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 French books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Voltaire1694–1778 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers37 - 2
Louis XIV of France1638–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures32 - 3
Louis XVI of France1754–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures16 - 4
Molière1622–1673 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 - 5
Louis XV of France1710–1774 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures10 - 6
Montesquieu1689–1755 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7.7 - 7HIHenry II, Count of Euborn 1160 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France5.7
- 8
Henry II of France1519–1559 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians5.7 - 9
Louis XVIII of France1755–1824 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians5.7 - 10
François Fénelon1651–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures5.5
- 11
Louis XII of France1462–1515 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5.2 - 12
Victor Hugo1802–1885 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3.3 - 13
Charles X of France1757–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians3.1 - 14
Marie Antoinette1755–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.4 - 15
Joan of Arc1412–1431 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France2.4 - 16
Francis de Sales1567–1622 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures2.4 - 17
Philip V of Spain1683–1746 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.2 - 18
Francis II of France1544–1560 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9 - 19
Marie de' Medici1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9
- 20
Napoleon III1808–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9 - 21
Vincent de Paul1581–1660 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.9 - 22
Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme1540–1614 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.8 - 23
Louis Blanc1811–1882 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.6 - 24
Benjamin Constant1767–1830 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians1.5 - 25
Pope Julius II1443–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.5 - 26
Jules Favre1809–1880 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.4 - 27
Jules Simon1814–1896 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.4 - 28
Pierre de Marivaux1688–1763 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.2 - 29
Alexandre Dumas fils1824–1895 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.1 - 30
Jules Ferry1832–1893 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.1 - 31
Charles de Lorraine de Vaudémont1561–1587 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.94
- 32
Charles of Lorraine1567–1607 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.94 - 33
Camille Desmoulins1760–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Journalists0.90 - 34
Pope John XXII1244–1334 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.89
- 35
Alexandre Dumas1802–1870 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.87 - 36
George Sand1804–1876 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.85
- 37
Firmin Didot1764–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.80 - 38
Claude Bernard1813–1878 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.79 - 39
Pope Clement V1264–1314 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.78
- 40
Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778 · 18th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0.76 - 41
Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon1635–1719 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.76 - 42
Odilon Barrot1791–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.76 - 43
Louis XVII of France1785–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.73 - 44
Louis Bonaparte1778–1846 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.73 - 45
Anne of Brittany1477–1514 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.73 - 46
La Grange1635–1692 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Actors0.73 - 47
Auguste Comte1798–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.69 - 48
Charles the Bold1433–1477 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.69 - 49
Alfred de Musset1810–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.68 - 50
André Chénier1762–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.66 - 51
Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège1438–1482 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.62 - 52
Louis de Bourbon, Count of Clermont1709–1771 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.62 - 53
Louis, Count of Vermandois1667–1683 · 17th century0.62 - 54
Louis, Count of Soissons1604–1641 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.62 - 55
Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre1725–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.62 - 56
Margaret of Valois1553–1615 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.61 - 57
Gustav III of Sweden1746–1792 · 18th century · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0.58 - 58
Théophile Gautier1811–1872 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.57 - 59
Diane de Poitiers1499–1566 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.56 - 60
Olivier de Serres1539–1619 · 16th century · Writers0.55 - 61
Nostradamus1503–1566 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.53 - 62
Jeanne d'Albret1528–1572 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.52 - 63
Augustin Thierry1795–1856 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.52 - 64
Napoleon1769–1821 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.51 - 65
Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy1480–1530 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0.49 - 66
Joseph Bonaparte1768–1844 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.49 - 67
Charlotte Corday1768–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.48
- 68
Joseph de Maistre1753–1821 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.48 - 69
Ambroise Paré1510–1590 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.48 - 70
Mary of Burgundy1457–1482 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.47 - 71
Pierre Corneille1606–1684 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.46 - 72
Stendhal1783–1842 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.45 - 73
Claude Michel1738–1814 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.45 - 74
Pierre Leroux1797–1871 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.44 - 75
Charles Nodier1780–1844 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.43 - 76
Maine de Biran1766–1824 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.43 - 77
Lucien Bonaparte1775–1840 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.42 - 78
Casimir Delavigne1793–1843 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.42 - 79
Charles, Count of Soissons1566–1612 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.40 - 80
Louis Racine1692–1763 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.40 - 81
Vincent of Beauvais1190–1264 · 13th century · Educators0.40 - 82
Jean Goujon1510–1567 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Architects0.39 - 83
Pope Urban V1310–1370 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.39 - 84
Thomas Corneille1625–1709 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.38 - 85
Horace Vernet1789–1863 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.38 - 86
Gaston Paris1839–1903 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.37 - 87
Antoine of Navarre1518–1562 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.36 - 88
Félix Faure1841–1899 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.36 - 89
Jacques Clément1567–1589 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.36 - 90
Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville1746–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.36 - 91
Pope Clement IV1190–1268 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.35
- 92
Pope Gregory XI1329–1378 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.35 - 93
Charles Dupin1784–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.35 - 94
Napoléon, Prince Imperial1856–1879 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.34 - 95
Napoleon II1811–1832 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Designers0.33 - 96
John of Luxembourg, Lord of Beauvoir1370–1397 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.33 - 97
Alfred de Vigny1797–1863 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.33 - 98
Prince Philippe, Count of Paris1838–1894 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.32 - 99
Blanche of Castile1188–1252 · 13th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.32 - 100
Camille Jordan1838–1922 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.32
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
Simón Bolívar1783–1830 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades - 2
Antoni Gaudí1852–1926 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Architects5 decades - 3
José Martí1853–1895 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers16 decades - 4
Miguel de Unamuno1864–1936 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades - 5
Isabella II of Spain1830–1904 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models11 decades - 6
Ferdinand VII of Spain1784–1833 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models19 decades - 7
Santiago Ramón y Cajal1852–1934 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists13 decades - 8
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer1836–1870 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers13 decades - 9
Alfonso XII of Spain1857–1885 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
- 10
Benito Pérez Galdós1843–1920 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades - 11
Bernardo O'Higgins1778–1842 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades - 12
Agustín I of Mexico1783–1824 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades - 13
Rosalía de Castro1837–1885 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers13 decades - 14
George Santayana1863–1952 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics9 decades - 15
Isaac Albéniz1860–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians12 decades - 16
Maria Christina of Austria1858–1929 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured— - 17
Joaquín Sorolla1863–1923 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists13 decades - 18
Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz1822–1902 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures5 decades - 19
Carlota Joaquina of Spain1775–1830 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures14 decades - 20
Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies1810–1859 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured— - 21
Francisco Tárrega1852–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians16 decades - 22
Pablo de Sarasate1844–1908 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians11 decades - 23
Emilia Pardo Bazán1851–1921 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades - 24
Manuel Godoy1767–1851 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades - 25
Carlos de Borbón y Borbón-Parma1788–1855 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians14 decades - 26
Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos1814–1870 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians18 decades - 27
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo1828–1897 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians17 decades - 28
Mercedes of Orléans1860–1878 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 29
Francisco Morazán1792–1842 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians14 decades
- 30
José Echegaray1832–1916 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers19 decades - 31
José de Espronceda1808–1842 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers19 decades - 32
Louis Blanc1811–1882 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians20 decades - 33
José Antonio Páez1790–1873 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades - 34
Rafael del Riego1784–1823 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades - 35
Infanta Isabel, Countess of Gergenti1851–1931 · 🇪🇸 Spain0 decades - 36
Juan José Flores1800–1864 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades - 37
Francisco Ferrer1859–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Educators12 decades - 38
Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain1794–1865 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 39
Charles II, Duke of Parma1799–1883 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades - 40
Leopoldo Alas1852–1901 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers4 decades - 41
Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara1793–1879 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades - 42
Lluís Domènech i Montaner1850–1923 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Architectsnot measured— - 43
Maria Isabella of Spain1789–1848 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades - 44
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta1825–1903 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians16 decades - 45
Mariano José de Larra1809–1837 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers19 decades - 46
José Zorrilla1817–1893 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers21 decades - 47
Adelina Patti1843–1919 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians16 decades - 48
Queen Maria Isabel of Spain1797–1818 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades - 49
Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony1803–1829 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures15 decades - 50
Fernando Sor1778–1839 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians11 decades - 51
Luisa Fernanda of Spain, Duchess of Montpensier1832–1897 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2 decades - 52
Francesc Macià i Llussà1859–1933 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured— - 53
Valentín Gómez Farías1781–1858 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades
- 54
Alejandro Lerroux1864–1949 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians13 decades - 55
Francisco Pi y Margall1824–1901 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians17 decades - 56
Carlos de Borbón y Austria-Este1848–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured— - 57
Ildefons Cerdà1815–1876 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Architects13 decades - 58
Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo1819–1874 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musiciansnot measured— - 59
Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre1810–1885 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians12 decades - 60
Maria Luisa I, Duchess of Lucca1782–1824 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures15 decades - 61
Santiago Rusiñol i Prats1861–1931 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers13 decades - 62
Emilio Castelar1832–1899 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians17 decades - 63
Pablo Iglesias Posse1850–1925 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians2 decades - 64
Eduardo Dato1856–1921 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians14 decades - 65
Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo1856–1912 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics14 decades - 66
Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan1809–1867 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians18 decades - 67
Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily1784–1806 · 🇪🇸 Spain10 decades - 68
Mariano Fortuny Marsal1838–1874 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists15 decades - 69
Juan Donoso Cortés1809–1853 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers19 decades - 70
Carlos Luis de Borbón y Bragança1818–1861 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured— - 71
Jacint Verdaguer1845–1902 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers15 decades - 72
Concepción Arenal Ponte1820–1893 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers16 decades - 73
Estanislao Figueras1819–1882 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians16 decades - 74
Antonio Maura1853–1925 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians16 decades - 75
Princess María Isabel of Orléans1848–1919 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured— - 76
Anthony Mary Claret1807–1870 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures16 decades - 77
Eusebio Güell1846–1918 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Foundersnot measured— - 78
Álvaro de Figueroa, 1st Count of Romanones1863–1950 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades - 79
Juan de Borbón y Bragança1822–1887 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0 decades - 80
Infanta Eulalia, Duchess of Galliera1864–1958 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers9 decades - 81
Leonardo Torres Quevedo1852–1936 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists11 decades - 82
Thérésa Tallien1773–1835 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists11 decades
- 83
José Canalejas1854–1912 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians16 decades - 84
Princess Luisa Carlotta of the Two Sicilies1804–1844 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured— - 85
Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga1806–1826 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians1 decades - 86
Alfonso Carlos de Borbón1849–1936 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
- 87
Agustina de Aragón1786–1857 · 🇪🇸 Spain13 decades - 88
Fernán Caballero1796–1877 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers18 decades - 89
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón1833–1891 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades - 90
Miguel de Bragança1853–1927 · 🇪🇸 Spain7 decades - 91
Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal1800–1834 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures4 decades - 92
Simón Rodríguez1769–1853 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Educatorsnot measured—
- 93
Infanta María de la Paz of Spain1862–1946 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists6 decades - 94
Juan Valera1824–1905 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1 decades - 95
Luis Ricardo Falero1851–1896 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artistsnot measured— - 96
Arsenio Martínez-Campos y Antón1831–1900 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades - 97
Nicolás Salmerón1838–1908 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics16 decades - 98
Miguel Ricardo de Álava y Esquivel1772–1843 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1 decades - 99
Ramón María Narváez, 1st Duke of Valencia1800–1868 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades - 100
Ángel de Saavedra, 3rd Duke of Rivas1791–1865 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
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.