909–1948 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  78. 78Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy1908–1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians10 decades
  79. 79Elia KazanElia Kazan1909–2003 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors8 decades
  80. 80David NivenDavid Niven1910–1983 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors9 decades
  81. 81Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. Heinlein1907–1988 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers7 decades
  82. 82Vincent PriceVincent Price1911–1993 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  83. 83James CallaghanJames Callaghan1912–2005 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians8 decades
  84. 84Tove JanssonTove Jansson1914–2001 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Writers0 decades
  85. 85John HustonJohn Huston1906–1987 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors12 decades
  86. 86Burgess MeredithBurgess Meredith1907–1997 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  87. 87Robert WadlowRobert Wadlow1918–1940 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  88. 88Kwame NkrumahKwame Nkrumah1909–1972 · Politicians7 decades
  89. 89Julia ChildJulia Child1912–2004 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers6 decades
  90. 90Otto von HabsburgOtto von Habsburg1912–2011 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians9 decades
  91. 91Woody GuthrieWoody Guthrie1912–1967 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians8 decades
  92. 92Otto SkorzenyOtto Skorzeny1908–1975 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Scientists6 decades
  93. 93Simo HäyhäSimo Häyhä1905–2002 · Historical Figures0 decades
  94. 94Lucille BallLucille Ball1911–1989 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  95. 95Baba VangaBaba Vanga1911–19960 decades
  96. 96Sergei KorolevSergei Korolev1906–1966 · Scientists6 decades
  97. 97Sayyid QutbSayyid Qutb1906–1966 · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Activists4 decades
  98. 98Dag HammarskjöldDag Hammarskjöld1905–1961 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians7 decades
  99. 99Carole LombardCarole Lombard1908–1942 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  100. 100Daphne du MaurierDaphne du Maurier1907–1989 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers9 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.