1800–1899
The 19th century
Whose names filled the books of the 19th century — 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 English books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
.jpg?width=1200)
Jesus5 BC–30 · 1st century · Religious Figures94 - 2
.jpg?width=1200)
Homer900 BC–800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers15 - 3
_-_Palazzo_Nuovo_-_Musei_Capitolini_-_Rome_2016.jpg?width=1200)
Cicero106 BC–43 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians13 - 4
.jpg?width=1200)
Augustus63 BC–14 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians13 - 5
Plato428 BC–348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics10 - 6
.jpg?width=1200)
Virgil70 BC–19 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers9.6 - 7
Aristotle384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics9.4 - 8
Socrates470 BC–399 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Academics6.4 - 9
.jpg)
Herodotus484 BC–425 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers6.2 - 10
Charles II, Duke of Savoy1489–1496 · 15th century · Historical Figures5.9 - 11
Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1545–1617 · 16th century · Historical Figures5.9 - 12
Charles II, Lord of Monaco1555–1589 · 16th century · Politicians5.9 - 13
Plutarch40–120 · 1st century · Academics5.6 - 14
Ovid43 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers4.2 - 15
Strabo63 BC–23 · 1st millennium BC · Academics4.1 - 16
Charlemagne748–814 · 8th century · Historical Figures3.9 - 17
Demosthenes384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians3.8 - 18
Lord Byron1788–1824 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers3.6 - 19
Henry IV, Duke of Limburg1195–1247 · 13th century · Historical Figures3.5 - 20HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1463–1514 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.5
- 21
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor1050–1106 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.5 - 22
Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg1113–1196 · 12th century · Politicians3.5 - 23
Henry IV, Duke of Brabant1251–1272 · 13th century3.5 - 24HIHenry IV, Count of Waldeck1300–1348 · 14th century3.5
- 25
Livy59 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3.4 - 26
Origen185–254 · 3rd century · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academics3.1 - 27
Cleopatra69 BC–30 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figures3.0 - 28
Xenophon430 BC–354 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics3.0 - 29
Walter Scott1771–1832 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers3.0 - 30
.jpg?width=1200)
Henry III, Duke of Głogów1251–1309 · 13th century · Politicians2.8 - 31
Henry III, Count of Gorizia1263–1323 · 13th century2.8 - 32
_Miniatur.jpg?width=1200)
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor1016–1056 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.8 - 33
Henry III, Count of Schauenburg-Holstein1370–1421 · 15th century2.8 - 34
Henry III, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1542–1587 · 16th century2.8 - 35
Henry III, Margrave of Baden-Hachberg1300–1330 · 14th century · Models2.8 - 36
Henry III, Count of Louvain1060–1095 · 11th century · Politicians2.8 - 37HIHenry III, Count of Luxembourg1070–1096 · 11th century · Historical Figures2.8
- 38
Tertullian160–240 · 2nd century · Academics2.7 - 39
James II, Count of Urgell1388–1433 · 15th century2.6 - 40
Robert Peel1788–1850 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians2.6 - 41
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor1275–1313 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France2.6 - 42
Pericles494 BC–429 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians2.5 - 43
Henry VI1376–1454 · 15th century2.5 - 44
Henry VI, Count of Luxembourg1240–1288 · 13th century · Politicians2.5 - 45HVHenry VI, Count of Waldeck1340–1397 · 14th century2.5
- 46
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford1485–1555 · 16th century · Politicians2.4 - 47
Euclid333 BC–285 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics2.4 - 48
John the Baptist6 BC–30 · 1st century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures2.4 - 49
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor973–1024 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.3 - 50
Henry II1207–1248 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.3 - 51Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1507–1548 · 16th century2.3
- 52
Henry II, Duke of Ziębice1396–1420 · 15th century2.3 - 53
Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1289–1351 · 14th century · Historical Figures2.3 - 54
Henry II, Count of Champagne1166–1197 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.3 - 55
Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1215–1266 · 13th century · Historical Figures2.3 - 56
Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1317–1390 · 14th century2.3 - 57
Henry II , Duke of Lower Lorraine1059–1119 · 11th century2.3 - 58
Henry II, Duke of Świdnica1312–1345 · 14th century2.3 - 59HIHenry II, Margrave of the Nordmark1102–1128 · 12th century2.3
- 60
Henry II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal1308–1320 · 14th century · Models2.3 - 61
Otho32–69 · 1st century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians2.3 - 62
Trajan53–117 · 1st century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians2.3 - 63
Bede672–735 · 8th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers2.3 - 64
Solon630 BC–560 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.2 - 65
Euripides480 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.2 - 66
Thucydides460 BC–395 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.1 - 67
Pythagoras582 BC–490 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics2.1 - 68
Pindar517 BC–437 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.0 - 69
Richard II963–1026 · 10th century · 🇫🇷 France1.9 - 70
_(cropped).jpg?width=1200)
Julius Caesar100 BC–44 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.9 - 71
Sophocles496 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.9 - 72
John Smith1580–1631 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures1.8 - 73
.jpg)
Vespasian9–79 · 1st century · Politicians1.8 - 74
Aristophanes445 BC–385 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.8 - 75
William Henry1774–1836 · 19th century · Scientists1.7 - 76
Ben Jonson1572–1637 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers1.7 - 77
.jpg?width=1200)
Alexander the Great356 BC–323 BC · 1st millennium BC · Historical Figures1.7 - 78
Hippocrates460 BC–370 BC · 1st millennium BC · Doctors1.7 - 79
Alcibiades450 BC–404 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians1.6 - 80
Ahab918 BC–852 BC · 1st millennium BC · Models1.6 - 81
Isaac Newton1642–1727 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics1.6 - 82WIWilliam III, Duke of Aquitaine910–963 · 10th century1.6
- 83WIWilliam III, Marquess of Montferrat970–1042 · 11th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 84WIWilliam III, Count of Burgundy1110–1127 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 85
William III, Duke of Bavaria1375–1435 · 15th century · Historical Figures1.6 - 86
William III, Count of Toulouse975–1037 · 11th century · Historical Figures1.6 - 87WIWilliam III, Count of Jülich1150–1218 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 88WIWilliam III, Count of Genevaborn 1280 · 14th century1.6
- 89
.jpg?width=1200)
John Bull1562–1628 · 16th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians1.6 - 90
George II, Duke of Württemberg-Montbéliard1626–1699 · 17th century1.6 - 91
George II, Duke of Brieg1523–1586 · 16th century1.6 - 92
George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1512–1553 · 16th century1.6 - 93
Polybius200 BC–120 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.5 - 94
Galen129–300 · 2nd century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors1.5 - 95
Hadrian76–138 · 2nd century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.5 - 96
Lucretius94 BC–55 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.5 - 97
Lucan39–65 · 1st century · Writers1.4 - 98
William Jones1746–1794 · 18th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics1.4 - 99
William the Conqueror1028–1087 · 11th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures1.4
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 19th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Mehmed V1844–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 2
Constantine P. Cavafy1863–1933 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 3
Nâmık Kemâl1840–1888 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 4
.png?width=1200)
Fatma Aliye Topuz1862–1936 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 5
Hristo Botev1848–1876 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 6
Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz1843–1916 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers3 decades - 7
.jpg?width=1200)
Sami Frashëri1850–1904 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers3 decades - 8
Omer Lutfi Pasha1806–1871 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 9
Naim Frashëri1846–1900 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 10
Abdülhak Hâmit Tarhan1852–1937 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 11
Mehmed Emin Âli Paşa1815–1871 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 12
.jpg?width=1200)
Jurji Zaydan1861–1914 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 13
Qasim Amin1863–1908 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 14
Boutros Ghali1846–1910 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers3 decades - 15
Nubar Pasha1825–1899 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers10 decades - 16
İbrahim Şinasi1826–1871 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 17
Hüseyin Hilmi Pasha1855–1922 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 18
Ahmet Mithat Efendi1844–1912 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 19
Ziya Pasha1829–1880 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 20
Butrus al-Bustani1819–1883 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 21
Yosef Hayyim1833–1909 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 22
Petar Bojović1858–1945 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 23
Abdyl Frashëri1839–1892 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 24
Mah Şeref Han1805–1848 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 25
Mohamed Sherif Pasha1826–1887 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 26
Suleyman Husnu Pasha1838–1892 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 27
Ibrahim Edhem Pasha1818–1893 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 28
Krikor Zohrab1861–1915 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 29
.jpg?width=1200)
Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi1863–1936 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 30
Mehmed Ali Pasha1827–1878 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 31
İbrahim Hakkı Paşa1863–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 32
Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem1847–1914 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 33
.jpg?width=1200)
Ahmed Cevad Pasha1850–1900 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 34
Vaso Pasha1825–1892 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 35
_(cropped).jpg?width=1200)
Michał Czajkowski1804–1886 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 36
Nigâr Hanım1856–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 37
Nasif al-Yaziji1800–1871 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 38
Ahmet Rasim1864–1932 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 39
Stefan Bogoridi1775–1859 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 40
Francis Marrash1836–1874 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 41
Alexander Karatheodori Pasha1833–1906 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 42
Adli Yakan1864–1933 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 43
Ali Suavi1839–1878 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 44
Georgi Pulevski1817–1893 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 45
Halil Şerif Pasha1831–1879 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 46
Ahmad Zayni Dahlan1817–1886 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 47
Ali Mubarak1823–1893 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 48
Maryana Marrash1848–1919 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 49
Hagop Baronian1843–1891 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 50
Nalî1798–1855 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 51
Grigor Parlichev1830–1893 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 52
Naum Veqilharxhi1797–1846 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 53
Petros Duryan1851–1872 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 54
Konstantinos Paparrigopoulos1815–1891 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 55
Abdullah Kölemen1846–1937 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 56
Kostandin Kristoforidhi1827–1895 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 57
Güllü Agop1830–1898 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 58
Muallim Naci1849–1893 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 59
Gabriel Noradunkyan1852–1936 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 60
Ali Emîrî1857–1924 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 61
Petar Beron1799–1871 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 62
Mikhail Mishaqa1799–1888 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 63
Zabel Sibil Asadour1863–1934 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 64
Tlgadintsi1860–1915 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 65
Damat Mehmet Ali Paşa1813–1868 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 66
%2C_j%C3%A9suite_chald%C3%A9en.jpg?width=1200)
Louis Cheikho1859–1927 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 67
Neophyte of Rila1793–1881 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 68
Umihana Čuvidina1794–1870 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 69
Abu Khalil Qabbani1833–1903 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 70
Kuzman Shapkarev1834–1909 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 71
Kosta Abrašević1879–1898 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 72
Samipaşazade Sezai1859–1936 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 73
Rallou Karatza1778–1870 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 74YAYusuf an-Nabhani1849–1932 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
- 75
Athanasios Christopoulos1772–1847 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 76
Srpouhi Dussap1840–1901 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 77
Beşir Fuad1852–1887 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 78
Tahir al-Jazairi1852–1920 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 79
Damat Gürcü Halil Rifat Pasha1795–1856 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 80
Malachia Ormanian1841–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 81
Staka Skenderova1828–1891 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 82
Stoyan Mihaylovski1856–1927 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 83
Leylâ Saz1850–1936 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 84
Dadaloğlu1785–1868 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 85
Konstantinos Kyriakos1800–1880 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 86
Mihran Damadian1863–1945 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 87MBMahmud Bayazidi1797–1859 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
- 88
.jpg?width=1200)
Arpiar Arpiarian1851–1908 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 89
Muhammad-Hassan al-Najafi1785–1850 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 90
Belkıs Şevket1801–1999 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 91
Mahmoud Shokry al-Al Alusi1856–1924 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 92
Grgo Martić1822–1905 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 93
Marko Tsepenkov1829–1920 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 94EEErzurumlu Emrah1775–1854 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
- 95
Harutyun Shahrikyan1860–1915 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 96
Abu Bakr Effendi1814–1880 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 97
Boghos Yousefian1768–1844 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 98
.jpg?width=1200)
Yeghishe Tourian of Jerusalem1860–1930 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 99
Mehmed Namık Paşa1804–1892 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured— - 100
Tovmas Terzian1840–1909 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writersnot measured—
How this is measured
- Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
- Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
- Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
- What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.