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

In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
  1. 1Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · 17th century · Religious Figures6.7
  2. 2Macarius, Metropolitan of MoscowMacarius, Metropolitan of Moscow1482–1563 · 16th century · Writers3.1
  3. 3Nikolai RezanovNikolai Rezanov1764–1807 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.3
  4. 4Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · 16th century · Politicians0.99
  5. 5Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of RussiaGrand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia1859–1919 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.94
  6. 6Patriarch JoachimPatriarch Joachim1621–1690 · 17th century0.86
  7. 7Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.86
  8. 8Nikolay KaramzinNikolay Karamzin1766–1826 · 19th century · Writers0.85
  9. 9Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of RussiaNicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia1843–1865 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.83
  10. 10Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · 18th century · Politicians0.82
  11. 11Nikolay SemyonovNikolay Semyonov1896–1986 · 20th century · Scientists0.75
  12. 12Ivan I of TverIvan I of Tver1357–1425 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.66
  13. 13Avraamy PalitsynAvraamy Palitsyn1550–1626 · 16th century · Writers0.64
  14. 14Ivan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of SmolenskIvan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of Smolenskdied 1359 · 14th century0.62
  15. 15Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia1779–1831 · 19th century · Politicians0.62
  16. 16Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.58
  17. 17Alexandra VelyaminovaAlexandra Velyaminova1301–1364 · 14th century0.57
  18. 18Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · 18th century · Politicians0.53
  19. 19Maximus the GreekMaximus the Greek1475–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.53
  20. 20Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia1783–1801 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.43
  21. 21Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia1864–1931 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.42
  22. 22Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia1832–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.42
  23. 23Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.39
  24. 24Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia1827–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.39
  25. 25Grigory OrlovGrigory Orlov1734–1783 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.38
  26. 26Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia1777–1825 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.36
  27. 27Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy1828–1910 · 19th century · Writers0.35
  28. 28Alexander BestuzhevAlexander Bestuzhev1797–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.34
  29. 29Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · 16th century · Politicians0.33
  30. 30Pyotr PaninPyotr Panin1721–1789 · 18th century0.33
  31. 31Ippolit BogdanovichIppolit Bogdanovich1743–1803 · 18th century · Writers0.33
  32. 32Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia1728–1762 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.31
  33. 33Stefan YavorskyStefan Yavorsky1658–1722 · 17th century · Academics0.30
  34. 34Grigory PotemkinGrigory Potemkin1739–1791 · 18th century · Politicians0.30
  35. 35Boris of TverBoris of Tver1400–1461 · 15th century0.29
  36. 36Ivan MazepaIvan Mazepa1639–1709 · 17th century · Politicians0.29
  37. 37Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia1899–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.29
  38. 38Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia1850–1908 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.29
  39. 39Vasily Vasilyevich GolitsynVasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn1643–1714 · 17th century · Politicians0.28
  40. 40Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.28
  41. 41Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.28
  42. 42Ivan Ivanovich ShuvalovIvan Ivanovich Shuvalov1727–1797 · 18th century · Writers0.28
  43. 43Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · 18th century · Politicians0.27
  44. 44Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of Russia1796–1855 · 19th century · Models0.26
  45. 45Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin1799–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.26
  46. 46Dimitry of RostovDimitry of Rostov1651–1709 · 17th century · Writers0.26
  47. 47Alexander GriboyedovAlexander Griboyedov1795–1829 · 19th century · Politicians0.25
  48. 48Alexander HerzenAlexander Herzen1812–1870 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0.24
  49. 49Vissarion BelinskyVissarion Belinsky1811–1848 · 19th century · Academics0.23
  50. 50Konstantin AksakovKonstantin Aksakov1817–1860 · 19th century · Writers0.23
  51. 51Nikita PaninNikita Panin1718–1783 · 18th century · Politicians0.22
  52. 52Symeon of PolotskSymeon of Polotsk1629–1680 · 17th century · Writers0.21
  53. 53Aleksei Musin-PushkinAleksei Musin-Pushkin1744–1817 · 18th century · Writers0.21
  54. 54Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.21
  55. 55Xenia ShestovaXenia Shestova1560–1631 · 16th century0.20
  56. 56Mikhail LermontovMikhail Lermontov1814–1841 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  57. 57Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaOlga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.19
  58. 58Pavel FedotovPavel Fedotov1815–1852 · 19th century · Artists0.19
  59. 59Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia1858–1915 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  60. 60Dmitry ShuiskyDmitry Shuisky1560–1612 · 16th century0.19
  61. 61Alexey VenetsianovAlexey Venetsianov1780–1847 · 19th century · Artists0.18
  62. 62Nikolay Alexandrovich LvovNikolay Alexandrovich Lvov1753–1803 · 18th century · Academics0.18
  63. 63Catherine Pavlovna of RussiaCatherine Pavlovna of Russia1788–1819 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.18
  64. 64Fyodor AlekseyevFyodor Alekseyev1755–1824 · 18th century · Artists0.18
  65. 65Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia1825–1844 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.17
  66. 66Konstantin BatyushkovKonstantin Batyushkov1787–1855 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  67. 67Mykhailo MaksymovychMykhailo Maksymovych1804–1873 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  68. 68Nicholas RepninNicholas Repnin1734–1801 · 18th century · Writers0.15
  69. 69Kirill RazumovskyKirill Razumovsky1728–1803 · 18th century · Politicians0.14
  70. 70Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–1728 · 18th century0.14
  71. 71Natalya Alexeevna of RussiaNatalya Alexeevna of Russia1673–1716 · 18th century · Writers0.14
  72. 72Nikolai LeskovNikolai Leskov1831–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.13
  73. 73Aleksei Fedorovich AdashevAleksei Fedorovich Adashev1510–1561 · 16th century · Politicians0.13
  74. 74Alexander ShishkovAlexander Shishkov1754–1841 · 18th century · Writers0.13
  75. 75Joseph VolotskyJoseph Volotsky1440–1515 · 15th century · Writers0.12
  76. 76Alexander MenshikovAlexander Menshikov1673–1729 · 18th century · Politicians0.12
  77. 77Nikolay DobrolyubovNikolay Dobrolyubov1836–1861 · 19th century · Academics0.11
  78. 78Ivan the YoungIvan the Young1458–1490 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.11
  79. 79Konstantin of UglichKonstantin of Uglich1389–1434 · 15th century0.11
  80. 80Dmitry PozharskyDmitry Pozharsky1577–1642 · 17th century · Politicians0.11
  81. 81Gleb UspenskyGleb Uspensky1843–1902 · 19th century · Writers0.10
  82. 82Pyotr Andreyevich TolstoyPyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy1645–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.10
  83. 83Alexander SuvorovAlexander Suvorov1730–1800 · 18th century0.10
  84. 84Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia1871–1899 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.10
  85. 85Alexander IvanovAlexander Ivanov1806–1858 · 19th century · Artists0.10
  86. 86Ivan KrylovIvan Krylov1769–1844 · 19th century · Writers0.09
  87. 87Ivan DmitrievIvan Dmitriev1760–1837 · 18th century · Writers0.09
  88. 88Alexander Sergeyevich MenshikovAlexander Sergeyevich Menshikov1787–1869 · 19th century · Politicians0.09
  89. 89Mikhail of TverMikhail of Tver1271–1318 · 14th century · Politicians0.08
  90. 90Peter Ivanovich ShuvalovPeter Ivanovich Shuvalov1711–1762 · 18th century · Politicians0.08
  91. 91Maxim GorkyMaxim Gorky1868–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.08
  92. 92Vladimir OdoevskyVladimir Odoevsky1803–1869 · 19th century · Writers0.08
  93. 93Oleg I of ChernigovOleg I of Chernigov1052–1115 · 11th century · Historical Figures0.08
  94. 94Mikhail VorontsovMikhail Vorontsov1782–1856 · 19th century · Politicians0.08
  95. 95Faddey BulgarinFaddey Bulgarin1789–1859 · 19th century · Writers0.08
  96. 96Tikhon of ZadonskTikhon of Zadonsk1724–1783 · 18th century · Religious Figures0.08
  97. 97Konstantin of RostovKonstantin of Rostov1185–1218 · 13th century · Politicians0.08
  98. 98Peter II of RussiaPeter II of Russia1715–1730 · 18th century · Politicians0.08
  99. 99Kirill II of KyivKirill II of Kyiv1250–1280 · 13th century0.08
  100. 100Alexander II of RussiaAlexander II of Russia1818–1881 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.08

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. 1Henri BergsonHenri Bergson1859–1941 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  2. 2Émile DurkheimÉmile Durkheim1858–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  3. 3Thérèse of LisieuxThérèse of Lisieux1873–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics10 decades
  4. 4Henri PoincaréHenri Poincaré1854–1912 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  5. 5Auguste ComteAuguste Comte1798–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  6. 6Jean-François ChampollionJean-François Champollion1790–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics6 decades
  7. 7Évariste GaloisÉvariste Galois1811–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics6 decades
  8. 8Joseph FourierJoseph Fourier1768–1830 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  9. 9Ernest RenanErnest Renan1823–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics17 decades
  10. 10Gustave Le BonGustave Le Bon1841–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics15 decades
  11. 11Sophie GermainSophie Germain1776–1831 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  12. 12Vilfredo ParetoVilfredo Pareto1848–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  13. 13Charles FourierCharles Fourier1772–1837 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  14. 14François AragoFrançois Arago1786–1853 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  15. 15Augustin-Louis CauchyAugustin-Louis Cauchy1789–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  16. 16Frédéric BastiatFrédéric Bastiat1801–1850 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  17. 17Allan KardecAllan Kardec1804–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  18. 18Louis Auguste BlanquiLouis Auguste Blanqui1805–1881 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  19. 19Georges SorelGeorges Sorel1847–1922 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  20. 20Henri FayolHenri Fayol1841–1925 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  21. 21Jean-Baptiste SayJean-Baptiste Say1767–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics21 decades
  22. 22Léon WalrasLéon Walras1834–1910 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  23. 23Alphonse BertillonAlphonse Bertillon1853–1914 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  24. 24Charles HermiteCharles Hermite1822–1901 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7 decades
  25. 25Émile CouéÉmile Coué1857–1926 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1 decades
  26. 26Paul PainlevéPaul Painlevé1863–1933 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  27. 27Gaspard-Gustave de CoriolisGaspard-Gustave de Coriolis1792–1843 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  28. 28Joseph LiouvilleJoseph Liouville1809–1882 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  29. 29Camille JordanCamille Jordan1838–1922 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  30. 30Pierre JanetPierre Janet1859–1947 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  31. 31Gabriel TardeGabriel Tarde1843–1904 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  32. 32Frédéric PassyFrédéric Passy1822–1912 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics17 decades
  33. 33Lucien Lévy-BruhlLucien Lévy-Bruhl1857–1939 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics9 decades
  34. 34Gaston MasperoGaston Maspero1846–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  35. 35Auguste MarietteAuguste Mariette1821–1881 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  36. 36Charles Émile PicardCharles Émile Picard1856–1941 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics9 decades
  37. 37Victor CousinVictor Cousin1792–1867 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics20 decades
  38. 38Étienne CabetÉtienne Cabet1788–1856 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics3 decades
  39. 39Józef Maria Hoene-WrońskiJózef Maria Hoene-Wroński1776–1853 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  40. 40Jean Charles Léonard de SismondiJean Charles Léonard de Sismondi1773–1842 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  41. 41Michel ChaslesMichel Chasles1793–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics15 decades
  42. 42Maurice BlondelMaurice Blondel1861–1949 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  43. 43Antoine Augustin CournotAntoine Augustin Cournot1801–1877 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  44. 44Michel BréalMichel Bréal1832–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  45. 45Jean Gaston DarbouxJean Gaston Darboux1842–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics10 decades
  46. 46Édouard LucasÉdouard Lucas1842–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics2 decades
  47. 47Pierre Guillaume Frédéric le PlayPierre Guillaume Frédéric le Play1806–1882 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  48. 48Émile LittréÉmile Littré1801–1881 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7 decades
  49. 49Jean-Victor PonceletJean-Victor Poncelet1788–1867 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  50. 50Alfred LoisyAlfred Loisy1857–1940 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  51. 51Pierre LaroussePierre Larousse1817–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  52. 52Charles LavigerieCharles Lavigerie1825–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics2 decades
  53. 53Gabriel LaméGabriel Lamé1795–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  54. 54Pierre LerouxPierre Leroux1797–1871 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  55. 55Théodule-Armand RibotThéodule-Armand Ribot1839–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  56. 56Étienne-Louis MalusÉtienne-Louis Malus1775–1812 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  57. 57Charles Bernard RenouvierCharles Bernard Renouvier1815–1903 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  58. 58Jules Barthélemy-Saint-HilaireJules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire1805–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  59. 59Émile BoutrouxÉmile Boutroux1845–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics10 decades
  60. 60Georges Vacher de LapougeGeorges Vacher de Lapouge1854–1936 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  61. 61François MagendieFrançois Magendie1783–1855 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics4 decades
  62. 62Jacques Boucher de Crèvecœur de PerthesJacques Boucher de Crèvecœur de Perthes1788–1868 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics2 decades
  63. 63Charles-Édouard Brown-SéquardCharles-Édouard Brown-Séquard1817–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  64. 64Joseph BertrandJoseph Bertrand1822–1900 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  65. 65Jacques de MorganJacques de Morgan1857–1924 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  66. 66Jane DieulafoyJane Dieulafoy1851–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  67. 67Thomas Joannes StieltjesThomas Joannes Stieltjes1856–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  68. 68Jean-Jacques AmpèreJean-Jacques Ampère1800–1864 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  69. 69Louis BillotLouis Billot1846–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  70. 70Édouard SchuréÉdouard Schuré1841–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  71. 71Charles GideCharles Gide1847–1932 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  72. 72Julie-Victoire DaubiéJulie-Victoire Daubié1824–1874 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  73. 73Félix Ravaisson-MollienFélix Ravaisson-Mollien1813–1900 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  74. 74Léon DuguitLéon Duguit1859–1928 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  75. 75Achille ValenciennesAchille Valenciennes1794–1865 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  76. 76Victor BaschVictor Basch1863–1944 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  77. 77Barthélemy-Prosper EnfantinBarthélemy-Prosper Enfantin1796–1864 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  78. 78Antonin SertillangesAntonin Sertillanges1863–1948 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  79. 79Paul AppellPaul Appell1855–1930 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  80. 80Jacques Philippe Marie BinetJacques Philippe Marie Binet1786–1856 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  81. 81Michel ChevalierMichel Chevalier1806–1879 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  82. 82Henri Milne-EdwardsHenri Milne-Edwards1800–1885 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics3 decades
  83. 83Louis PoinsotLouis Poinsot1777–1859 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  84. 84Jacques-Joseph ChampollionJacques-Joseph Champollion1778–1867 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  85. 85Jean-Pierre Abel-RémusatJean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat1788–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  86. 86Victor Prosper ConsiderantVictor Prosper Considerant1808–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  87. 87Paul JanetPaul Janet1823–1899 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  88. 88Joseph Valentin BoussinesqJoseph Valentin Boussinesq1842–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1 decades
  89. 89Paul GervaisPaul Gervais1816–1879 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  90. 90Pierre Alphonse LaurentPierre Alphonse Laurent1813–1854 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  91. 91Paul-Émile BottaPaul-Émile Botta1802–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  92. 92Nicolas Théodore de SaussureNicolas Théodore de Saussure1767–1845 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  93. 93Émile Étienne GuimetÉmile Étienne Guimet1836–1918 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  94. 94PWPierre Wantzel1814–1848 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  95. 95Charles DupinCharles Dupin1784–1873 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics21 decades
  96. 96Alexandre Saint-Yves d'AlveydreAlexandre Saint-Yves d'Alveydre1842–1909 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  97. 97Adhémar Jean Claude Barré de Saint-VenantAdhémar Jean Claude Barré de Saint-Venant1797–1886 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  98. 98Alphonse PénaudAlphonse Pénaud1850–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot measured—
  99. 99Clémence RoyerClémence Royer1830–1902 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics15 decades
  100. 100PFPierre Frédéric Sarrus1798–1861 · 🇫🇷 France · Academicsnot 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.