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
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Giotto1267–1337 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.5 - 2
Antonio da Correggio1489–1534 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.0 - 3
Lorenzo de' Medici1449–1492 · 15th century · Politicians3.0 - 4
Dante Alighieri1265–1321 · 14th century · Writers2.9 - 5
Pietro Perugino1448–1523 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.9 - 6
Donato Bramante1444–1514 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects2.6 - 7
Torquato Tasso1544–1595 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers2.6 - 8
Caravaggio1571–1610 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.1 - 9
Apostolo Zeno1668–1750 · 18th century · Writers2.1 - 10
Cimabue1240–1302 · 13th century · Artists2.1 - 11
Tintoretto1519–1594 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.9 - 12
Charles Borromeo1538–1584 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.8 - 13
Donatello1386–1466 · 15th century · Artists1.8 - 14
Paul the Deacon720–799 · 8th century · Writers1.8 - 15
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.7 - 16
Philip Neri1515–1595 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.7 - 17
Marco Polo1254–1324 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.7 - 18
Cosimo de' Medici1389–1464 · 15th century · Politicians1.7 - 19
Galileo Galilei1564–1642 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists1.7 - 20
Andrea Doria1466–1560 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.6 - 21
Giulio Romano1499–1546 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.6 - 22
Guercino1591–1666 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.5 - 23
Domenichino1581–1641 · 17th century · Artists1.5 - 24
Ugo Foscolo1778–1827 · 19th century · Writers1.4 - 25
Petrarch1304–1374 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics1.4 - 26
Andrea del Sarto1486–1530 · 16th century · Artists1.2 - 27
Pietro Aretino1492–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2 - 28
Alessandro Manzoni1785–1873 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2 - 29
Giorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.2 - 30
Masaccio1401–1428 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1 - 31
Baldassare Franceschini1611–1690 · 17th century · Artists1.1 - 32
Francis of Assisi1182–1226 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.1 - 33
Cesare Borgia1475–1507 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.1 - 34
Paolo Veronese1528–1588 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1 - 35
Guido Reni1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.0 - 36
Dino Compagni1255–1324 · 13th century · Writers1.0 - 37
Pietro Bembo1470–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.00 - 38
Guido Cavalcanti1258–1300 · 13th century · Writers0.99 - 39
Niccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · 16th century · Politicians0.99 - 40
Filippo Maria Visconti1392–1447 · 15th century · Politicians0.97 - 41
Cesare Balbo1789–1853 · 19th century · Politicians0.97 - 42
Giuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists0.93 - 43
Prospero Colonna1452–1523 · 15th century0.90 - 44
Benvenuto Cellini1500–1571 · 16th century · Artists0.90 - 45
Benedetto Varchi1503–1565 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.88 - 46
Francesco Guicciardini1483–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.88 - 47
Aloysius Gonzaga1568–1591 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.88 - 48
Vittorio Alfieri1749–1803 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.87 - 49
Silvio Pellico1789–1854 · 19th century · Writers0.87 - 50
Cesare Cantù1804–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.87 - 51
Giacomo Leopardi1798–1837 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.85 - 52
Vincenzo Gioberti1801–1852 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.85 - 53
Giovanni Boccaccio1313–1375 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.85 - 54
Francesco Redi1626–1697 · 17th century · Doctors0.85 - 55
Francesco Gonzaga1444–1483 · 15th century0.84 - 56
Franco Sacchetti1332–1400 · 14th century · Writers0.82 - 57
Teodato Ipato750–800 · 8th century · Politicians0.80 - 58
Salvator Rosa1615–1673 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.76 - 59
Giordano Bruno1548–1600 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.75 - 60
Girolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.74 - 61
Domenico Passignano1559–1638 · 16th century · Artists0.74 - 62
Paolo Sarpi1552–1623 · 16th century · Academics0.73 - 63
Parmigianino1503–1540 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.72 - 64
Paolo Giovio1483–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.71 - 65
Massimo d'Azeglio1798–1866 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.71 - 66
Aldus Manutius1449–1515 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.71 - 67AMAldus Manutius the Younger1547–1597 · 16th century0.71
- 68
Bernardo Tasso1493–1569 · 16th century · Writers0.71 - 69
Lucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.69 - 70
Pietro da Cortona1596–1669 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.69
- 71MVMatteo Villani1283–1363 · 14th century · Writers0.68
- 72
Francesco Scipione, marchese di Maffei1675–1755 · 18th century · Writers0.66 - 73
Luigi Alamanni1495–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.65 - 74
Vittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.64 - 75
Pietro Verri1728–1797 · 18th century · Academics0.64 - 76
Pinturicchio1454–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.64 - 77
Giuliano de' Medici1453–1478 · 15th century · Politicians0.62 - 78
Marsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.62 - 79
Filippo Villani1325–1407 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.62 - 80
Paulus Manutius1512–1574 · 16th century · Writers0.61 - 81
Catherine de' Medici1519–1589 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.60 - 82
Scipione Ammirato1531–1601 · 16th century · Writers0.58 - 83
Bernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.58 - 84
Francesco Filelfo1398–1481 · 15th century · Academics0.56 - 85
Andrea Gritti1455–1538 · 15th century · Politicians0.56 - 86
Pontormo1494–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.52 - 87
Antonio Rosmini1797–1855 · 19th century · Academics0.51 - 88
Leon Battista Alberti1404–1472 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0.49 - 89
Francesco Foscari1373–1457 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.47 - 90
Giosuè Carducci1835–1907 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.47 - 91
Andrea Dandolo1306–1354 · 14th century · Politicians0.45 - 92
Alessandro Cagliostro1743–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.45 - 93
Francesco Vettori1474–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.45 - 94
Leandro Alberti1479–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.45 - 95
Amerigo Vespucci1454–1512 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.44 - 96
Erasmo of Narni1370–1443 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.44 - 97
Anton Maria Salvini1653–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.43 - 98
Michelangelo1475–1564 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.43 - 99
Francesca da Rimini1259–1285 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.42 - 100
Antonio 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.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Napoleon1769–1821 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades - 2
Queen Victoria1819–1901 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 3
Wilhelm II, German Emperor1859–1941 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures17 decades - 4
Alexander I of Russia1777–1825 · Historical Figures21 decades - 5
Alexander von Humboldt1769–1859 · Historical Figures8 decades - 6
Alexander II of Russia1818–1881 · Historical Figures17 decades - 7
Edward VII1841–1910 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures13 decades - 8
Alexander III of Russia1845–1894 · Historical Figures16 decades - 9
Franz Joseph I of Austria1830–1916 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures18 decades - 10
Empress Dowager Cixi1835–1908 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures5 decades
- 11
Leopold II of Belgium1835–1909 · Historical Figures9 decades - 12
Empress Elisabeth of Austria1837–1898 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades - 13
William I, German Emperor1797–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
- 14
William IV of the United Kingdom1765–1837 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades - 15
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy1820–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures12 decades - 16
Ludwig II of Bavaria1845–1886 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures18 decades - 17
Umberto I of Italy1844–1900 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures14 decades - 18
Albert, Prince Consort1819–1861 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 19
Ferdinand Foch1851–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures7 decades - 20
Abdul Hamid II1842–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures13 decades - 21
Leopold I of Belgium1790–1865 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades - 22
Alfonso XII of Spain1857–1885 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
- 23
David Livingstone1813–1873 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures17 decades - 24
Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma1791–1847 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures18 decades - 25
Emperor Meiji1852–1912 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures11 decades - 26
Shaka1787–1828 · Historical Figures22 decades - 27
Maria Feodorovna1847–1928 · Historical Figures17 decades - 28
Frederick William III of Prussia1770–1840 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades - 29
Mehmed VI1861–1926 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades - 30
Pedro I of Brazil1798–1834 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades - 31
Pedro II of Brazil1825–1891 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Historical Figures0 decades - 32
George Armstrong Custer1839–1876 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures7 decades - 33
Alfred Russel Wallace1823–1913 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures15 decades - 34
Alexandra of Denmark1844–1925 · Historical Figures2 decades - 35
Eugénie de Montijo1826–1920 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades - 36
George I of Greece1845–1913 · Historical Figures0 decades - 37
Gustaf V of Sweden1858–1950 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades - 38
Mahmud II1785–1839 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures14 decades - 39
Nikolay Przhevalsky1839–1888 · Historical Figures9 decades - 40
Christian IX of Denmark1818–1906 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures16 decades - 41
Amadeo I of Spain1845–1890 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 42
Pyotr Bagration1765–1812 · Historical Figures7 decades - 43
Marie Thérèse of France1778–1851 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures8 decades - 44
Chulalongkorn1853–1910 · Historical Figures13 decades - 45
Otto of Greece1815–1867 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades - 46
Oscar II of Sweden1829–1907 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades - 47
Edward Smith1850–1912 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures17 decades - 48
Richard Francis Burton1821–1890 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures2 decades - 49
Charles XV of Sweden1826–1872 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades - 50
Oscar I of Sweden1799–1859 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades - 51
William I of the Netherlands1772–1843 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures0 decades - 52
Charles de Foucauld1858–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures11 decades - 53
Charles Albert of Sardinia1798–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures18 decades - 54
Liliʻuokalani1838–1917 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 55
Daoguang Emperor1782–1850 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures4 decades - 56
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz1776–1810 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades - 57
William III of the Netherlands1817–1890 · Historical Figures0 decades - 58
Robert Peary1856–1920 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures3 decades - 59
Nicholas Miklouho-Maclay1846–1888 · Historical Figures5 decades - 60
August von Mackensen1849–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2 decades - 61
Carol I of Romania1839–1914 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures19 decades - 62
Frederick VIII of Denmark1843–1912 · Historical Figures0 decades - 63
Désirée Clary1777–1860 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures14 decades - 64
Carlota of Mexico1840–1927 · Historical Figures0 decades - 65
Princess Alice of the United Kingdom1843–1878 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 66
Helmuth von Moltke the Younger1848–1916 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades - 67
Ching Shih1775–1844 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 68
Jean Lannes1769–1809 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures1 decades - 69
Frederick VI of Denmark1768–1839 · Historical Figures0 decades - 70
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies1806–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 71
Sacagawea1788–1812 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures9 decades - 72
Kamehameha I1800–1819 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures13 decades - 73
Olga Constantinovna of Russia1851–1926 · Historical Figures16 decades - 74
Mongkut1804–1868 · Historical Figures12 decades - 75
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden1778–1837 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures8 decades
- 76
Christian VIII of Denmark1786–1848 · Historical Figures0 decades - 77
Bahadur Shah Zafar1775–1862 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures6 decades - 78
Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein1858–1921 · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 79
George Everest1790–1866 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures2 decades - 80
Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia1856–1929 · Historical Figures5 decades - 81
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar1831–1896 · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 82
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld1786–1861 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 83
Maria Leopoldina of Austria1797–1826 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Historical Figures0 decades - 84
Frederick VII of Denmark1808–1863 · Historical Figures0 decades - 85
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine1863–1950 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 86
George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston1859–1925 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 87
Princess Charlotte of Wales1796–1817 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures1 decades - 88
John Franklin1786–1847 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades - 89
Archduke Franz Karl of Austria1802–1878 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
- 90
Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine1864–1918 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 91
Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom1857–1944 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 92
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn1767–1820 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 93
Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz1822–1902 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures5 decades - 94
Nicholas I of Montenegro1841–1921 · Historical Figures0 decades - 95
Xianfeng Emperor1831–1861 · Historical Figures0 decades - 96
Maria Alexandrovna1824–1880 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades - 97
Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf1852–1925 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures5 decades - 98
James Clark Ross1800–1862 · Historical Figures18 decades - 99
Carlota Joaquina of Spain1775–1830 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures14 decades - 100
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha1844–1900 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot 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.