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
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Patriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · 17th century · Religious Figures6.7 - 2
Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow1482–1563 · 16th century · Writers3.1 - 3
Nikolai Rezanov1764–1807 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 4
Boris Godunov1552–1605 · 16th century · Politicians0.99 - 5
Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia1859–1919 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.94 - 6
Patriarch Joachim1621–1690 · 17th century0.86 - 7
Vasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.86 - 8
Nikolay Karamzin1766–1826 · 19th century · Writers0.85 - 9
Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia1843–1865 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.83 - 10
Anna of Russia1693–1740 · 18th century · Politicians0.82 - 11
Nikolay Semyonov1896–1986 · 20th century · Scientists0.75 - 12
Ivan I of Tver1357–1425 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.66 - 13
Avraamy Palitsyn1550–1626 · 16th century · Writers0.64 - 14
Ivan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of Smolenskdied 1359 · 14th century0.62 - 15
Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia1779–1831 · 19th century · Politicians0.62 - 16
Elizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.58 - 17
Alexandra Velyaminova1301–1364 · 14th century0.57 - 18
Peter the Great1672–1725 · 18th century · Politicians0.53 - 19
Maximus the Greek1475–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.53 - 20
Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia1783–1801 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.43 - 21
Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia1864–1931 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.42 - 22
Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia1832–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.42 - 23
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.39 - 24
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia1827–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.39 - 25
Grigory Orlov1734–1783 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.38 - 26
Alexander I of Russia1777–1825 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.36 - 27
Leo Tolstoy1828–1910 · 19th century · Writers0.35 - 28
Alexander Bestuzhev1797–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.34 - 29
Ivan the Terrible1530–1584 · 16th century · Politicians0.33 - 30
Pyotr Panin1721–1789 · 18th century0.33 - 31
Ippolit Bogdanovich1743–1803 · 18th century · Writers0.33 - 32
Peter III of Russia1728–1762 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.31
- 33
Stefan Yavorsky1658–1722 · 17th century · Academics0.30 - 34
Grigory Potemkin1739–1791 · 18th century · Politicians0.30 - 35
Boris of Tver1400–1461 · 15th century0.29 - 36
Ivan Mazepa1639–1709 · 17th century · Politicians0.29 - 37
Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia1899–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.29 - 38
Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia1850–1908 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.29 - 39
Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn1643–1714 · 17th century · Politicians0.28 - 40
Paul I of Russia1754–1801 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.28 - 41
Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.28 - 42
Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov1727–1797 · 18th century · Writers0.28 - 43
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · 18th century · Politicians0.27 - 44
Nicholas I of Russia1796–1855 · 19th century · Models0.26 - 45
Alexander Pushkin1799–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.26 - 46
Dimitry of Rostov1651–1709 · 17th century · Writers0.26 - 47
Alexander Griboyedov1795–1829 · 19th century · Politicians0.25 - 48
Alexander Herzen1812–1870 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0.24 - 49
Vissarion Belinsky1811–1848 · 19th century · Academics0.23 - 50
Konstantin Aksakov1817–1860 · 19th century · Writers0.23 - 51
Nikita Panin1718–1783 · 18th century · Politicians0.22
- 52
Symeon of Polotsk1629–1680 · 17th century · Writers0.21 - 53
Aleksei Musin-Pushkin1744–1817 · 18th century · Writers0.21 - 54
Alexis of Russia1629–1676 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.21 - 55
Xenia Shestova1560–1631 · 16th century0.20 - 56
Mikhail Lermontov1814–1841 · 19th century · Writers0.19 - 57
Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.19 - 58
Pavel Fedotov1815–1852 · 19th century · Artists0.19 - 59
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia1858–1915 · 19th century · Writers0.19 - 60
Dmitry Shuisky1560–1612 · 16th century0.19 - 61
Nikolay Alexandrovich Lvov1753–1803 · 18th century · Academics0.18 - 62
Alexey Venetsianov1780–1847 · 19th century · Artists0.18 - 63
Catherine Pavlovna of Russia1788–1819 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.18 - 64
Fyodor Alekseyev1755–1824 · 18th century · Artists0.18 - 65
Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia1825–1844 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.17 - 66
Konstantin Batyushkov1787–1855 · 19th century · Writers0.15 - 67
Mykhailo Maksymovych1804–1873 · 19th century · Writers0.15 - 68
Nicholas Repnin1734–1801 · 18th century · Writers0.15 - 69
Kirill Razumovsky1728–1803 · 18th century · Politicians0.14 - 70
Natalya Alexeevna of Russia1673–1716 · 18th century · Writers0.14 - 71
Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–1728 · 18th century0.14 - 72
Nikolai Leskov1831–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.13 - 73
Aleksei Fedorovich Adashev1510–1561 · 16th century · Politicians0.13 - 74
Alexander Shishkov1754–1841 · 18th century · Writers0.13 - 75
Joseph Volotsky1440–1515 · 15th century · Writers0.12 - 76
Alexander Menshikov1673–1729 · 18th century · Politicians0.12 - 77
Nikolay Dobrolyubov1836–1861 · 19th century · Academics0.11 - 78
Ivan the Young1458–1490 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.11 - 79
Konstantin of Uglich1389–1434 · 15th century0.11 - 80
Dmitry Pozharsky1577–1642 · 17th century · Politicians0.11 - 81
Gleb Uspensky1843–1902 · 19th century · Writers0.10
- 82
Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy1645–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.10 - 83
Alexander Suvorov1730–1800 · 18th century0.10
- 84
Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia1871–1899 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.10 - 85
Alexander Ivanov1806–1858 · 19th century · Artists0.10 - 86
Ivan Krylov1769–1844 · 19th century · Writers0.09 - 87
Ivan Dmitriev1760–1837 · 18th century · Writers0.09 - 88
Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov1787–1869 · 19th century · Politicians0.09 - 89
Mikhail of Tver1271–1318 · 14th century · Politicians0.08 - 90
Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov1711–1762 · 18th century · Politicians0.08 - 91
Maxim Gorky1868–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.08 - 92
Vladimir Odoevsky1803–1869 · 19th century · Writers0.08 - 93
Oleg I of Chernigov1052–1115 · 11th century · Historical Figures0.08 - 94
Mikhail Vorontsov1782–1856 · 19th century · Politicians0.08 - 95
Faddey Bulgarin1789–1859 · 19th century · Writers0.08 - 96
Tikhon of Zadonsk1724–1783 · 18th century · Religious Figures0.08
- 97
Konstantin of Rostov1185–1218 · 13th century · Politicians0.08 - 98
Peter II of Russia1715–1730 · 18th century · Politicians0.08 - 99
Kirill II of Kyiv1250–1280 · 13th century0.08 - 100
Alexander 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.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Emperor Meiji1852–1912 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures11 decades - 2
Hiroshige1797–1858 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured— - 3
Kanō Jigorō1860–1938 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Educators0 decades - 4
Itō Hirobumi1841–1909 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 5
Saigō Takamori1828–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 6
Tōgō Heihachirō1848–1934 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 7
Emperor Kōmei1831–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Models0 decades - 8
Tokugawa Yoshinobu1837–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades - 9
Sakamoto Ryōma1836–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 10
Kitasato Shibasaburō1853–1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades - 11
Takahashi Korekiyo1854–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 12
Ichiyō Higuchi1872–1896 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured— - 13
Mori Ōgai1862–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades - 14
Tanaka Giichi1864–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 15
Matsukata Masayoshi1835–1924 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 16
Tokugawa Iemochi1846–1866 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades - 17
Emperor Ninkō1800–1846 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 18
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe1852–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 19
Nogi Maresuke1849–1912 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 20
Fukuzawa Yukichi1835–1901 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Educators7 decades - 21
Utagawa Kuniyoshi1798–1861 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades - 22
Ōkubo Toshimichi1830–1878 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 23
Ōyama Iwao1842–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 24
Nitobe Inazō1862–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Educators0 decades - 25
Iwasaki Yatarō1835–1885 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Founders0 decades - 26
Emperor Kōkaku1771–1840 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 27
Saitō Makoto1858–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 28
Yoshida Shōin1830–1859 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 29
Kido Takayoshi1833–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 30
Tokugawa Iesada1824–1858 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades - 31
Tokugawa Ieyoshi1793–1853 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
- 32
Empress Shōken1849–1914 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades - 33
Iwakura Tomomi1825–1883 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 34
Itagaki Taisuke1837–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 35
Tokugawa Ienari1773–1841 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades - 36
Enomoto Takeaki1836–1908 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 37
Katō Takaaki1860–1926 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 38
Yamagata Aritomo1838–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians3 decades - 39FYFusajirō Yamauchi1859–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured—
- 40
Katsu Kaishū1823–1899 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 41
Sanjō Sanetomi1837–1891 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 42
Ōkuma Shigenobu1838–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 43
Katō Tomosaburō1861–1923 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 44
Inukai Tsuyoshi1855–1932 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 45
Futabatei Shimei1864–1909 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades - 46
Hara Takashi1856–1921 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 47
Yoshitoshi1839–1892 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured— - 48
Okakura Kakuzō1863–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades - 49
Kusumoto Ine1827–1903 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Doctorsnot measured— - 50
Ii Naosuke1815–1860 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 51
Kiyoura Keigo1850–1942 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 52
Kondō Isami1834–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 53
Kikunae Ikeda1864–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientists0 decades - 54
Inoue Kaoru1836–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 55
Saionji Kinmochi1849–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 56
Tsuda Umeko1864–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades - 57
Tsubouchi Shōyō1859–1935 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades - 58
Gotō Shinpei1857–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 59
Shibusawa Eiichi1840–1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured— - 60
Takasugi Shinsaku1839–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 61
Katsura Tarō1848–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 62
Terauchi Masatake1852–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 63
Okita Sōji1842–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 64
Nakano Takeko1847–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 65
Sen Katayama1859–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Journalists0 decades - 66
Utagawa Kunisada1786–1865 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades - 67
Saitō Hajime1844–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 68
Matsudaira Katamori1836–1893 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 69
Takeda Sōkaku1859–1943 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 70
Nobu Shirase1861–1946 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades - 71
Sakuma Shōzan1811–1864 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 72
Tomitaro Makino1862–1957 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientistsnot measured— - 73
Torakusu Yamaha1851–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Founders0 decades - 74
Honinbo Shusaku1829–1862 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 75
Shōjirō Gotō1838–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 76
Saigō Tsugumichi1843–1902 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 77
Kuroda Kiyotaka1840–1900 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 78
Akashi Motojiro1864–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 79
Tanaka Hisashige1799–1881 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientistsnot measured— - 80
Ninomiya Sontoku1787–1856 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academicsnot measured— - 81
Kabayama Sukenori1837–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 82
Mutsu Munemitsu1844–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 83
Tokugawa Nariaki1800–1860 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 84
Mikimoto Kōkichi1858–1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured— - 85
Hirata Atsutane1776–1843 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured— - 86
Nakahama Manjirō1827–1898 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academicsnot measured— - 87
Nakayama Yoshiko1836–1907 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
- 88
Abe Masahiro1819–1857 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 89
Takamine Jōkichi1854–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientistsnot measured— - 90
Makino Nobuaki1861–1949 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 91
Mori Arinori1847–1889 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 92
Ito Sukeyuki1843–1914 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 93
Kanzō Uchimura1861–1930 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured— - 94
Yukio Ozaki1858–1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 95
Keisai Eisen1790–1848 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured— - 96
Ogino Ginko1851–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Doctorsnot measured— - 97
Ankō Itosu1831–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 98
Kawakami Gensai1834–1872 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured— - 99
Ōmura Masujirō1824–1869 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured— - 100
Chikako, Princess Kazu1846–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · 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.