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 Hebrew books during the 1970s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century12
  2. 2Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers8.9
  3. 3Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures8.1
  4. 4Golda Meir1898-1978 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians7.1
  5. 5Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians7.0
  6. 6Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics6.9
  7. 7Menachem Begin1913-1992 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians6.3
  8. 8Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers5.3
  9. 9Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers5.3
  10. 10Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians4.7
  11. 11Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC4.4
  12. 12Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures4.1
  13. 13Shimon Peres1923-2016 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.9
  14. 14Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century3.9
  15. 15Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century3.8
  16. 16Levi Eshkol1895-1969 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.6
  17. 17Yitzhak Rabin1922-1995 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.5
  18. 18Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures3.0
  19. 19Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers2.9
  20. 20Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers2.8
  21. 21Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics2.7
  22. 22Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century2.6
  23. 23Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers2.2
  24. 24Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC1.9
  25. 25Amos Oz1939-2018 · 20th century · Israel · Writers1.9
  26. 26Ehud Olmertborn 1945 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.8
  27. 27Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century1.7
  28. 28Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians1.6
  29. 29Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers1.5
  30. 30Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century1.4
  31. 31Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures1.4
  32. 32Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia1.3
  33. 33Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers1.3
  34. 34Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century1.3
  35. 35Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany1.2
  36. 36Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics1.1
  37. 37Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century1.1
  38. 38Ariel Sharon1928-2014 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.96
  39. 39Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.77
  40. 40Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland0.77
  41. 41Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.76
  42. 42Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.76
  43. 43Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics0.72
  44. 44Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.69
  45. 45Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.68
  46. 46Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.68
  47. 47Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.67
  48. 48Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.65
  49. 49Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics0.63
  50. 50Yitzhak Shamir1915-2012 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.61
  51. 51Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.58
  52. 52Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.56
  53. 53Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers0.55
  54. 54Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.54
  55. 55Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.53
  56. 56Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.52
  57. 57Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.50
  58. 58Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.49
  59. 59Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.49
  60. 60Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.48
  61. 61Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.45
  62. 62Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.45
  63. 63Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.44
  64. 64Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.43
  65. 65Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.42
  66. 66Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.41
  67. 67Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.41
  68. 68Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.39
  69. 69Chaim Herzog1918-1997 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.39
  70. 70Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.37
  71. 71Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.37
  72. 72Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.36
  73. 73Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.35
  74. 74Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.32
  75. 75Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.31
  76. 76Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.25
  77. 77Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.25
  78. 78Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.24
  79. 79Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.24
  80. 80Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740-1809 · 18th century · Russia · Musicians0.21
  81. 81Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.20
  82. 82Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.19
  83. 83Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.18
  84. 84Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.17
  85. 85Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.16
  86. 86Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.16
  87. 87Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.14
  88. 88Daniel Bomberg1483-1549 · 16th century0.14
  89. 89Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.13
  90. 90Judah ben David Hayyuj945-1000 · 10th century · Writers0.12
  91. 91Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.12
  92. 92Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.11
  93. 93Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.10
  94. 94Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.09
  95. 95Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models0.08
  96. 96Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.08
  97. 97Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.08
  98. 98Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.07
  99. 99Eliezer ben Nathan1090-1170 · 12th century · Writers0.07
  100. 100Petrus Alphonsi1062-1140 · 11th century · Writers0.07

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.