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 Chinese books during the 1940s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish20,288German3,531French3,290Italian1,866Spanish1,287Russian599Hebrew133Chinese45
  1. 1Mao ZedongMao Zedong1893–1976 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians28
  2. 2Cao XueqinCao Xueqin1724–1760 · 18th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers25
  3. 3Zhou EnlaiZhou Enlai1898–1976 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians9.6
  4. 4ConfuciusConfucius551 BC–479 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇨🇳 China · Academics6.6
  5. 5Lin BiaoLin Biao1907–1971 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians6.1
  6. 6Deng XiaopingDeng Xiaoping1909–1997 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians5.3
  7. 7Liu ShaoqiLiu Shaoqi1898–1969 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians3.3
  8. 8Lu XunLu Xun1881–1936 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers2.7
  9. 9Zhu DeZhu De1886–1976 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians2.3
  10. 10Jiang QingJiang Qing1914–1991 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Actors2.1
  11. 11Sun Yat-senSun Yat-sen1866–1925 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians1.7
  12. 12Zhao ZiyangZhao Ziyang1919–2005 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.62
  13. 13Li PengLi Peng1928–2019 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.60
  14. 14Jiang ZeminJiang Zemin1926–2022 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.53
  15. 15Soong Ching-lingSoong Ching-ling1893–1981 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.34
  16. 16GMGao Ming1305–1370 · 14th century · Writers0.21
  17. 17Hua GuofengHua Guofeng1921–2008 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.19
  18. 18Qu YuanQu Yuan343 BC–278 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇨🇳 China · Writers0.17
  19. 19Chen-ning YangChen-ning Yang1922–2025 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Scientists0.15
  20. 20Zhuang ZhouZhuang Zhou369 BC–288 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇨🇳 China · Academics0.11
  21. 21Lin Tse-hsuLin Tse-hsu1785–1850 · 19th century · Politicians0.11
  22. 22Hu JintaoHu Jintaoborn 1942 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.09
  23. 23Kang YouweiKang Youwei1858–1927 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.09
  24. 24Li QingzhaoLi Qingzhao1084–1155 · 12th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers0.08
  25. 25Li BaiLi Bai701–762 · 8th century · Writers0.08
  26. 26Tao YuanmingTao Yuanming365–427 · 5th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers0.08
  27. 27LaoziLaozi579 BC–500 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.08
  28. 28Yan FuYan Fu1854–1921 · 19th century · Writers0.06
  29. 29Hong XiuquanHong Xiuquan1814–1864 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.06
  30. 30Chiang Ching-kuoChiang Ching-kuo1910–1988 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.04
  31. 31Chien-Shiung WuChien-Shiung Wu1912–1997 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0.04
  32. 32Kim Il-sungKim Il-sung1912–1994 · 20th century · Politicians0.04
  33. 33Du FuDu Fu712–770 · 8th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers0.04
  34. 34KoxingaKoxinga1624–1662 · 17th century · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0.04
  35. 35Li ZichengLi Zicheng1606–1645 · 17th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.04
  36. 36Wang WeiWang Wei699–759 · 8th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers0.04
  37. 37Yuan ShikaiYuan Shikai1859–1916 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.04
  38. 38Wang YangmingWang Yangming1472–1529 · 16th century · 🇨🇳 China · Academics0.04
  39. 39Wu QiWu Qi440 BC–381 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.02
  40. 40Hai RuiHai Rui1514–1587 · 16th century0.02
  41. 41HHHuang Huai1367–1449 · 15th century · Writers0.02
  42. 42Zhuge LiangZhuge Liang181–234 · 3rd century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0.02
  43. 43Pu SonglingPu Songling1640–1715 · 17th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers0.02
  44. 44Emperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han156 BC–87 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.02
  45. 45Guangxu EmperorGuangxu Emperor1871–1908 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China0.02

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. 98Carole LombardCarole Lombard1908–1942 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  99. 99Dag HammarskjöldDag Hammarskjöld1905–1961 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians7 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.