215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1940-1949

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 Hebrew books during the 1940s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers17
  2. 2Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics11
  3. 3Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century10
  4. 4Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures9.6
  5. 5Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures9.5
  6. 6Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers7.1
  7. 7Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC4.9
  8. 8Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures4.6
  9. 9Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers4.6
  10. 10Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century4.2
  11. 11Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century3.9
  12. 12Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers3.6
  13. 13Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century3.5
  14. 14Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC3.4
  15. 15Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers3.2
  16. 16Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics3.0
  17. 17Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers2.6
  18. 18Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers2.6
  19. 19Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics2.3
  20. 20Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century2.2
  21. 21Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians2.2
  22. 22Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures2.1
  23. 23Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers1.9
  24. 24Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics1.8
  25. 25Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century1.7
  26. 26Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany1.5
  27. 27Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics1.5
  28. 28Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century1.4
  29. 29Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers1.4
  30. 30Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors1.3
  31. 31Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany1.2
  32. 32Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland1.2
  33. 33Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers1.2
  34. 34Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers1.2
  35. 35Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics1.1
  36. 36Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century1.1
  37. 37Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers1.1
  38. 38Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.94
  39. 39Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.92
  40. 40Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.86
  41. 41Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.86
  42. 42Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia0.85
  43. 43Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.84
  44. 44Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.62
  45. 45Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.62
  46. 46Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.60
  47. 47Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.58
  48. 48Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.55
  49. 49Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.53
  50. 50Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.49
  51. 51Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.49
  52. 52Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.47
  53. 53Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.47
  54. 54Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.45
  55. 55Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.44
  56. 56Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.42
  57. 57Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.39
  58. 58Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.39
  59. 59Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.39
  60. 60Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.37
  61. 61Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.36
  62. 62Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.36
  63. 63Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.35
  64. 64Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.35
  65. 65Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.35
  66. 66Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.33
  67. 67Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.32
  68. 68Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.27
  69. 69Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.25
  70. 70Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.25
  71. 71Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.24
  72. 72Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.24
  73. 73Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.24
  74. 74Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.24
  75. 75Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models0.23
  76. 76Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.22
  77. 77Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.20
  78. 78Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.20
  79. 79Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740-1809 · 18th century · Russia · Musicians0.19
  80. 80Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.19
  81. 81Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.18
  82. 82Isaac ibn Ezra1114-1158 · 12th century · Spain · Writers0.18
  83. 83Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.18
  84. 84Menachem Begin1913-1992 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.17
  85. 85Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.15
  86. 86Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.15
  87. 87Judah ben David Hayyuj945-1000 · 10th century · Writers0.14
  88. 88Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.14
  89. 89Isaac Albalag1300-1300 · 14th century · Academics0.13
  90. 90Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.12
  91. 91Tzvi Ashkenazi1660-1718 · 17th century0.12
  92. 92Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.11
  93. 93Daniel Bomberg1483-1549 · 16th century0.10
  94. 94Chananel ben Chushiel990-1053 · 11th century · Academics0.09
  95. 95Abraham Goldfaden1840-1908 · 19th century · Russia · Writers0.09
  96. 96Levi Eshkol1895-1969 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.09
  97. 97Tobiah ben Eliezer1080-1150 · 12th century · Actors0.08
  98. 98Joseph ben Judah ibn Aknin1150-1266 · 12th century · Academics0.07
  99. 99Joseph Solomon Delmedigo1591-1655 · 17th century · Academics0.06
  100. 100Golda Meir1898-1978 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.06

Lived then

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

  1. 1Ronald Reagan1911-2004 · United States · Politicians9 decades
  2. 2Richard Nixon1913-1994 · United States · Politicians8 decades
  3. 3Frida Kahlo1907-1954 · Mexico · Artists8 decades
  4. 4Lyndon B. Johnson1908-1973 · United States · Politicians8 decades
  5. 5Alan Turing1912-1954 · United Kingdom · Academics4 decades
  6. 6Gerald Ford1913-2006 · United States · Politicians6 decades
  7. 7Anne Frank1929-1945 · Germany · Writers7 decades
  8. 8Mother Teresa1910-1997 · Albania · Musicians9 decades
  9. 9Leonid Brezhnev1906-1982 · Russia · Politicians7 decades
  10. 10John Wayne1907-1979 · United States · Actors9 decades
  11. 11Albert Camus1913-1960 · France · Academics8 decades
  12. 12Pope John Paul I1912-1978 · Italy · Religious Figures2 decades
  13. 13Katharine Hepburn1907-2003 · United States · Actors9 decades
  14. 14Rosa Parks1913-2005 · United States · Activists6 decades
  15. 15Ayn Rand1905-1982 · United States · Writers3 decades
  16. 16James Stewart1908-1997 · United States · Actorsnot measured-
  17. 17Adolf Eichmann1906-1962 · Austria · Politicians8 decades
  18. 18Hedy Lamarr1914-2000 · Austria · Actors3 decades
  19. 19Bette Davis1908-1989 · United States · Actors9 decades
  20. 20Wernher von Braun1912-1977 · United States · Scientists7 decades
  21. 21Hannah Arendt1906-1975 · United States · Academics8 decades
  22. 22Jean-Paul Sartre1905-1980 · France · Academics9 decades
  23. 23Ian Fleming1908-1964 · United Kingdom · Writers7 decades
  24. 24Vivien Leigh1913-1967 · United Kingdom · Actors8 decades
  25. 25Akira Kurosawa1910-1998 · Japan · Directors6 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.