215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1990-1999

The 1990s

Whose names filled the books of the 1990s - 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 1990s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures18
  2. 2Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century12
  3. 3Reuven Rivlinborn 1939 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians11
  4. 4Yitzhak Rabin1922-1995 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians10
  5. 5Shimon Peres1923-2016 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians8.8
  6. 6Menachem Begin1913-1992 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians8.3
  7. 7Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians7.8
  8. 8Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers6.8
  9. 9Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics6.5
  10. 10Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers5.5
  11. 11Golda Meir1898-1978 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians5.1
  12. 12Yitzhak Shamir1915-2012 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians4.5
  13. 13Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century4.5
  14. 14Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers4.2
  15. 15Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century4.2
  16. 16Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century4.2
  17. 17Benjamin Netanyahuborn 1949 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians4.1
  18. 18Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers3.9
  19. 19Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics3.8
  20. 20Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC3.8
  21. 21Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures3.6
  22. 22Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.6
  23. 23Amos Oz1939-2018 · 20th century · Israel · Writers3.4
  24. 24Ehud Barakborn 1942 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.3
  25. 25Ariel Sharon1928-2014 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.2
  26. 26Levi Eshkol1895-1969 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.1
  27. 27Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century3.0
  28. 28Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century2.9
  29. 29Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures2.9
  30. 30Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers2.4
  31. 31Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia2.2
  32. 32Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers2.0
  33. 33Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians2.0
  34. 34Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers2.0
  35. 35Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC1.9
  36. 36Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century1.8
  37. 37Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century1.3
  38. 38Ehud Olmertborn 1945 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.3
  39. 39Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics1.3
  40. 40Chaim Herzog1918-1997 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.3
  41. 41Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics1.0
  42. 42Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers1.0
  43. 43Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany0.97
  44. 44Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.94
  45. 45Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures0.92
  46. 46Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.91
  47. 47Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.82
  48. 48Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.77
  49. 49Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.74
  50. 50Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.73
  51. 51Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.67
  52. 52Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.65
  53. 53Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics0.63
  54. 54Tzipi Livniborn 1958 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.61
  55. 55Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.61
  56. 56Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.54
  57. 57Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.54
  58. 58Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.53
  59. 59Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.53
  60. 60Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.52
  61. 61Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland0.52
  62. 62Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.51
  63. 63Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.50
  64. 64Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.44
  65. 65Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.44
  66. 66Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.43
  67. 67Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics0.42
  68. 68Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.42
  69. 69Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.40
  70. 70Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.40
  71. 71Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.40
  72. 72Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers0.39
  73. 73Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.38
  74. 74Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.34
  75. 75Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.32
  76. 76Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.32
  77. 77Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.32
  78. 78Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.31
  79. 79Mahmoud Darwish1941-2008 · 20th century · Palestine · Writers0.30
  80. 80Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.28
  81. 81Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.26
  82. 82Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.26
  83. 83Etgar Keretborn 1967 · 21st century · Israel · Writers0.25
  84. 84Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.25
  85. 85David Grossmanborn 1954 · 20th century · Israel · Writers0.24
  86. 86Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.22
  87. 87Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.21
  88. 88Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.20
  89. 89Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.19
  90. 90Isaac ibn Ezra1114-1158 · 12th century · Spain · Writers0.17
  91. 91Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.17
  92. 92Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.16
  93. 93Ibn Shaprutborn 1400 · 15th century · Spain · Actors0.16
  94. 94Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.16
  95. 95Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.14
  96. 96Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.14
  97. 97Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.14
  98. 98Herod Archelaus23 BC-18 · 1st century · Models0.13
  99. 99Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.12
  100. 100Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.12

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1990s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Michael Jackson1958-2009 · United States · Musicians5 decades
  2. 2Barack Obamaborn 1961 · United States · Politicians2 decades
  3. 3Steve Jobs1955-2011 · United States · Founders4 decades
  4. 4Pope Leo XIVborn 1955 · United States · Religious Figures0 decades
  5. 5Madonnaborn 1958 · United States · Musiciansnot measured-
  6. 6Osama bin Laden1957-2011 · Saudi Arabia · Historical Figures3 decades
  7. 7Diego Maradona1960-2020 · Argentina · Footballers4 decades
  8. 8Bill Gatesborn 1955 · United States · Founders4 decades
  9. 9Brad Pittborn 1963 · United States · Actors3 decades
  10. 10Nicolás Maduroborn 1962 · Venezuela · Politicians2 decades
  11. 11Michael Jordanborn 1963 · United States · Basketball Players4 decades
  12. 12Diana, Princess of Wales1961-1997 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  13. 13Kamala Harrisborn 1964 · United States · Politicians1 decades
  14. 14Johnny Deppborn 1963 · United States · Actors3 decades
  15. 15Tom Cruiseborn 1962 · United States · Actors4 decades
  16. 16Tom Hanksborn 1956 · United States · Actors4 decades
  17. 17Tupac Shakur1971-1996 · United States · Musicians3 decades
  18. 18Keanu Reevesborn 1964 · Canada · Actors3 decades
  19. 19Whitney Houston1963-2012 · United States · Musicians4 decades
  20. 20Keir Starmerborn 1962 · United Kingdom · Politicians0 decades
  21. 21Sandra Bullockborn 1964 · United States · Actors3 decades
  22. 22Jim Carreyborn 1962 · United States · Actors3 decades
  23. 23George Clooneyborn 1961 · United States · Actors3 decades
  24. 24Bruce Willisborn 1955 · United States · Actors4 decades
  25. 25Jeff Bezosborn 1964 · United States · Founders2 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.