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
Alexey Venetsianov1780–1847 · 19th century · Artists0.18 - 62
Nikolay Alexandrovich Lvov1753–1803 · 18th century · Academics0.18 - 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
Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–1728 · 18th century0.14 - 71
Natalya Alexeevna of Russia1673–1716 · 18th century · Writers0.14 - 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
Hjalmar Branting1860–1925 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians1 decades - 2
Johan Vilhelm Snellman1806–1881 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 3
Hjalmar Hammarskjöld1862–1953 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 4
Louis de Geer the Elder1818–1896 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 5
Arvid Lindman1862–1936 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 6
Karl Staaff1860–1915 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 7
August Palm1849–1922 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 8
Erik Gustaf Boström1842–1907 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 9
Arvid Posse1820–1901 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 10
Carl Swartz1858–1926 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 11
Gerhard Louis De Geer1854–1935 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 12
Carl Gustaf Mannerheim1797–1854 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 13
Klas Pontus Arnoldson1844–1916 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 14
Carl Löwenhielm1772–1861 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 15
Ernst Trygger1857–1943 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 16
Baltzar von Platen1766–1829 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 17
Fredrik von Otter1833–1910 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 18
Robert Themptander1844–1897 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 19
Christian Lundeberg1842–1911 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 20
Karolina Widerström1856–1949 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 21
Gustaf Åkerhielm1833–1900 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 22
Carl Johan Thyselius1811–1891 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades - 23
Johan Ramstedt1852–1935 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 24
Knut Agathon Wallenberg1853–1938 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 25
Lars Johan Hierta1801–1872 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 26
Carl Lindhagen1860–1946 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 27
Johan August Gripenstedt1813–1874 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 28
Carl Otto Mörner1781–1868 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 29
André Oscar Wallenberg1816–1886 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 30
Count Ludvig Douglas, 12th Count of Skenninge and Stjernorp1849–1916 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 31
Carl von Blixen-Finecke1822–1873 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 32
Magnus Björnstjerna1779–1847 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 33
Elis Fischer1834–1889 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 34
Ivar Afzelius1848–1921 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 35
Carl Johan Schönherr1772–1848 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 36
Fredrik Wachtmeister1855–1919 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 37
Claes Tholin1860–1927 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 38
Hans Järta1774–1847 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 39
Gustaf af Wetterstedt1776–1837 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 40
Anna Sterky1856–1939 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 41
Robert Henrik Rehbinder1777–1841 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 42
Axel Gustav Adlercreutz1821–1880 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 43
Carl Fredrik af Wingård1781–1851 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 44
Adolph Ribbing1765–1843 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 45
Hans Forssell1843–1901 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 46
Gustaf Lagerbjelke1817–1895 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 47
Gustaf Oscar Wallenberg1863–1937 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 48
Fridtjuv Berg1851–1916 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 49
Axel Otto Mörner1774–1852 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 50
Herman Lindqvist1863–1932 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 51
Bror Cederström1780–1877 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 52
August Gyldenstolpe1849–1928 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 53
Christofer Rutger Ludvig Manderström1806–1873 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 54
Emil Key1822–1892 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 55
Julius Mankell1828–1897 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 56
Sven Adolf Hedlund1821–1900 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 57
Gustaf Algernon Stierneld1791–1868 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 58
Knut Gillis Bildt1854–1927 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 59
Olof Fåhræus1796–1884 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 60
Axel Key1832–1901 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 61
Alfred Lagerheim1843–1924 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 62
Gustaf Rudolf Abelin1819–1903 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 63
Adolf Hedin1834–1905 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 64
Albert Ehrensvärd the Elder1821–1901 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 65
Carl Henrik Anckarsvärd1782–1865 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 66
Erik Marks von Würtemberg1861–1937 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 67
Oscar Björnstjerna1819–1905 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 68
Johan Gabriel Richert1784–1864 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 69
Hugo Tamm1840–1907 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 70
Claes Adolph Fleming1771–1831 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 71
Edvard Carleson1820–1884 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 72
Johan Sandler1858–1929 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 73
Gösta Posse1823–1888 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 74
Filip Boström1843–1908 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 75
Albert Staaff1821–1895 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 76
Oscar von Otter1835–1905 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured— - 77CTCarl Ture af Wirsén1815–1869 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
- 78CFCarl Fredrik Geijer1784–1853 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot 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.