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 Chinese books during the 1990s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Mao Zedong1893-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians217
  2. 2Deng Xiaoping1904-1997 · 20th century · China · Politicians143
  3. 3Jiang Zemin1926-2022 · 20th century · China · Politicians66
  4. 4Zhou Enlai1898-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians63
  5. 5Lu Xun1881-1936 · 20th century · China · Writers43
  6. 6Sun Yat-sen1866-1925 · 20th century · China · Politicians28
  7. 7Liu Shaoqi1898-1969 · 20th century · China · Politicians20
  8. 8Li Peng1928-2019 · 20th century · China · Politicians14
  9. 9Lin Biao1907-1971 · 20th century · China · Politicians11
  10. 10Confucius551 BC-479 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Academics11
  11. 11Zhu De1886-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians9.4
  12. 12Jiang Qing1914-1991 · 20th century · China · Actors7.6
  13. 13Laozi579 BC-500 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics5.0
  14. 14Soong Ching-ling1893-1981 · 20th century · China · Politicians4.5
  15. 15Yuan Shikai1859-1916 · 19th century · China · Politicians4.2
  16. 16Lee Teng-hui1923-2020 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians4.0
  17. 17Hu Jintaoborn 1942 · 20th century · China · Politicians3.2
  18. 18Gao Ming1305-1370 · 14th century · Writers2.8
  19. 19Zhuang Zhou369 BC-288 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Academics2.8
  20. 20Kang Youwei1858-1927 · 19th century · China · Politicians2.1
  21. 21Li Hongzhang1823-1901 · 19th century · China · Politicians2.0
  22. 22Yan Fu1854-1921 · 19th century · Writers1.9
  23. 23Qu Yuan343 BC-278 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Writers1.5
  24. 24Chiang Ching-kuo1910-1988 · 20th century · China · Politicians1.4
  25. 25Cao Xueqin1724-1760 · 18th century · China · Writers1.3
  26. 26Sima Qian145 BC-86 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Writers1.2
  27. 27Lee Kuan Yew1923-2015 · 20th century · Singapore · Politicians1.0
  28. 28Lin Yutang1895-1976 · 20th century · China · Writers0.91
  29. 29Chen-ning Yang1922-2025 · 20th century · China · Scientists0.90
  30. 30Zhang Yimouborn 1950 · 20th century · China · Directors0.89
  31. 31Li Si280 BC-208 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Politicians0.87
  32. 32Hong Xiuquan1814-1864 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.82
  33. 33Zhu Rongji1928-2026 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.76
  34. 34Zhu Xi1130-1200 · 12th century · China · Writers0.75
  35. 35Du Fu712-770 · 8th century · China · Writers0.74
  36. 36Lin Tse-hsu1785-1850 · 19th century · Politicians0.71
  37. 37Zhuge Liang181-234 · 3rd century · China · Politicians0.68
  38. 38Li Bai701-762 · 8th century · Writers0.64
  39. 39Zheng He1371-1433 · 15th century · China · Historical Figures0.63
  40. 40Wang Yangming1472-1529 · 16th century · China · Academics0.62
  41. 41Tan Sitong1865-1898 · 19th century · China · Academics0.55
  42. 42Li Zicheng1606-1645 · 17th century · China · Politicians0.53
  43. 43Dong Zhongshu179 BC-104 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.53
  44. 44Wen Jiabaoborn 1942 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.51
  45. 45Mo Yanborn 1955 · 20th century · China · Writers0.50
  46. 46Xun Kuang313 BC-230 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.45
  47. 47Wang Anshi1021-1086 · 11th century · China · Politicians0.45
  48. 48Xu Xiake1587-1641 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.45
  49. 49Tao Yuanming365-427 · 5th century · China · Writers0.43
  50. 50Wang Fuzhi1619-1692 · 17th century · China · Writers0.38
  51. 51Koxinga1624-1662 · 17th century · Japan · Politicians0.34
  52. 52Wang Chong27-97 · 1st century · Scientists0.33
  53. 53Zeng Guofan1811-1872 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.33
  54. 54Wu Zetian624-705 · 7th century · China · Writers0.30
  55. 55Bai Juyi772-846 · 9th century · China · Writers0.28
  56. 56Cao Cao155-220 · 2nd century · China · Politicians0.26
  57. 57Li Qiangborn 1959 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.22
  58. 58Park Chung-hee1917-1979 · 20th century · South Korea · Politicians0.21
  59. 59Dai Zhen1724-1777 · 18th century · China · Academics0.19
  60. 60Liu Zongyuan773-819 · 9th century · Writers0.18
  61. 61Mozi470 BC-391 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.17
  62. 62Puyi1906-1967 · 20th century · China · Historical Figures0.17
  63. 63Hua Guofeng1921-2008 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.17
  64. 64Zhang Zhidong1837-1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.16
  65. 65Han Yu768-824 · 9th century · China · Writers0.15
  66. 66Hongwu Emperor1328-1398 · 14th century · China · Historical Figures0.15
  67. 67Zhao Ziyang1919-2005 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.15
  68. 68Liu Xiaobo1955-2017 · 20th century · China · Writers0.14
  69. 69Gu Yanwu1613-1682 · 17th century · Writers0.14
  70. 70Chen Shui-bianborn 1950 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians0.14
  71. 71Zhang Zai1020-1077 · 11th century · Academics0.14
  72. 72Wang Wei699-759 · 8th century · China · Writers0.13
  73. 73Qi Baishi1864-1957 · 19th century · China · Artists0.13
  74. 74Su Shi1037-1101 · 11th century · China · Writers0.13
  75. 75Gao Xingjianborn 1940 · 20th century · China · Writers0.12
  76. 76Xu Guangqi1562-1633 · 16th century · Politicians0.12
  77. 77Song Yingxing1587-1666 · 17th century · Writers0.12
  78. 78Hsu Shih-chang1855-1939 · 19th century · Politicians0.12
  79. 79Zengzi504 BC-435 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.11
  80. 80Li Yuanhong1864-1928 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.11
  81. 81Guan Hanqing1210-1298 · 13th century · Writers0.11
  82. 82Lu You1125-1210 · 12th century · China · Writers0.11
  83. 83Wu Jingzi1701-1754 · 18th century · Writers0.11
  84. 84Pang De170-219 · 3rd century0.11
  85. 85Ban Gu32-92 · 1st century · Writers0.10
  86. 86Kim Il-sung1912-1994 · 20th century · North Korea · Politicians0.10
  87. 87Ouyang Xiu1007-1072 · 11th century · China · Writers0.10
  88. 88Wen Tianxiang1236-1283 · 13th century · Politicians0.09
  89. 89Emperor Wu of Han156 BC-87 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.09
  90. 90Zhang Xuecheng1738-1801 · 18th century · Academics0.09
  91. 91Lady Sunborn 192 · 3rd century · Writers0.09
  92. 92Liu Bei161-223 · 2nd century0.09
  93. 93Yuan Jie719-772 · 8th century · Writers0.09
  94. 94Li Keqiang1955-2023 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.08
  95. 95Li Shizhen1517-1593 · 16th century · Scientists0.08
  96. 96Hai Rui1514-1587 · 16th century0.08
  97. 97Huang Zongxi1610-1695 · 17th century · Academics0.08
  98. 98Shen Kuo1031-1095 · 11th century · China · Scientists0.08
  99. 99Guan Zhong720 BC-645 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.08
  100. 100Zhang Juzheng1525-1582 · 16th century · China · Politicians0.07

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.