215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1970-1979

The 1970s

Whose names filled the books of the 1970s - 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 1970s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Thomas Mann1875-1955 · 20th century · United States · Writers14
  2. 2Karl Marx1818-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Academics12
  3. 3Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers7.6
  4. 4Friedrich Engels1820-1895 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Academics6.9
  5. 5Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers6.2
  6. 6Heinrich Mann1871-1950 · 20th century · Germany · Writers5.0
  7. 7Max Weber1864-1920 · 19th century · Germany · Academics3.6
  8. 8Rosa Luxemburg1871-1919 · 20th century · Germany · Activists3.6
  9. 9Willy Brandt1913-1992 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians3.6
  10. 10Erich Honecker1912-1994 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians3.5
  11. 11Bertolt Brecht1898-1956 · 20th century · Austria · Writers3.2
  12. 12Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers3.1
  13. 13Anna Seghers1900-1983 · 20th century · Germany · Writers2.8
  14. 14Karl Kraus1874-1936 · 20th century · Austria · Writers2.7
  15. 15Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures2.5
  16. 16Helmut Schmidt1918-2015 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians2.5
  17. 17Walter Ulbricht1893-1973 · 20th century · Politicians2.5
  18. 18Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers2.4
  19. 19Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians2.4
  20. 20Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians2.4
  21. 21Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors2.1
  22. 22Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures2.0
  23. 23Karl Liebknecht1871-1919 · 20th century · Politicians2.0
  24. 24Hermann Hesse1877-1962 · 20th century · Switzerland · Writers1.9
  25. 25Konrad Adenauer1876-1967 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.9
  26. 26Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.8
  27. 27Wilhelm Pieck1876-1960 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.8
  28. 28Max Frisch1911-1991 · 20th century · Switzerland · Writers1.6
  29. 29Gerhart Hauptmann1862-1946 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  30. 30Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  31. 31Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.6
  32. 32Stefan George1868-1933 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  33. 33Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers1.5
  34. 34George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models1.5
  35. 35Ernst Bloch1885-1977 · 20th century · Germany · Academics1.5
  36. 36Ernst Thälmann1886-1944 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.4
  37. 37William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists1.4
  38. 38Hugo von Hofmannsthal1874-1929 · 20th century · Austria · Writers1.4
  39. 39August Bebel1840-1913 · 19th century · Germany · Politicians1.3
  40. 40Walter Benjamin1892-1940 · 20th century · Academics1.3
  41. 41Gottfried Keller1819-1890 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers1.3
  42. 42Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures1.3
  43. 43Karl Barth1886-1968 · 20th century · Switzerland · Academics1.3
  44. 44Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians1.2
  45. 45Günter Grass1927-2015 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  46. 46Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  47. 47Walter Scheel1919-2016 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.2
  48. 48Karl May1842-1912 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  49. 49Richard Strauss1864-1949 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians1.2
  50. 50Rudolf Steiner1861-1925 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers1.2
  51. 51Jürgen Habermas1929-2026 · 20th century · Germany · Academics1.2
  52. 52Franz Kafka1883-1924 · 20th century · Czechia · Writers1.2
  53. 53Clara Zetkin1857-1933 · 19th century · Germany · Activists1.2
  54. 54Christa Wolf1929-2011 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  55. 55Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians1.1
  56. 56Gottfried Benn1886-1956 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  57. 57Sigmund Freud1856-1939 · 19th century · Austria · Doctors1.1
  58. 58Heinrich von Kleist1777-1811 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  59. 59Klaus Mann1906-1949 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  60. 60Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists1.1
  61. 61Friedrich Nietzsche1844-1900 · 19th century · Germany · Academics1.1
  62. 62Franz Mehring1846-1919 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  63. 63Theodor Fontane1819-1898 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  64. 64Theodor W. Adorno1903-1969 · 20th century · United States · Academics1.1
  65. 65E. T. A. Hoffmann1776-1822 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.0
  66. 66Herbert Marcuse1898-1979 · 20th century · Germany · Academics1.0
  67. 67Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics1.0
  68. 68Carl Schmitt1888-1985 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.98
  69. 69Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.98
  70. 70Adalbert Stifter1805-1868 · 19th century · Artists0.93
  71. 71Georg Büchner1813-1837 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.93
  72. 72Wilhelm Liebknecht1826-1900 · 19th century · Germany · Journalists0.93
  73. 73Friedrich Schiller1759-1805 · 18th century · Germany · Writers0.92
  74. 74Karl Kautsky1854-1938 · 19th century · Germany · Politicians0.90
  75. 75Robert Musil1880-1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.88
  76. 76Stefan Zweig1881-1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.88
  77. 77Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.88
  78. 78Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.87
  79. 79Thomas Müntzer1489-1525 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.86
  80. 80Max Ernst1891-1976 · 20th century · Germany · Artists0.86
  81. 81Ludwig Erhard1897-1977 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.86
  82. 82Martin Buber1878-1965 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.84
  83. 83Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.84
  84. 84Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.83
  85. 85Theodor Heuss1884-1963 · 20th century · Germany · Journalists0.82
  86. 86Ernst Jünger1895-1998 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.81
  87. 87Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.80
  88. 88Immanuel Kant1724-1804 · 18th century · Academics0.79
  89. 89Karl Jaspers1883-1969 · 20th century · Germany · Doctors0.79
  90. 90Alfred Döblin1878-1957 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.78
  91. 91Jacob Burckhardt1818-1897 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.77
  92. 92Rainer Maria Rilke1875-1926 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.77
  93. 93Albert Einstein1879-1955 · 20th century · Switzerland · Scientists0.76
  94. 94Arthur Schnitzler1862-1931 · 19th century · Austria · Writers0.75
  95. 95Heinrich Böll1917-1985 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.73
  96. 96Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.73
  97. 97Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.71
  98. 98Hartmann von Aue1160-1210 · 12th century · Germany · Writers0.71
  99. 99Arno Holz1863-1929 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.71
  100. 100Paul Klee1879-1940 · 20th century · Switzerland · Artists0.69

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1970s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Pope Francis1936-2025 · Argentina · Religious Figuresnot measured-
  2. 2Joe Bidenborn 1942 · United States · Politicians4 decades
  3. 3Elvis Presley1935-1977 · United States · Musicians7 decades
  4. 4Bob Dylanborn 1941 · United States · Musicians6 decades
  5. 5Ali Khamenei1939-2026 · Iran · Politicians4 decades
  6. 6Bruce Lee1940-1973 · United States · Actors5 decades
  7. 7Stephen Hawking1942-2018 · United Kingdom · Scientists4 decades
  8. 8John Lennon1940-1980 · United Kingdom · Musicians6 decades
  9. 9Muhammad Ali1942-2016 · United States · Athletes8 decades
  10. 10Saddam Hussein1937-2006 · Iraq · Politicians6 decades
  11. 11Paul McCartneyborn 1942 · United Kingdom · Musicians6 decades
  12. 12Muammar Gaddafi1942-2011 · Politicians2 decades
  13. 13Robert De Niroborn 1943 · United States · Actors5 decades
  14. 14Woody Allenborn 1935 · United States · Directors6 decades
  15. 15Pelé1940-2022 · Brazil · Footballers3 decades
  16. 16Al Pacinoborn 1940 · United States · Actors5 decades
  17. 17Jack Nicholsonborn 1937 · United States · Actors5 decades
  18. 18Bernie Sandersborn 1941 · United States · Politicians3 decades
  19. 19Harrison Fordborn 1942 · United States · Actors4 decades
  20. 20Morgan Freemanborn 1937 · United States · Actors3 decades
  21. 21George Harrison1943-2001 · United Kingdom · Musiciansnot measured-
  22. 22Chuck Norris1940-2026 · United States · Actors4 decades
  23. 23Jane Fondaborn 1937 · United States · Actors6 decades
  24. 24Jimi Hendrix1942-1970 · United States · Musicians5 decades
  25. 2514th Dalai Lamaborn 1935 · China · Politiciansnot measured-
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.