215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1960-1969

The 1960s

Whose names filled the books of the 1960s - 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 1960s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century12
  2. 2Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures10
  3. 3Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers8.9
  4. 4Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics7.6
  5. 5Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century7.3
  6. 6Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures7.2
  7. 7Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers6.5
  8. 8Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers5.1
  9. 9Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC5.0
  10. 10Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures4.7
  11. 11Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians4.1
  12. 12Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century3.9
  13. 13Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics3.3
  14. 14Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers3.3
  15. 15Menachem Begin1913-1992 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.0
  16. 16Levi Eshkol1895-1969 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.0
  17. 17Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians2.8
  18. 18Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers2.7
  19. 19Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC2.5
  20. 20Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers2.5
  21. 21Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures2.5
  22. 22Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century2.3
  23. 23Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century2.1
  24. 24Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers1.8
  25. 25Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century1.7
  26. 26Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century1.6
  27. 27Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics1.5
  28. 28Golda Meir1898-1978 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.5
  29. 29Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers1.5
  30. 30Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers1.5
  31. 31Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians1.4
  32. 32Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia1.2
  33. 33Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany1.1
  34. 34Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics1.0
  35. 35Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.99
  36. 36Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century0.96
  37. 37Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.93
  38. 38Shimon Peres1923-2016 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.87
  39. 39Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics0.84
  40. 40Yitzhak Rabin1922-1995 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.83
  41. 41Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers0.80
  42. 42Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.78
  43. 43Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.77
  44. 44Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.74
  45. 45Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.71
  46. 46Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.71
  47. 47Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.70
  48. 48Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland0.70
  49. 49Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.67
  50. 50Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.66
  51. 51Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.65
  52. 52Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.63
  53. 53Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.62
  54. 54Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.61
  55. 55Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.59
  56. 56Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.54
  57. 57Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.52
  58. 58Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.49
  59. 59Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.47
  60. 60Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.43
  61. 61Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.43
  62. 62Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.42
  63. 63Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.41
  64. 64Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.39
  65. 65Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.38
  66. 66Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740-1809 · 18th century · Russia · Musicians0.33
  67. 67Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.32
  68. 68Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.32
  69. 69Amos Oz1939-2018 · 20th century · Israel · Writers0.32
  70. 70Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.31
  71. 71Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.28
  72. 72Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.28
  73. 73Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.27
  74. 74Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.26
  75. 75Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.25
  76. 76Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.22
  77. 77Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.21
  78. 78Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.21
  79. 79Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.19
  80. 80Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.18
  81. 81Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.17
  82. 82Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.16
  83. 83Chaim Herzog1918-1997 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.15
  84. 84Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.14
  85. 85Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.14
  86. 86Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.13
  87. 87Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.12
  88. 88Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.12
  89. 89Ariel Sharon1928-2014 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.09
  90. 90Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.09
  91. 91Daniel Bomberg1483-1549 · 16th century0.09
  92. 92Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.08
  93. 93Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.08
  94. 94Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.07
  95. 95Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models0.06
  96. 96Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.06
  97. 97Judah ben David Hayyuj945-1000 · 10th century · Writers0.06
  98. 98Yitzhak Shamir1915-2012 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.05
  99. 99Tzvi Ashkenazi1660-1718 · 17th century0.05
  100. 100Isaac Albalag1300-1300 · 14th century · Academics0.05

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1960s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Elizabeth II1926-2022 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures8 decades
  2. 2Marilyn Monroe1926-1962 · United States · Actors7 decades
  3. 3Martin Luther King Jr.1929-1968 · United States · Activists6 decades
  4. 4Pope Benedict XVI1927-2022 · Germany · Religious Figures2 decades
  5. 5Che Guevara1928-1967 · Cuba · Activists7 decades
  6. 6Brigitte Bardot1934-2025 · France · Actors7 decades
  7. 7Margaret Thatcher1925-2013 · United Kingdom · Politicians6 decades
  8. 8Clint Eastwoodborn 1930 · United States · Actors6 decades
  9. 9Mikhail Gorbachev1931-2022 · Russia · Politicians4 decades
  10. 10Fidel Castro1926-2016 · Cuba · Politicians10 decades
  11. 11Audrey Hepburn1929-1993 · United Kingdom · Actors7 decades
  12. 12Elizabeth Taylor1932-2011 · United Kingdom · Actors9 decades
  13. 13Sean Connery1930-2020 · United Kingdom · Actors6 decades
  14. 14Warren Buffettborn 1930 · United States · Investors3 decades
  15. 15Stanley Kubrick1928-1999 · United States · Directors6 decades
  16. 16Malcolm X1925-1965 · United States · Activists6 decades
  17. 17Neil Armstrong1930-2012 · United States · Astronauts6 decades
  18. 18Jane Goodall1934-2025 · United Kingdom · Academics5 decades
  19. 19Noam Chomskyborn 1928 · United States · Academics6 decades
  20. 20Yuri Gagarin1934-1968 · Russia · Astronauts6 decades
  21. 21Andy Warhol1928-1987 · United States · Artists6 decades
  22. 22Johnny Cash1932-2003 · United States · Musicians6 decades
  23. 23Pol Pot1925-1998 · Cambodia · Politicians5 decades
  24. 24Boris Yeltsin1931-2007 · Russia · Politicians4 decades
  25. 25Sophia Lorenborn 1934 · Italy · Actors7 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.