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 Italian books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
  1. 1GiottoGiotto1267–1337 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.5
  2. 2Antonio da CorreggioAntonio da Correggio1489–1534 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.0
  3. 3Lorenzo de' MediciLorenzo de' Medici1449–1492 · 15th century · Politicians3.0
  4. 4Dante AlighieriDante Alighieri1265–1321 · 14th century · Writers2.9
  5. 5Pietro PeruginoPietro Perugino1448–1523 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.9
  6. 6Donato BramanteDonato Bramante1444–1514 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects2.6
  7. 7Torquato TassoTorquato Tasso1544–1595 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers2.6
  8. 8CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.1
  9. 9Apostolo ZenoApostolo Zeno1668–1750 · 18th century · Writers2.1
  10. 10CimabueCimabue1240–1302 · 13th century · Artists2.1
  11. 11TintorettoTintoretto1519–1594 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.9
  12. 12Charles BorromeoCharles Borromeo1538–1584 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.8
  13. 13DonatelloDonatello1386–1466 · 15th century · Artists1.8
  14. 14Paul the DeaconPaul the Deacon720–799 · 8th century · Writers1.8
  15. 15Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci1452–1519 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.7
  16. 16Philip NeriPhilip Neri1515–1595 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.7
  17. 17Marco PoloMarco Polo1254–1324 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.7
  18. 18Cosimo de' MediciCosimo de' Medici1389–1464 · 15th century · Politicians1.7
  19. 19Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists1.7
  20. 20Andrea DoriaAndrea Doria1466–1560 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.6
  21. 21Giulio RomanoGiulio Romano1499–1546 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.6
  22. 22GuercinoGuercino1591–1666 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.5
  23. 23DomenichinoDomenichino1581–1641 · 17th century · Artists1.5
  24. 24Ugo FoscoloUgo Foscolo1778–1827 · 19th century · Writers1.4
  25. 25PetrarchPetrarch1304–1374 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics1.4
  26. 26Andrea del SartoAndrea del Sarto1486–1530 · 16th century · Artists1.2
  27. 27Pietro AretinoPietro Aretino1492–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2
  28. 28Alessandro ManzoniAlessandro Manzoni1785–1873 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2
  29. 29Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.2
  30. 30MasaccioMasaccio1401–1428 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1
  31. 31Baldassare FranceschiniBaldassare Franceschini1611–1690 · 17th century · Artists1.1
  32. 32Francis of AssisiFrancis of Assisi1182–1226 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.1
  33. 33Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia1475–1507 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.1
  34. 34Paolo VeronesePaolo Veronese1528–1588 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1
  35. 35Guido ReniGuido Reni1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.0
  36. 36Dino CompagniDino Compagni1255–1324 · 13th century · Writers1.0
  37. 37Pietro BemboPietro Bembo1470–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.00
  38. 38Guido CavalcantiGuido Cavalcanti1258–1300 · 13th century · Writers0.99
  39. 39Niccolò MachiavelliNiccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · 16th century · Politicians0.99
  40. 40Filippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria Visconti1392–1447 · 15th century · Politicians0.97
  41. 41Cesare BalboCesare Balbo1789–1853 · 19th century · Politicians0.97
  42. 42Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists0.93
  43. 43Prospero ColonnaProspero Colonna1452–1523 · 15th century0.90
  44. 44Benvenuto CelliniBenvenuto Cellini1500–1571 · 16th century · Artists0.90
  45. 45Benedetto VarchiBenedetto Varchi1503–1565 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.88
  46. 46Francesco GuicciardiniFrancesco Guicciardini1483–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.88
  47. 47Aloysius GonzagaAloysius Gonzaga1568–1591 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.88
  48. 48Vittorio AlfieriVittorio Alfieri1749–1803 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.87
  49. 49Silvio PellicoSilvio Pellico1789–1854 · 19th century · Writers0.87
  50. 50Cesare CantùCesare Cantù1804–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.87
  51. 51Giacomo LeopardiGiacomo Leopardi1798–1837 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.85
  52. 52Vincenzo GiobertiVincenzo Gioberti1801–1852 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.85
  53. 53Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio1313–1375 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.85
  54. 54Francesco RediFrancesco Redi1626–1697 · 17th century · Doctors0.85
  55. 55Francesco GonzagaFrancesco Gonzaga1444–1483 · 15th century0.84
  56. 56Franco SacchettiFranco Sacchetti1332–1400 · 14th century · Writers0.82
  57. 57Teodato IpatoTeodato Ipato750–800 · 8th century · Politicians0.80
  58. 58Salvator RosaSalvator Rosa1615–1673 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.76
  59. 59Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno1548–1600 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.75
  60. 60Girolamo SavonarolaGirolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.74
  61. 61Domenico PassignanoDomenico Passignano1559–1638 · 16th century · Artists0.74
  62. 62Paolo SarpiPaolo Sarpi1552–1623 · 16th century · Academics0.73
  63. 63ParmigianinoParmigianino1503–1540 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.72
  64. 64Paolo GiovioPaolo Giovio1483–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.71
  65. 65Massimo d'AzeglioMassimo d'Azeglio1798–1866 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.71
  66. 66Aldus ManutiusAldus Manutius1449–1515 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.71
  67. 67AMAldus Manutius the Younger1547–1597 · 16th century0.71
  68. 68Bernardo TassoBernardo Tasso1493–1569 · 16th century · Writers0.71
  69. 69Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.69
  70. 70Pietro da CortonaPietro da Cortona1596–1669 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.69
  71. 71MVMatteo Villani1283–1363 · 14th century · Writers0.68
  72. 72Francesco Scipione, marchese di MaffeiFrancesco Scipione, marchese di Maffei1675–1755 · 18th century · Writers0.66
  73. 73Luigi AlamanniLuigi Alamanni1495–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.65
  74. 74Vittoria ColonnaVittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.64
  75. 75Pietro VerriPietro Verri1728–1797 · 18th century · Academics0.64
  76. 76PinturicchioPinturicchio1454–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.64
  77. 77Giuliano de' MediciGiuliano de' Medici1453–1478 · 15th century · Politicians0.62
  78. 78Marsilio FicinoMarsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.62
  79. 79Filippo VillaniFilippo Villani1325–1407 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.62
  80. 80Paulus ManutiusPaulus Manutius1512–1574 · 16th century · Writers0.61
  81. 81Catherine de' MediciCatherine de' Medici1519–1589 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.60
  82. 82Scipione AmmiratoScipione Ammirato1531–1601 · 16th century · Writers0.58
  83. 83Bernardino of SienaBernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.58
  84. 84Francesco FilelfoFrancesco Filelfo1398–1481 · 15th century · Academics0.56
  85. 85Andrea GrittiAndrea Gritti1455–1538 · 15th century · Politicians0.56
  86. 86PontormoPontormo1494–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.52
  87. 87Antonio RosminiAntonio Rosmini1797–1855 · 19th century · Academics0.51
  88. 88Leon Battista AlbertiLeon Battista Alberti1404–1472 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0.49
  89. 89Francesco FoscariFrancesco Foscari1373–1457 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.47
  90. 90Giosuè CarducciGiosuè Carducci1835–1907 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.47
  91. 91Andrea DandoloAndrea Dandolo1306–1354 · 14th century · Politicians0.45
  92. 92Alessandro CagliostroAlessandro Cagliostro1743–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.45
  93. 93Francesco VettoriFrancesco Vettori1474–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.45
  94. 94Leandro AlbertiLeandro Alberti1479–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.45
  95. 95Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci1454–1512 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.44
  96. 96Erasmo of NarniErasmo of Narni1370–1443 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.44
  97. 97Anton Maria SalviniAnton Maria Salvini1653–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.43
  98. 98MichelangeloMichelangelo1475–1564 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.43
  99. 99Francesca da RiminiFrancesca da Rimini1259–1285 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.42
  100. 100Antonio CanovaAntonio Canova1757–1822 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.42

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. 1Heinrich HeineHeinrich Heine1797–1856 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers21 decades
  2. 2Carl von ClausewitzCarl von Clausewitz1780–1831 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers12 decades
  3. 3E. T. A. HoffmannE. T. A. Hoffmann1776–1822 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers21 decades
  4. 4NovalisNovalis1772–1801 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  5. 5Heinrich von KleistHeinrich von Kleist1777–1811 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  6. 6Friedrich HölderlinFriedrich Hölderlin1770–1843 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers18 decades
  7. 7Theodor FontaneTheodor Fontane1819–1898 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers17 decades
  8. 8Karl MayKarl May1842–1912 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers14 decades
  9. 9Georg BüchnerGeorg Büchner1813–1837 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers17 decades
  10. 10Helmuth von Moltke the ElderHelmuth von Moltke the Elder1800–1891 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  11. 11Theodor StormTheodor Storm1817–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers17 decades
  12. 12Wilhelm HauffWilhelm Hauff1802–1827 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers20 decades
  13. 13Leopold von RankeLeopold von Ranke1795–1886 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers16 decades
  14. 14Wilhelm GrimmWilhelm Grimm1786–1859 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  15. 15Wilhelm DiltheyWilhelm Dilthey1833–1911 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers14 decades
  16. 16MultatuliMultatuli1820–1887 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers9 decades
  17. 17Frank WedekindFrank Wedekind1864–1918 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers12 decades
  18. 18Friedrich SchlegelFriedrich Schlegel1772–1829 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  19. 19Clemens BrentanoClemens Brentano1778–1842 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  20. 20Bettina von ArnimBettina von Arnim1785–1859 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers18 decades
  21. 21Anne Catherine EmmerichAnne Catherine Emmerich1774–1824 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers8 decades
  22. 22Elisabeth of WiedElisabeth of Wied1843–1916 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  23. 23Philipp MainländerPhilipp Mainländer1841–1876 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers2 decades
  24. 24Ernst Moritz ArndtErnst Moritz Arndt1769–1860 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  25. 25Eduard MörikeEduard Mörike1804–1875 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers18 decades
  26. 26Friedrich RückertFriedrich Rückert1788–1866 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  27. 27Karl Heinrich UlrichsKarl Heinrich Ulrichs1825–1895 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers3 decades
  28. 28Ricarda HuchRicarda Huch1864–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  29. 29August Wilhelm SchlegelAugust Wilhelm Schlegel1767–1845 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  30. 30Friedrich HebbelFriedrich Hebbel1813–1863 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers18 decades
  31. 31Duke Maximilian Joseph in BavariaDuke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria1808–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  32. 32Ludwig Achim von ArnimLudwig Achim von Arnim1781–1831 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  33. 33Siegbert TarraschSiegbert Tarrasch1862–1934 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  34. 34Heinrich von TreitschkeHeinrich von Treitschke1834–1896 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers16 decades
  35. 35Franz MehringFranz Mehring1846–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers15 decades
  36. 36Wilhelm RaabeWilhelm Raabe1831–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers16 decades
  37. 37Richard DehmelRichard Dehmel1863–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  38. 38Hedwig DohmHedwig Dohm1831–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers11 decades
  39. 39Johann Peter EckermannJohann Peter Eckermann1792–1854 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers12 decades
  40. 40Emanuel GeibelEmanuel Geibel1815–1884 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers18 decades
  41. 41Philip, Prince of EulenburgPhilip, Prince of Eulenburg1847–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  42. 42Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-AltenburgAugustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1772–1822 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  43. 43Karoline von GünderrodeKaroline von Günderrode1780–1806 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers8 decades
  44. 44Gustav SchwabGustav Schwab1792–1850 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers21 decades
  45. 45Constantin von TischendorfConstantin von Tischendorf1815–1874 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  46. 46Hermann von FrançoisHermann von François1856–1933 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  47. 47Hermann SudermannHermann Sudermann1857–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  48. 48Friedrich MeineckeFriedrich Meinecke1862–1954 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  49. 49Arno HolzArno Holz1863–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers15 decades
  50. 50John Henry MackayJohn Henry Mackay1864–1933 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  51. 51Malwida Freiin von MeysenbugMalwida Freiin von Meysenbug1816–1903 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers12 decades
  52. 52Wilhelm Heinrich SolfWilhelm Heinrich Solf1862–1936 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  53. 53Christian Dietrich GrabbeChristian Dietrich Grabbe1801–1836 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers12 decades
  54. 54Emily RueteEmily Ruete1844–1924 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  55. 55Princess Marie of BattenbergPrincess Marie of Battenberg1852–1923 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  56. 56Heinrich GraetzHeinrich Graetz1817–1891 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  57. 57Aleksander BrücknerAleksander Brückner1856–1939 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers3 decades
  58. 58Paul DeussenPaul Deussen1845–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  59. 59Ludwig von PastorLudwig von Pastor1854–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers10 decades
  60. 60Friedrich Carl AndreasFriedrich Carl Andreas1846–1930 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  61. 61Oskar PanizzaOskar Panizza1853–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  62. 62Adolf ErmanAdolf Erman1854–1937 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers15 decades
  63. 63Karl Max, Prince LichnowskyKarl Max, Prince Lichnowsky1860–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  64. 64Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-EisenachPrincess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1854–1908 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  65. 65Sophie MereauSophie Mereau1770–1806 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  66. 66Karl BrugmannKarl Brugmann1849–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  67. 67Josef MarkwartJosef Markwart1864–1930 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  68. 68Clara ViebigClara Viebig1860–1952 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  69. 69August LeskienAugust Leskien1840–1916 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers13 decades
  70. 70Karl Joseph SimrockKarl Joseph Simrock1802–1876 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  71. 71Júlia da Silva BruhnsJúlia da Silva Bruhns1851–1923 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  72. 72Konrad Krafft von DellmensingenKonrad Krafft von Dellmensingen1862–1953 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  73. 73Karl Julius BelochKarl Julius Beloch1854–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  74. 74Heinrich SeidelHeinrich Seidel1842–1906 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  75. 75Julius MosenJulius Mosen1803–1867 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  76. 76Friedrich KlugeFriedrich Kluge1856–1926 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  77. 77Aaron BernsteinAaron Bernstein1812–1884 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  78. 78Friedrich SpielhagenFriedrich Spielhagen1829–1911 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  79. 79Johannes Daniel FalkJohannes Daniel Falk1768–1826 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  80. 80Hermann von KuhlHermann von Kuhl1856–1958 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  81. 81Otto SeeckOtto Seeck1850–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  82. 82Wilhelm SchererWilhelm Scherer1841–1886 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  83. 83Emil SchürerEmil Schürer1844–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  84. 84Max Maria von WeberMax Maria von Weber1822–1881 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  85. 85Ernst von HoeppnerErnst von Hoeppner1860–1922 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  86. 86Gustav FrenssenGustav Frenssen1863–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  87. 87Eduard SieversEduard Sievers1850–1932 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  88. 88Friedrich von PourtalèsFriedrich von Pourtalès1853–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  89. 89Otto Erich HartlebenOtto Erich Hartleben1864–1905 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  90. 90Max EythMax Eyth1836–1906 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  91. 91Ernst von WolzogenErnst von Wolzogen1855–1934 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  92. 92Friedrich Wilhelm WeberFriedrich Wilhelm Weber1813–1894 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  93. 93Arnošt MukaArnošt Muka1854–1932 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  94. 94Henriette GoldschmidtHenriette Goldschmidt1825–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  95. 95Wilhelm WaiblingerWilhelm Waiblinger1804–1830 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  96. 96Hermann AllmersHermann Allmers1821–1902 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  97. 97Konrad von MaurerKonrad von Maurer1823–1902 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  98. 98Peter HillePeter Hille1854–1904 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  99. 99Josef KohlerJosef Kohler1849–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  100. 100EOErnst Ortlepp1800–1864 · 🇩🇪 Germany · 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.