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 Hebrew books during the 1950s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures14
  2. 2Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures12
  3. 3Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers9.9
  4. 4Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century9.7
  5. 5Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics9.4
  6. 6Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers8.0
  7. 7Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures7.0
  8. 8Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers6.2
  9. 9Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC5.8
  10. 10Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century4.7
  11. 11Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures4.2
  12. 12Menachem Begin1913-1992 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians4.2
  13. 13Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century4.1
  14. 14Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers4.0
  15. 15Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers3.5
  16. 16Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers2.9
  17. 17Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics2.8
  18. 18Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC2.7
  19. 19Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers2.4
  20. 20Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians2.3
  21. 21Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians2.2
  22. 22Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century1.7
  23. 23Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers1.7
  24. 24Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures1.7
  25. 25Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany1.6
  26. 26Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers1.6
  27. 27Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics1.5
  28. 28Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century1.5
  29. 29Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics1.4
  30. 30Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century1.4
  31. 31Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century1.2
  32. 32Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers1.2
  33. 33Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland1.1
  34. 34Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany1.1
  35. 35Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers1.1
  36. 36Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers1.1
  37. 37Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia1.0
  38. 38Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century1.0
  39. 39Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.99
  40. 40Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia0.96
  41. 41Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.85
  42. 42Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics0.84
  43. 43Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.81
  44. 44Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.80
  45. 45Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.79
  46. 46Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.78
  47. 47Levi Eshkol1895-1969 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.73
  48. 48Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics0.71
  49. 49Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.70
  50. 50Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.66
  51. 51Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.65
  52. 52Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.65
  53. 53Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.64
  54. 54Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.63
  55. 55Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.60
  56. 56Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.59
  57. 57Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.52
  58. 58Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.51
  59. 59Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.49
  60. 60Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.47
  61. 61Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.46
  62. 62Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.43
  63. 63Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.43
  64. 64Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.41
  65. 65Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.39
  66. 66Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.37
  67. 67Golda Meir1898-1978 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.36
  68. 68Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.36
  69. 69Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.33
  70. 70Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.32
  71. 71Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.32
  72. 72Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.27
  73. 73Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.27
  74. 74Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740-1809 · 18th century · Russia · Musicians0.26
  75. 75Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.24
  76. 76Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.23
  77. 77Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.21
  78. 78Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.18
  79. 79Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.17
  80. 80Judah ben David Hayyuj945-1000 · 10th century · Writers0.17
  81. 81Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.17
  82. 82Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.15
  83. 83Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.14
  84. 84Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.13
  85. 85Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.13
  86. 86Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.12
  87. 87Yitzhak Rabin1922-1995 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.11
  88. 88Shimon Peres1923-2016 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.10
  89. 89Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.10
  90. 90Isaac Albalag1300-1300 · 14th century · Academics0.10
  91. 91Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.10
  92. 92Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.10
  93. 93Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.09
  94. 94Isaac ibn Ezra1114-1158 · 12th century · Spain · Writers0.08
  95. 95Tobiah ben Eliezer1080-1150 · 12th century · Actors0.08
  96. 96Daniel Bomberg1483-1549 · 16th century0.08
  97. 97Joseph ben Judah ibn Aknin1150-1266 · 12th century · Academics0.07
  98. 98Tzvi Ashkenazi1660-1718 · 17th century0.06
  99. 99Abraham Goldfaden1840-1908 · 19th century · Russia · Writers0.06
  100. 100Amos Oz1939-2018 · 20th century · Israel · Writers0.06

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.