Claim profile
1950–1959

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 French books during the 1950s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish22,804German3,824French3,466Italian1,906Spanish1,335Russian680Chinese175Hebrew140
  1. 1VoltaireVoltaire1694–1778 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers26
  2. 2Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France1638–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures13
  3. 3MolièreMolière1622–1673 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13
  4. 4StendhalStendhal1783–1842 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13
  5. 5Victor HugoVictor Hugo1802–1885 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers9.9
  6. 6MontesquieuMontesquieu1689–1755 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics8.1
  7. 7Louis XVI of FranceLouis XVI of France1754–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5.9
  8. 8Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France1710–1774 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5.5
  9. 9François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures4.8
  10. 10George SandGeorge Sand1804–1876 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3.9
  11. 11Napoleon IIINapoleon III1808–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians3.7
  12. 12André GideAndré Gide1869–1951 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3.3
  13. 13Joan of ArcJoan of Arc1412–1431 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France3.1
  14. 14HIHenry II, Count of Euborn 1160 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France3.0
  15. 15Henry II of FranceHenry II of France1519–1559 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians3.0
  16. 16Paul ValéryPaul Valéry1871–1945 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.9
  17. 17Louis XVIII of FranceLouis XVIII of France1755–1824 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.8
  18. 18Pierre de MarivauxPierre de Marivaux1688–1763 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.7
  19. 19Marcel ProustMarcel Proust1871–1922 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.5
  20. 20Romain RollandRomain Rolland1866–1944 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.3
  21. 21Paul ClaudelPaul Claudel1868–1955 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.2
  22. 22Anatole FranceAnatole France1844–1924 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.1
  23. 23Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette1755–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.0
  24. 24Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.8
  25. 25Léon BlumLéon Blum1872–1950 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.7
  26. 26Charles X of FranceCharles X of France1757–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.6
  27. 27Benjamin ConstantBenjamin Constant1767–1830 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians1.6
  28. 28Antonin ArtaudAntonin Artaud1896–1948 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.6
  29. 29Léon BloyLéon Bloy1846–1917 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.6
  30. 30Claude BernardClaude Bernard1813–1878 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.4
  31. 31Jean CocteauJean Cocteau1889–1963 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.4
  32. 32Théophile GautierThéophile Gautier1811–1872 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.4
  33. 33Gérard de NervalGérard de Nerval1808–1855 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.4
  34. 34Gabriel MarcelGabriel Marcel1889–1973 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1.4
  35. 35Auguste ComteAuguste Comte1798–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1.3
  36. 36Charles Marie René Leconte de LisleCharles Marie René Leconte de Lisle1818–1894 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.3
  37. 37François MauriacFrançois Mauriac1885–1970 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.3
  38. 38Simone WeilSimone Weil1909–1943 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1.3
  39. 39Louis XII of FranceLouis XII of France1462–1515 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures1.2
  40. 40Alexandre Dumas filsAlexandre Dumas fils1824–1895 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.2
  41. 41Alexandre DumasAlexandre Dumas1802–1870 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.2
  42. 42Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.1
  43. 43Jules VerneJules Verne1828–1905 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.1
  44. 44Max JacobMax Jacob1876–1944 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.1
  45. 45Alfred de MussetAlfred de Musset1810–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.1
  46. 46Louis de BroglieLouis de Broglie1892–1987 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists1.1
  47. 47Robert SchumanRobert Schuman1886–1963 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.1
  48. 48AdunisAdunisborn 1930 · 20th century · Writers1.0
  49. 49Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778 · 18th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics1.0
  50. 50André BretonAndré Breton1896–1966 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.97
  51. 51Jules FerryJules Ferry1832–1893 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.94
  52. 52Pierre LavalPierre Laval1883–1945 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.93
  53. 53Maine de BiranMaine de Biran1766–1824 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.91
  54. 54La GrangeLa Grange1635–1692 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Actors0.88
  55. 55André MauroisAndré Maurois1885–1967 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.87
  56. 56Paul BourgetPaul Bourget1852–1935 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.86
  57. 57Louis BlancLouis Blanc1811–1882 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.85
  58. 58Arthur RimbaudArthur Rimbaud1854–1891 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.85
  59. 59Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor1500–1558 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.84
  60. 60Georges DuhamelGeorges Duhamel1884–1966 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.82
  61. 61Albert CamusAlbert Camus1913–1960 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.80
  62. 62Charles PéguyCharles Péguy1873–1914 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.79
  63. 63Charles MaurrasCharles Maurras1868–1952 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.78
  64. 64Francis II of FranceFrancis II of France1544–1560 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.75
  65. 65Chrétien de TroyesChrétien de Troyes1135–1181 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.74
  66. 66Philip V of SpainPhilip V of Spain1683–1746 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.73
  67. 67Louis XVII of FranceLouis XVII of France1785–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.73
  68. 68Marc BlochMarc Bloch1886–1944 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.73
  69. 69Jules RenardJules Renard1864–1910 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.72
  70. 70Le CorbusierLe Corbusier1887–1965 · 20th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Architects0.72
  71. 71Henri PoincaréHenri Poincaré1854–1912 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.70
  72. 72Joseph de MaistreJoseph de Maistre1753–1821 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.70
  73. 73Alphonse DaudetAlphonse Daudet1840–1897 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.66
  74. 74Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume Apollinaire1880–1918 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.65
  75. 75Alfred de VignyAlfred de Vigny1797–1863 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.65
  76. 76Vincent AuriolVincent Auriol1884–1966 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.64
  77. 77Marie de' MediciMarie de' Medici1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.64
  78. 78André ChénierAndré Chénier1762–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.64
  79. 79Maurice BarrèsMaurice Barrès1862–1923 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.63
  80. 80Charles the BoldCharles the Bold1433–1477 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.63
  81. 81Jean-Paul SartreJean-Paul Sartre1905–1980 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.63
  82. 82Pope John XXIIPope John XXII1244–1334 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.63
  83. 83NapoleonNapoleon1769–1821 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.61
  84. 84André MalrauxAndré Malraux1901–1976 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.61
  85. 85Jean GiraudouxJean Giraudoux1882–1944 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.61
  86. 86Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de BrantômePierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme1540–1614 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.60
  87. 87Henri de RégnierHenri de Régnier1864–1936 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.59
  88. 88Sacha GuitrySacha Guitry1885–1957 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.58
  89. 89Pope Julius IIPope Julius II1443–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.57
  90. 90Maurice BlondelMaurice Blondel1861–1949 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.57
  91. 91Jules FavreJules Favre1809–1880 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.56
  92. 92Victor CousinVictor Cousin1792–1867 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.56
  93. 93Sarah BernhardtSarah Bernhardt1844–1923 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Actors0.56
  94. 94Stéphane MallarméStéphane Mallarmé1842–1898 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.55
  95. 95René ClairRené Clair1898–1981 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Directors0.54
  96. 96Charles de FoucauldCharles de Foucauld1858–1916 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.53
  97. 97Gustave FlaubertGustave Flaubert1821–1880 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.53
  98. 98Jean MonnetJean Monnet1888–1979 · 20th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.53
  99. 99Marie d'AgoultMarie d'Agoult1805–1876 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.53
  100. 100Pierre LotiPierre Loti1850–1923 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.52

Lived then

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

  1. 1Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II1920–2005 · Religious Figures5 decades
  2. 2John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy1917–1963 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians11 decades
  3. 3Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela1918–2013 · 🇿🇦 South Africa · Politicians6 decades
  4. 4Édith PiafÉdith Piaf1915–1963 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians6 decades
  5. 5François MitterrandFrançois Mitterrand1916–1996 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians8 decades
  6. 6Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter1924–2024 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians7 decades
  7. 7Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando1924–2004 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors7 decades
  8. 8Judy GarlandJudy Garland1922–1969 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  9. 9Aleksandr SolzhenitsynAleksandr Solzhenitsyn1918–2008 · Writers6 decades
  10. 10George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. Bush1924–2018 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians2 decades
  11. 11Mohammad Reza PahlaviMohammad Reza Pahlavi1919–1980 · Historical Figures4 decades
  12. 12Prince Philip, Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh1921–2021 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom0 decades
  13. 13Frank SinatraFrank Sinatra1915–1998 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians8 decades
  14. 14Augusto PinochetAugusto Pinochet1915–2006 · Politicians5 decades
  15. 15Federico FelliniFederico Fellini1920–1993 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Directors8 decades
  16. 16Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov1920–1992 · Writers7 decades
  17. 17Charles AznavourCharles Aznavour1924–2018 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians8 decades
  18. 18Nicolae CeaușescuNicolae Ceaușescu1918–1989 · Politiciansnot measured—
  19. 19Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger1923–2023 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians7 decades
  20. 20Christopher LeeChristopher Lee1922–2015 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors6 decades
  21. 21Eva PerónEva Perón1919–1952 · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Actors8 decades
  22. 22James DeanJames Dean1931–1955 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  23. 23Ingrid BergmanIngrid Bergman1915–1982 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Actors8 decades
  24. 24Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas1916–2020 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  25. 25Maria CallasMaria Callas1923–1977 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians1 decades
  26. 26Charles BronsonCharles Bronson1921–2003 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors5 decades
  27. 27Pier Paolo PasoliniPier Paolo Pasolini1922–1975 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers8 decades
  28. 28Orson WellesOrson Welles1915–1985 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors9 decades
  29. 29Richard FeynmanRichard Feynman1918–1988 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  30. 30Mikhail KalashnikovMikhail Kalashnikov1919–2013 · Scientists4 decades
  31. 31Yitzhak RabinYitzhak Rabin1922–1995 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians9 decades
  32. 32Gamal Abdel NasserGamal Abdel Nasser1918–1970 · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Politicians8 decades
  33. 33Marcello MastroianniMarcello Mastroianni1924–1996 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Actors7 decades
  34. 34Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew1923–2015 · Politicians7 decades
  35. 35Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi1917–1984 · 🇮🇳 India · Politicians7 decades
  36. 36Gregory PeckGregory Peck1916–2003 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  37. 37Lauren BacallLauren Bacall1924–2014 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  38. 38Roald DahlRoald Dahl1916–1990 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Writers6 decades
  39. 39Ingmar BergmanIngmar Bergman1918–2007 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Directors6 decades
  40. 40Anwar SadatAnwar Sadat1918–1981 · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Politicians5 decades
  41. 41Stan LeeStan Lee1922–2018 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers3 decades
  42. 42Charlton HestonCharlton Heston1923–2008 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors7 decades
  43. 43Charles BukowskiCharles Bukowski1920–1994 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers5 decades
  44. 44Rita HayworthRita Hayworth1918–1987 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  45. 45Park Chung-heePark Chung-hee1917–1979 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Politicians7 decades
  46. 46Truman CapoteTruman Capote1924–1984 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers8 decades
  47. 47Robert MugabeRobert Mugabe1924–2019 · Politicians5 decades
  48. 48Doris DayDoris Day1922–2019 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  49. 49Anthony QuinnAnthony Quinn1915–2001 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Actors7 decades
  50. 50Shimon PeresShimon Peres1923–2016 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians8 decades
  51. 51Peter UstinovPeter Ustinov1921–2004 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors8 decades
  52. 52Edmund HillaryEdmund Hillary1919–2008 · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · Historical Figures7 decades
  53. 53Ava GardnerAva Gardner1922–1990 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  54. 54Jack KerouacJack Kerouac1922–1969 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers6 decades
  55. 55Dean MartinDean Martin1917–1995 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians10 decades
  56. 56Arthur MillerArthur Miller1915–2005 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers11 decades
  57. 57Pierre TrudeauPierre Trudeau1919–2000 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Politicians6 decades
  58. 58J. D. SalingerJ. D. Salinger1919–2010 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers7 decades
  59. 59Richard AttenboroughRichard Attenborough1923–2014 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors7 decades
  60. 60Yul BrynnerYul Brynner1920–1985 · Actors7 decades
  61. 61Frank HerbertFrank Herbert1920–1986 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers10 decades
  62. 62Billie HolidayBillie Holiday1915–1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians8 decades
  63. 63Robert MitchumRobert Mitchum1917–1997 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  64. 64Zsa Zsa GaborZsa Zsa Gabor1917–2016 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors7 decades
  65. 65Katherine JohnsonKatherine Johnson1918–2020 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0 decades
  66. 66Ernest BorgnineErnest Borgnine1917–2012 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors7 decades
  67. 67Betty WhiteBetty White1922–2021 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors7 decades
  68. 68Olivia de HavillandOlivia de Havilland1916–2020 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  69. 69Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. Clarke1917–2008 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers7 decades
  70. 70Buddy HollyBuddy Holly1936–1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians5 decades
  71. 71James BaldwinJames Baldwin1924–1987 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers10 decades
  72. 72Doris LessingDoris Lessing1919–2013 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers7 decades
  73. 73Harold WilsonHarold Wilson1916–1995 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians11 decades
  74. 74Mickey RooneyMickey Rooney1920–2014 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors9 decades
  75. 75Ray BradburyRay Bradbury1920–2012 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers7 decades
  76. 76Abdullah of Saudi ArabiaAbdullah of Saudi Arabia1924–2015 · Politicians0 decades
  77. 77Helmut SchmidtHelmut Schmidt1918–2015 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians9 decades
  78. 78Toshiro MifuneToshiro Mifune1920–1997 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actors5 decades
  79. 79Carl ReinerCarl Reiner1922–2020 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors6 decades
  80. 80William HoldenWilliam Holden1918–1981 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors11 decades
  81. 81Ravi ShankarRavi Shankar1920–2012 · 🇮🇳 India · Musicians6 decades
  82. 82Montgomery CliftMontgomery Clift1920–1966 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors8 decades
  83. 83Raj KapoorRaj Kapoor1924–1988 · 🇮🇳 India · Actors5 decades
  84. 84Aldo MoroAldo Moro1916–1978 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians8 decades
  85. 85Leonard BernsteinLeonard Bernstein1918–1990 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians8 decades
  86. 86Fahd of Saudi ArabiaFahd of Saudi Arabia1921–2005 · Historical Figures2 decades
  87. 87Ella FitzgeraldElla Fitzgerald1917–1996 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians8 decades
  88. 88Nancy ReaganNancy Reagan1921–2016 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors4 decades
  89. 89Hank WilliamsHank Williams1923–1953 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians7 decades
  90. 90Kurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut1922–2007 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers6 decades
  91. 91Billy GrahamBilly Graham1918–2018 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics7 decades
  92. 92Rosalind FranklinRosalind Franklin1920–1958 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists4 decades
  93. 93Lee MarvinLee Marvin1924–1987 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors6 decades
  94. 94SuhartoSuharto1921–2008 · 🇮🇩 Indonesia · Politicians6 decades
  95. 95Pete SeegerPete Seeger1919–2014 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians7 decades
  96. 96Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos1917–1989 · Politicians6 decades
  97. 97Eli WallachEli Wallach1915–2014 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors7 decades
  98. 98Stanisław LemStanisław Lem1921–2006 · Writers0 decades
  99. 99John GlennJohn Glenn1921–2016 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians10 decades
  100. 100Hiroo OnodaHiroo Onoda1922–2014 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 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.