Claim profile
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
  1. 1VoltaireVoltaire1694–1778 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers37
  2. 2Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France1638–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures32
  3. 3Louis XVI of FranceLouis XVI of France1754–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures16
  4. 4MolièreMolière1622–1673 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15
  5. 5Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France1710–1774 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures10
  6. 6MontesquieuMontesquieu1689–1755 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7.7
  7. 7HIHenry II, Count of Euborn 1160 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France5.7
  8. 8Henry II of FranceHenry II of France1519–1559 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians5.7
  9. 9Louis XVIII of FranceLouis XVIII of France1755–1824 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians5.7
  10. 10François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures5.5
  11. 11Louis XII of FranceLouis XII of France1462–1515 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5.2
  12. 12Victor HugoVictor Hugo1802–1885 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3.3
  13. 13Charles X of FranceCharles X of France1757–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians3.1
  14. 14Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette1755–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.4
  15. 15Joan of ArcJoan of Arc1412–1431 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France2.4
  16. 16Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures2.4
  17. 17Philip V of SpainPhilip V of Spain1683–1746 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.2
  18. 18Francis II of FranceFrancis II of France1544–1560 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9
  19. 19Marie de' MediciMarie de' Medici1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9
  20. 20Napoleon IIINapoleon III1808–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9
  21. 21Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.9
  22. 22Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de BrantômePierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme1540–1614 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.8
  23. 23Louis BlancLouis Blanc1811–1882 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.6
  24. 24Benjamin ConstantBenjamin Constant1767–1830 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians1.5
  25. 25Pope Julius IIPope Julius II1443–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.5
  26. 26Jules FavreJules Favre1809–1880 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.4
  27. 27Jules SimonJules Simon1814–1896 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.4
  28. 28Pierre de MarivauxPierre de Marivaux1688–1763 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.2
  29. 29Alexandre Dumas filsAlexandre Dumas fils1824–1895 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.1
  30. 30Jules FerryJules Ferry1832–1893 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.1
  31. 31Charles de Lorraine de VaudémontCharles de Lorraine de Vaudémont1561–1587 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.94
  32. 32Charles of LorraineCharles of Lorraine1567–1607 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.94
  33. 33Camille DesmoulinsCamille Desmoulins1760–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Journalists0.90
  34. 34Pope John XXIIPope John XXII1244–1334 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.89
  35. 35Alexandre DumasAlexandre Dumas1802–1870 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.87
  36. 36George SandGeorge Sand1804–1876 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.85
  37. 37Firmin DidotFirmin Didot1764–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.80
  38. 38Claude BernardClaude Bernard1813–1878 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.79
  39. 39Pope Clement VPope Clement V1264–1314 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.78
  40. 40Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778 · 18th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0.76
  41. 41Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de MaintenonFrançoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon1635–1719 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.76
  42. 42Odilon BarrotOdilon Barrot1791–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.76
  43. 43Louis XVII of FranceLouis XVII of France1785–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.73
  44. 44Louis BonaparteLouis Bonaparte1778–1846 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.73
  45. 45Anne of BrittanyAnne of Brittany1477–1514 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.73
  46. 46La GrangeLa Grange1635–1692 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Actors0.73
  47. 47Auguste ComteAuguste Comte1798–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.69
  48. 48Charles the BoldCharles the Bold1433–1477 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.69
  49. 49Alfred de MussetAlfred de Musset1810–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.68
  50. 50André ChénierAndré Chénier1762–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.66
  51. 51Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of LiègeLouis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège1438–1482 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.62
  52. 52Louis de Bourbon, Count of ClermontLouis de Bourbon, Count of Clermont1709–1771 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.62
  53. 53Louis, Count of VermandoisLouis, Count of Vermandois1667–1683 · 17th century0.62
  54. 54Louis, Count of SoissonsLouis, Count of Soissons1604–1641 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.62
  55. 55Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of PenthièvreLouis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre1725–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.62
  56. 56Margaret of ValoisMargaret of Valois1553–1615 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.61
  57. 57Gustav III of SwedenGustav III of Sweden1746–1792 · 18th century · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0.58
  58. 58Théophile GautierThéophile Gautier1811–1872 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.57
  59. 59Diane de PoitiersDiane de Poitiers1499–1566 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.56
  60. 60Olivier de SerresOlivier de Serres1539–1619 · 16th century · Writers0.55
  61. 61NostradamusNostradamus1503–1566 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.53
  62. 62Jeanne d'AlbretJeanne d'Albret1528–1572 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.52
  63. 63Augustin ThierryAugustin Thierry1795–1856 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.52
  64. 64NapoleonNapoleon1769–1821 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.51
  65. 65Margaret of Austria, Duchess of SavoyMargaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy1480–1530 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0.49
  66. 66Joseph BonaparteJoseph Bonaparte1768–1844 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.49
  67. 67Charlotte CordayCharlotte Corday1768–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.48
  68. 68Joseph de MaistreJoseph de Maistre1753–1821 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.48
  69. 69Ambroise ParéAmbroise Paré1510–1590 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.48
  70. 70Mary of BurgundyMary of Burgundy1457–1482 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.47
  71. 71Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille1606–1684 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.46
  72. 72StendhalStendhal1783–1842 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.45
  73. 73Claude MichelClaude Michel1738–1814 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.45
  74. 74Pierre LerouxPierre Leroux1797–1871 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.44
  75. 75Charles NodierCharles Nodier1780–1844 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.43
  76. 76Maine de BiranMaine de Biran1766–1824 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.43
  77. 77Lucien BonaparteLucien Bonaparte1775–1840 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.42
  78. 78Casimir DelavigneCasimir Delavigne1793–1843 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.42
  79. 79Charles, Count of SoissonsCharles, Count of Soissons1566–1612 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.40
  80. 80Louis RacineLouis Racine1692–1763 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.40
  81. 81Vincent of BeauvaisVincent of Beauvais1190–1264 · 13th century · Educators0.40
  82. 82Jean GoujonJean Goujon1510–1567 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Architects0.39
  83. 83Pope Urban VPope Urban V1310–1370 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.39
  84. 84Thomas CorneilleThomas Corneille1625–1709 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.38
  85. 85Horace VernetHorace Vernet1789–1863 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.38
  86. 86Gaston ParisGaston Paris1839–1903 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.37
  87. 87Antoine of NavarreAntoine of Navarre1518–1562 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.36
  88. 88Félix FaureFélix Faure1841–1899 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.36
  89. 89Jacques ClémentJacques Clément1567–1589 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.36
  90. 90Antoine Quentin Fouquier-TinvilleAntoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville1746–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.36
  91. 91Pope Clement IVPope Clement IV1190–1268 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.35
  92. 92Pope Gregory XIPope Gregory XI1329–1378 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.35
  93. 93Charles DupinCharles Dupin1784–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.35
  94. 94Napoléon, Prince ImperialNapoléon, Prince Imperial1856–1879 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.34
  95. 95Napoleon IINapoleon II1811–1832 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Designers0.33
  96. 96John of Luxembourg, Lord of BeauvoirJohn of Luxembourg, Lord of Beauvoir1370–1397 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.33
  97. 97Alfred de VignyAlfred de Vigny1797–1863 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.33
  98. 98Prince Philippe, Count of ParisPrince Philippe, Count of Paris1838–1894 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.32
  99. 99Blanche of CastileBlanche of Castile1188–1252 · 13th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.32
  100. 100Camille JordanCamille 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.

CountryAll🇺🇸 United States🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇮🇹 Italy🇪🇸 Spain🇯🇵 Japan🇦🇹 Austria🇹🇷 Turkey🇸🇪 Sweden
FieldAllPoliticiansWritersHistorical FiguresScientistsAcademicsArtistsMusiciansDoctorsFoundersJournalists
  1. 1Robert KochRobert Koch1843–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors14 decades
  2. 2Ignaz SemmelweisIgnaz Semmelweis1818–1865 · Doctors6 decades
  3. 3L. L. ZamenhofL. L. Zamenhof1859–1917 · Doctorsnot measured—
  4. 4Paul EhrlichPaul Ehrlich1854–1915 · Doctors13 decades
  5. 5Rudolf VirchowRudolf Virchow1821–1902 · Doctors16 decades
  6. 6Cesare LombrosoCesare Lombroso1835–1909 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors16 decades
  7. 7Jean-Martin CharcotJean-Martin Charcot1825–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors4 decades
  8. 8Alois AlzheimerAlois Alzheimer1864–1915 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors3 decades
  9. 9Joseph ListerJoseph Lister1827–1912 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors18 decades
  10. 10Elizabeth BlackwellElizabeth Blackwell1821–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors17 decades
  11. 11H. H. HolmesH. H. Holmes1861–1896 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors2 decades
  12. 12John SnowJohn Snow1813–1858 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors21 decades
  13. 13Vladimir BekhterevVladimir Bekhterev1857–1927 · Doctors5 decades
  14. 14Emil von BehringEmil von Behring1854–1917 · Doctors11 decades
  15. 15William OslerWilliam Osler1849–1919 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Doctors14 decades
  16. 16Doc HollidayDoc Holliday1851–1887 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors8 decades
  17. 17Axel MuntheAxel Munthe1857–1949 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Doctors2 decades
  18. 18John Langdon DownJohn Langdon Down1828–1896 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors0 decades
  19. 19Eugen BleulerEugen Bleuler1857–1939 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors10 decades
  20. 20Havelock EllisHavelock Ellis1859–1939 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors14 decades
  21. 21John Harvey KelloggJohn Harvey Kellogg1852–1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors5 decades
  22. 22René LaennecRené Laennec1781–1826 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0 decades
  23. 23Camillo GolgiCamillo Golgi1843–1926 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors15 decades
  24. 24Aletta JacobsAletta Jacobs1854–1929 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Doctors0 decades
  25. 25William WalkerWilliam Walker1824–1860 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors20 decades
  26. 26Alexandre YersinAlexandre Yersin1863–1943 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors5 decades
  27. 27Ronald RossRonald Ross1857–1932 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors13 decades
  28. 28James BarryJames Barry1789–1865 · Doctors22 decades
  29. 29Theodor SchwannTheodor Schwann1810–1882 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors16 decades
  30. 30Richard von Krafft-EbingRichard von Krafft-Ebing1840–1902 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors4 decades
  31. 31Mary Edwards WalkerMary Edwards Walker1832–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors0 decades
  32. 32Max NordauMax Nordau1849–1923 · Doctors14 decades
  33. 33Elias LönnrotElias Lönnrot1802–1884 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Doctors0 decades
  34. 34Wong Fei-hungWong Fei-hung1847–1925 · 🇨🇳 China · Doctorsnot measured—
  35. 35Paul BrocaPaul Broca1824–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors15 decades
  36. 36Josef BreuerJosef Breuer1842–1925 · Doctors12 decades
  37. 37Gerhard Armauer HansenGerhard Armauer Hansen1841–1912 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Doctors0 decades
  38. 38Elizabeth Garrett AndersonElizabeth Garrett Anderson1836–1917 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors7 decades
  39. 39James Curtis HepburnJames Curtis Hepburn1815–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors0 decades
  40. 40Joseph BellJoseph Bell1837–1911 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors19 decades
  41. 41Leonard WoodLeonard Wood1860–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors13 decades
  42. 42William T. G. MortonWilliam T. G. Morton1819–1868 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors2 decades
  43. 43Kadambini GangulyKadambini Ganguly1862–1923 · Doctors0 decades
  44. 44Kusumoto IneKusumoto Ine1827–1903 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Doctorsnot measured—
  45. 45Charles RichetCharles Richet1850–1935 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors15 decades
  46. 46Aimé BonplandAimé Bonpland1773–1858 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors13 decades
  47. 47Karl Theodor, Duke in BavariaKarl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria1839–1909 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors3 decades
  48. 48Waldemar HaffkineWaldemar Haffkine1856–1930 · Doctors0 decades
  49. 49Theodor BillrothTheodor Billroth1829–1894 · Doctors17 decades
  50. 50Niels Ryberg FinsenNiels Ryberg Finsen1860–1904 · Doctors0 decades
  51. 51Xavier BichatXavier Bichat1771–1802 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors15 decades
  52. 52Joseph BabinskiJoseph Babinski1857–1932 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0 decades
  53. 53Georges Gilles de la TouretteGeorges Gilles de la Tourette1857–1904 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0 decades
  54. 54Hudson TaylorHudson Taylor1832–1905 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors14 decades
  55. 55Henry GrayHenry Gray1827–1861 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors19 decades
  56. 56Dominique Jean LarreyDominique Jean Larrey1766–1842 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0 decades
  57. 57Paul GachetPaul Gachet1828–1909 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors5 decades
  58. 58Julius Wagner-JaureggJulius Wagner-Jauregg1857–1940 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Doctors2 decades
  59. 59Emil Theodor KocherEmil Theodor Kocher1841–1917 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors12 decades
  60. 60Franz OppenheimerFranz Oppenheimer1864–1943 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors13 decades
  61. 61Robert KnoxRobert Knox1791–1862 · Doctors22 decades
  62. 62William Stewart HalstedWilliam Stewart Halsted1852–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctorsnot measured—
  63. 63Charles BellCharles Bell1774–1842 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors22 decades
  64. 64José Gregorio HernándezJosé Gregorio Hernández1864–1919 · Doctorsnot measured—
  65. 65Anandi Gopal JoshiAnandi Gopal Joshi1865–1887 · Doctorsnot measured—
  66. 66Anna KuliscioffAnna Kuliscioff1853–1925 · Doctors12 decades
  67. 67Albert CalmetteAlbert Calmette1863–1933 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors11 decades
  68. 68Frederick HopkinsFrederick Hopkins1861–1947 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors1 decades
  69. 69Carl WernickeCarl Wernicke1848–1905 · Doctors3 decades
  70. 70Charles Louis Alphonse LaveranCharles Louis Alphonse Laveran1845–1922 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors4 decades
  71. 71Sergey Petrovich BotkinSergey Petrovich Botkin1832–1889 · Doctorsnot measured—
  72. 72Christiaan EijkmanChristiaan Eijkman1858–1930 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Doctors0 decades
  73. 73Carlos Juan FinlayCarlos Juan Finlay1833–1915 · Doctors0 decades
  74. 74Thomas HodgkinThomas Hodgkin1798–1866 · Doctors18 decades
  75. 75Jean Marc Gaspard ItardJean Marc Gaspard Itard1774–1838 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors7 decades
  76. 76Leon PinskerLeon Pinsker1821–1891 · Doctors0 decades
  77. 77Eugène DuboisEugène Dubois1858–1940 · Doctors10 decades
  78. 78Auguste ForelAuguste Forel1848–1931 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors11 decades
  79. 79Nikolay SklifosovskyNikolay Sklifosovsky1836–1904 · Doctorsnot measured—
  80. 80Robert ListonRobert Liston1794–1847 · Doctorsnot measured—
  81. 81RukhmabaiRukhmabai1864–1955 · 🇮🇳 India · Doctors1 decades
  82. 82Paul RéePaul Rée1849–1901 · Doctorsnot measured—
  83. 83James Young SimpsonJames Young Simpson1811–1870 · Doctors2 decades
  84. 84J. Marion SimsJ. Marion Sims1813–1883 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctorsnot measured—
  85. 85Ernst Heinrich WeberErnst Heinrich Weber1795–1878 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors15 decades
  86. 86Paul LangerhansPaul Langerhans1847–1888 · Doctors2 decades
  87. 87Thomas AddisonThomas Addison1793–1860 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors12 decades
  88. 88Charles EastmanCharles Eastman1858–1939 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctorsnot measured—
  89. 89Guillaume DupuytrenGuillaume Dupuytren1777–1835 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors1 decades
  90. 90Nikolay GamaleyaNikolay Gamaleya1859–1949 · Doctors2 decades
  91. 91Carl von RokitanskyCarl von Rokitansky1804–1878 · Doctors1 decades
  92. 92Emil du Bois-ReymondEmil du Bois-Reymond1818–1896 · Doctors16 decades
  93. 93Sir William Gull, 1st BaronetSir William Gull, 1st Baronet1816–1890 · Doctorsnot measured—
  94. 94Christian BohrChristian Bohr1855–1911 · Doctors0 decades
  95. 95Hawley Harvey CrippenHawley Harvey Crippen1862–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctorsnot measured—
  96. 96Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of BavariaPrince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria1859–1949 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Doctorsnot measured—
  97. 97Robert DarwinRobert Darwin1766–1848 · Doctorsnot measured—
  98. 98James BraidJames Braid1795–1860 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors7 decades
  99. 99George HuntingtonGeorge Huntington1850–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors9 decades
  100. 100Cecilia GriersonCecilia Grierson1859–1934 · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Doctorsnot 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.