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 Russian books during the 1950s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish22,804German3,824French3,466Italian1,906Spanish1,335Russian680Chinese175Hebrew140
  1. 1Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · 18th century · Politicians3.6
  2. 2Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy1828–1910 · 19th century · Writers3.6
  3. 3Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin1870–1924 · 20th century · Politicians2.2
  4. 4Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · 16th century · Politicians2.1
  5. 5Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of Russia1796–1855 · 19th century · Models2.0
  6. 6Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · 17th century · Religious Figures1.5
  7. 7Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · 16th century · Politicians1.4
  8. 8Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of RussiaNicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia1843–1865 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.4
  9. 9Maxim GorkyMaxim Gorky1868–1936 · 20th century · Writers1.3
  10. 10Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia1777–1825 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.2
  11. 11Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · 18th century · Politicians1.2
  12. 12Alexander II of RussiaAlexander II of Russia1818–1881 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.1
  13. 13Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.1
  14. 14Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia1904–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures1.0
  15. 15Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia1899–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.96
  16. 16Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of RussiaGrand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia1859–1919 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.94
  17. 17Ivan I of TverIvan I of Tver1357–1425 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.88
  18. 18Macarius, Metropolitan of MoscowMacarius, Metropolitan of Moscow1482–1563 · 16th century · Writers0.84
  19. 19Ivan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of SmolenskIvan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of Smolenskdied 1359 · 14th century0.78
  20. 20Sergo OrdzhonikidzeSergo Ordzhonikidze1886–1937 · 20th century · Politicians0.76
  21. 21Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia1850–1908 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.75
  22. 22Vladimir MayakovskyVladimir Mayakovsky1893–1930 · 20th century · Writers0.72
  23. 23Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia1864–1931 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.71
  24. 24Nicholas II of RussiaNicholas II of Russia1868–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.70
  25. 25Ivan FyodorovIvan Fyodorov1510–1583 · 16th century0.65
  26. 26Alexandra VelyaminovaAlexandra Velyaminova1301–1364 · 14th century0.58
  27. 27Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin1878–1953 · 20th century · Politicians0.55
  28. 28Gleb UspenskyGleb Uspensky1843–1902 · 19th century · Writers0.54
  29. 29Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaOlga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.52
  30. 30Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.52
  31. 31Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.51
  32. 32Taras ShevchenkoTaras Shevchenko1814–1861 · 19th century · Writers0.49
  33. 33Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia1832–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.49
  34. 34Aleksey TolstoyAleksey Tolstoy1882–1945 · 20th century · Writers0.47
  35. 35Michael of RussiaMichael of Russia1596–1645 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.47
  36. 36Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia1847–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.46
  37. 37Stepan RazinStepan Razin1630–1671 · 17th century0.46
  38. 38Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin1799–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.45
  39. 39Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.44
  40. 40Georgi DimitrovGeorgi Dimitrov1882–1949 · 20th century · Politicians0.44
  41. 41Alexander SuvorovAlexander Suvorov1730–1800 · 18th century0.43
  42. 42Maria FeodorovnaMaria Feodorovna1847–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.42
  43. 43Aleksey Konstantinovich TolstoyAleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy1817–1875 · 19th century · Writers0.41
  44. 44Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov1860–1904 · 19th century · Writers0.41
  45. 45Nikolai OstrovskyNikolai Ostrovsky1904–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.41
  46. 46Yanka KupalaYanka Kupala1882–1942 · 20th century · Writers0.41
  47. 47Alexander III of RussiaAlexander III of Russia1845–1894 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.40
  48. 48Avraamy PalitsynAvraamy Palitsyn1550–1626 · 16th century · Writers0.40
  49. 49Alexander BlokAlexander Blok1880–1921 · 20th century · Writers0.39
  50. 50Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia1827–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.39
  51. 51Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia1857–1905 · 19th century · Politicians0.38
  52. 52Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov1849–1936 · 19th century · Scientists0.38
  53. 53Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.38
  54. 54Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.36
  55. 55Alexander BestuzhevAlexander Bestuzhev1797–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.35
  56. 56Andrei BelyAndrei Bely1880–1934 · 20th century · Writers0.35
  57. 57Mikhail LomonosovMikhail Lomonosov1711–1765 · 18th century · Scientists0.34
  58. 58Nâzım HikmetNâzım Hikmet1902–1963 · 20th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.33
  59. 59Yemelyan PugachevYemelyan Pugachev1742–1775 · 18th century · Activists0.31
  60. 60Maximus the GreekMaximus the Greek1475–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.29
  61. 61Leonid AndreyevLeonid Andreyev1871–1919 · 20th century · Writers0.28
  62. 62Yakub KolasYakub Kolas1882–1956 · 20th century · Writers0.28
  63. 63Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–1728 · 18th century0.28
  64. 64Natalya Alexeevna of RussiaNatalya Alexeevna of Russia1673–1716 · 18th century · Writers0.28
  65. 65Catherine Pavlovna of RussiaCatherine Pavlovna of Russia1788–1819 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.27
  66. 66Symeon of PolotskSymeon of Polotsk1629–1680 · 17th century · Writers0.27
  67. 67Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia1728–1762 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.26
  68. 68Patriarch JoachimPatriarch Joachim1621–1690 · 17th century0.25
  69. 69Denis DavydovDenis Davydov1784–1839 · 19th century · Writers0.25
  70. 70Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev1894–1971 · 20th century · Politicians0.24
  71. 71Alexander RadishchevAlexander Radishchev1749–1802 · 18th century · Writers0.24
  72. 72Boris of TverBoris of Tver1400–1461 · 15th century0.23
  73. 73Nikolay ChernyshevskyNikolay Chernyshevsky1828–1889 · 19th century · Writers0.22
  74. 74Mikhail GlinkaMikhail Glinka1804–1857 · 19th century · Musicians0.22
  75. 75Alexander IvanovAlexander Ivanov1806–1858 · 19th century · Artists0.22
  76. 76Valery BryusovValery Bryusov1873–1924 · 20th century · Writers0.21
  77. 77Mikhail SholokhovMikhail Sholokhov1905–1984 · 20th century · Writers0.20
  78. 78Mikhail KalininMikhail Kalinin1875–1946 · 20th century · Politicians0.20
  79. 79Ivan VazovIvan Vazov1850–1921 · 19th century · Writers0.20
  80. 80HyacinthHyacinth1777–1853 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.20
  81. 81Vasili III of RussiaVasili III of Russia1479–1533 · 16th century · Politicians0.20
  82. 82Ilia ChavchavadzeIlia Chavchavadze1837–1907 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  83. 83Ilya EhrenburgIlya Ehrenburg1891–1967 · 20th century · Writers0.19
  84. 84Ivan MichurinIvan Michurin1855–1935 · 19th century · Scientists0.18
  85. 85Vissarion BelinskyVissarion Belinsky1811–1848 · 19th century · Academics0.18
  86. 86Konstantin AksakovKonstantin Aksakov1817–1860 · 19th century · Writers0.17
  87. 87Joseph VolotskyJoseph Volotsky1440–1515 · 15th century · Writers0.17
  88. 88Nikolai GogolNikolai Gogol1809–1852 · 19th century · Writers0.17
  89. 89Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia1783–1801 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.16
  90. 90Ilya RepinIlya Repin1844–1930 · 19th century · Artists0.16
  91. 91Alexander HerzenAlexander Herzen1812–1870 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0.15
  92. 92Sofia KovalevskayaSofia Kovalevskaya1850–1891 · 19th century · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Academics0.15
  93. 93Konstantin of UglichKonstantin of Uglich1389–1434 · 15th century0.15
  94. 94Abay KunanbaiulyAbay Kunanbaiuly1845–1904 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  95. 95Shoqan WalikhanovShoqan Walikhanov1835–1865 · 19th century · Academics0.15
  96. 96Zoya KosmodemyanskayaZoya Kosmodemyanskaya1923–1941 · 20th century0.15
  97. 97Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia1779–1831 · 19th century · Politicians0.15
  98. 98Kosta KhetagurovKosta Khetagurov1859–1906 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  99. 99Nadezhda KrupskayaNadezhda Krupskaya1869–1939 · 20th century · Politicians0.15
  100. 100Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia1825–1844 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.14

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.