215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1950-1959

The 1950s

Whose names filled the books of the 1950s - 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 1950s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers5.9
  2. 2Karl Marx1818-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Academics5.4
  3. 3Thomas Mann1875-1955 · 20th century · United States · Writers4.9
  4. 4Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers4.7
  5. 5Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures3.1
  6. 6Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors2.7
  7. 7Friedrich Engels1820-1895 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Academics2.6
  8. 8Walter Ulbricht1893-1973 · 20th century · Politicians2.4
  9. 9Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers2.3
  10. 10Max Weber1864-1920 · 19th century · Germany · Academics1.9
  11. 11Wilhelm Pieck1876-1960 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.8
  12. 12Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians1.7
  13. 13Gottfried Keller1819-1890 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers1.7
  14. 14Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians1.7
  15. 15Rudolf Steiner1861-1925 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers1.7
  16. 16Gerhart Hauptmann1862-1946 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  17. 17Stefan George1868-1933 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.4
  18. 18William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists1.4
  19. 19Rosa Luxemburg1871-1919 · 20th century · Germany · Activists1.4
  20. 20Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.3
  21. 21Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.3
  22. 22Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers1.3
  23. 23Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures1.3
  24. 24Karl Liebknecht1871-1919 · 20th century · Politicians1.2
  25. 25Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.2
  26. 26Hermann Hesse1877-1962 · 20th century · Switzerland · Writers1.2
  27. 27Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians1.2
  28. 28Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures1.1
  29. 29Karl Kraus1874-1936 · 20th century · Austria · Writers1.1
  30. 30Ernst Thälmann1886-1944 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.1
  31. 31Adalbert Stifter1805-1868 · 19th century · Artists1.1
  32. 32Heinrich Mann1871-1950 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.0
  33. 33George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models0.98
  34. 34Jacob Burckhardt1818-1897 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.94
  35. 35Karl Barth1886-1968 · 20th century · Switzerland · Academics0.94
  36. 36Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.94
  37. 37Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers0.93
  38. 38Ernst Jünger1895-1998 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.92
  39. 39Theodor Heuss1884-1963 · 20th century · Germany · Journalists0.90
  40. 40Konrad Adenauer1876-1967 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.84
  41. 41Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.83
  42. 42Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers0.82
  43. 43Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians0.80
  44. 44Karl Jaspers1883-1969 · 20th century · Germany · Doctors0.80
  45. 45Hugo von Hofmannsthal1874-1929 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.78
  46. 46Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.78
  47. 47Ricarda Huch1864-1947 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.76
  48. 48Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.74
  49. 49Richard Strauss1864-1949 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.73
  50. 50Max Planck1858-1947 · 19th century · Germany · Scientists0.72
  51. 51Carl Schmitt1888-1985 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.72
  52. 52Gottfried Benn1886-1956 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.72
  53. 53Robert Koch1843-1910 · 19th century · Germany · Doctors0.70
  54. 54Rainer Maria Rilke1875-1926 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.70
  55. 55Johann Sebastian Bach1685-1750 · 18th century · Germany · Musicians0.69
  56. 56Stefan Zweig1881-1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.68
  57. 57Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.68
  58. 58Charles XII of Sweden1682-1718 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.68
  59. 59Franz Mehring1846-1919 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.66
  60. 60Nicholas I of Werle1210-1277 · 13th century · Germany0.66
  61. 61E. T. A. Hoffmann1776-1822 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.66
  62. 62Jakob Fugger1459-1525 · 15th century · Germany · Founders0.66
  63. 63August Wilhelm Schlegel1767-1845 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.64
  64. 64Conradin1252-1268 · 13th century · Germany · Musicians0.61
  65. 65Friedrich Schiller1759-1805 · 18th century · Germany · Writers0.61
  66. 66Bertolt Brecht1898-1956 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.60
  67. 67Heinrich von Kleist1777-1811 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.59
  68. 68Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.57
  69. 69Anna Seghers1900-1983 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.57
  70. 70Max Scheler1874-1928 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.56
  71. 71Angelus Silesius1624-1677 · 17th century · Writers0.55
  72. 72Friedrich Nietzsche1844-1900 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.55
  73. 73Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.55
  74. 74Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.55
  75. 75August Bebel1840-1913 · 19th century · Germany · Politicians0.55
  76. 76Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.54
  77. 77Jakob Böhme1575-1624 · 17th century · Germany · Academics0.54
  78. 78Karl II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg1728-1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.52
  79. 79Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.52
  80. 80Martin Buber1878-1965 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.51
  81. 81Franz Kafka1883-1924 · 20th century · Czechia · Writers0.51
  82. 82John Louis of Nassau-Hadamar1590-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.50
  83. 83Anton Fugger1493-1560 · 16th century · Germany0.50
  84. 84Francis Anthony, Count of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch1657-1702 · 17th century · Germany0.50
  85. 85Otto Henry1502-1559 · 16th century · Germany0.50
  86. 86Otto of Freising1111-1158 · 12th century · Germany · Writers0.50
  87. 87Clara Zetkin1857-1933 · 19th century · Germany · Activists0.50
  88. 88Theodor Storm1817-1888 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.48
  89. 89Wilhelm Busch1832-1908 · 19th century · Germany · Artists0.48
  90. 90Theodor Fontane1819-1898 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.47
  91. 91Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor1768-1835 · 19th century0.46
  92. 92Robert Schumann1810-1856 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.45
  93. 93Matthias Claudius1740-1815 · 18th century · Writers0.45
  94. 94Georg Büchner1813-1837 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.45
  95. 95Peter I of Oldenburg1755-1829 · 18th century · Politicians0.45
  96. 96Friedrich List1789-1846 · 19th century · United States · Academics0.45
  97. 97Catherine the Great1729-1796 · 18th century · Russia · Historical Figures0.44
  98. 98Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.44
  99. 99Jeremias Gotthelf1797-1854 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.44
  100. 100Friedrich Meinecke1862-1954 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.43

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1950s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1John F. Kennedy1917-1963 · United States · Politicians11 decades
  2. 2Jimmy Carter1924-2024 · United States · Politicians7 decades
  3. 3Pope John Paul II1920-2005 · Poland · Religious Figures5 decades
  4. 4George H. W. Bush1924-2018 · United States · Politicians2 decades
  5. 5Nelson Mandela1918-2013 · South Africa · Politicians6 decades
  6. 6Judy Garland1922-1969 · United States · Actors9 decades
  7. 7Marlon Brando1924-2004 · United States · Actors7 decades
  8. 8Frank Sinatra1915-1998 · United States · Musicians8 decades
  9. 9Indira Gandhi1917-1984 · India · Politicians7 decades
  10. 10Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh1921-2021 · United Kingdom0 decades
  11. 11Mohammad Reza Pahlavi1919-1980 · Historical Figures4 decades
  12. 12Henry Kissinger1923-2023 · United States · Politicians7 decades
  13. 13Christopher Lee1922-2015 · United Kingdom · Actors6 decades
  14. 14Roald Dahl1916-1990 · Norway · Writers6 decades
  15. 15Isaac Asimov1920-1992 · United States · Writers7 decades
  16. 16Ingrid Bergman1915-1982 · Sweden · Actors8 decades
  17. 17James Dean1931-1955 · United States · Actors9 decades
  18. 18Richard Feynman1918-1988 · United States · Scientists4 decades
  19. 19Nicolae Ceaușescu1918-1989 · Politiciansnot measured-
  20. 20Orson Welles1915-1985 · United States · Directors9 decades
  21. 21Lee Kuan Yew1923-2015 · Singapore · Politicians7 decades
  22. 22Kirk Douglas1916-2020 · United States · Actors8 decades
  23. 23Eva Perón1919-1952 · Argentina · Actors8 decades
  24. 24Édith Piaf1915-1963 · France · Musicians6 decades
  25. 25Charles Bronson1921-2003 · United States · Actors5 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.