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. 1Thomas EdisonThomas Edison1847–1931 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  2. 2Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell1847–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists15 decades
  3. 3Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee1807–1870 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  4. 4Samuel MorseSamuel Morse1791–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  5. 5John MuirJohn Muir1838–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  6. 6Samuel ColtSamuel Colt1814–1862 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists18 decades
  7. 7George Washington CarverGeorge Washington Carver1864–1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  8. 8Frederick Winslow TaylorFrederick Winslow Taylor1856–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  9. 9Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci1808–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  10. 10John Stith PembertonJohn Stith Pemberton1831–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  11. 11Robert FultonRobert Fulton1765–1815 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  12. 12Charles GoodyearCharles Goodyear1800–1860 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  13. 13Isaac SingerIsaac Singer1811–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  14. 14George WestinghouseGeorge Westinghouse1846–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists15 decades
  15. 15John Jacob Astor IVJohn Jacob Astor IV1864–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  16. 16John BrowningJohn Browning1855–1926 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  17. 17Matthew C. PerryMatthew C. Perry1794–1858 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  18. 18George MeadeGeorge Meade1815–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  19. 19SequoyahSequoyah1770–1843 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  20. 20Herman HollerithHerman Hollerith1860–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  21. 21Josiah Willard GibbsJosiah Willard Gibbs1839–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists5 decades
  22. 22Percival LowellPercival Lowell1855–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  23. 23P. G. T. BeauregardP. G. T. Beauregard1818–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  24. 24James BowieJames Bowie1796–1836 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists18 decades
  25. 25Hiram MaximHiram Maxim1840–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  26. 26Albert A. MichelsonAlbert A. Michelson1852–1931 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  27. 27Josephine CochraneJosephine Cochrane1839–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  28. 28Edward Drinker CopeEdward Drinker Cope1840–1897 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists2 decades
  29. 29Emile BerlinerEmile Berliner1851–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  30. 30Eli WhitneyEli Whitney1765–1825 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists21 decades
  31. 31Johnny AppleseedJohnny Appleseed1774–1845 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  32. 32John Wesley PowellJohn Wesley Powell1834–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists12 decades
  33. 33Luther BurbankLuther Burbank1849–1926 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  34. 34Joseph HenryJoseph Henry1797–1878 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  35. 35Emily Warren RoeblingEmily Warren Roebling1843–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  36. 36Annie Jump CannonAnnie Jump Cannon1863–1941 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  37. 37John DeereJohn Deere1804–1886 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists17 decades
  38. 38Mihajlo PupinMihajlo Pupin1858–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  39. 39John Augustus RoeblingJohn Augustus Roebling1806–1869 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  40. 40Richard Jordan GatlingRichard Jordan Gatling1818–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  41. 41Elisha GrayElisha Gray1835–1901 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  42. 42Henry GanttHenry Gantt1861–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  43. 43Samuel Pierpont LangleySamuel Pierpont Langley1834–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  44. 44Eunice Newton FooteEunice Newton Foote1819–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  45. 45Elias HoweElias Howe1819–1866 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists17 decades
  46. 46Cyrus McCormickCyrus McCormick1809–1884 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists12 decades
  47. 47Lewis Howard LatimerLewis Howard Latimer1848–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  48. 48Maria MitchellMaria Mitchell1818–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists17 decades
  49. 49George PullmanGeorge Pullman1831–1897 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists7 decades
  50. 50Asa GrayAsa Gray1810–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  51. 51Henry Fairfield OsbornHenry Fairfield Osborn1857–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists11 decades
  52. 52Charles WilkesCharles Wilkes1798–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  53. 53Constantine Samuel RafinesqueConstantine Samuel Rafinesque1783–1840 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  54. 54Matthew Fontaine MauryMatthew Fontaine Maury1806–1873 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists12 decades
  55. 55Eli LillyEli Lilly1838–1898 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  56. 56George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.1859–1896 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  57. 57Williamina FlemingWilliamina Fleming1857–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  58. 58Asaph HallAsaph Hall1829–1907 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists7 decades
  59. 59Edmund Kirby SmithEdmund Kirby Smith1824–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists3 decades
  60. 60Jacob W. DavisJacob W. Davis1831–1908 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  61. 61Edwin HallEdwin Hall1855–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists7 decades
  62. 62Alfred VailAlfred Vail1807–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  63. 63Ellen Swallow RichardsEllen Swallow Richards1842–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  64. 64Charles PfizerCharles Pfizer1824–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  65. 65Edward Emerson BarnardEdward Emerson Barnard1857–1923 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  66. 66Edwin DrakeEdwin Drake1819–1880 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  67. 67Charles Martin HallCharles Martin Hall1863–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists3 decades
  68. 68Granville Tailer WoodsGranville Tailer Woods1856–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  69. 69David Dunbar BuickDavid Dunbar Buick1854–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  70. 70Margaret E. KnightMargaret E. Knight1838–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  71. 71Sam LoydSam Loyd1841–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  72. 72Morgan RobertsonMorgan Robertson1861–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  73. 73Edward W. MorleyEdward W. Morley1838–1923 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists2 decades
  74. 74Horace WellsHorace Wells1815–1848 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  75. 75Ferdinand Vandeveer HaydenFerdinand Vandeveer Hayden1829–1887 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  76. 76James Dwight DanaJames Dwight Dana1813–1895 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  77. 77Whitcomb L. JudsonWhitcomb L. Judson1846–1909 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  78. 78Emma WillardEmma Willard1787–1870 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists20 decades
  79. 79William Smith ClarkWilliam Smith Clark1826–1886 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  80. 80Henry M. LelandHenry M. Leland1843–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  81. 81Edward Porter AlexanderEdward Porter Alexander1835–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  82. 82Walter HuntWalter Hunt1796–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  83. 83Charles Doolittle WalcottCharles Doolittle Walcott1850–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  84. 84Charles M. SchwabCharles M. Schwab1862–1939 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  85. 85Edward Charles PickeringEdward Charles Pickering1846–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  86. 86Gouverneur Kemble WarrenGouverneur Kemble Warren1830–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  87. 87Heinrich GöbelHeinrich Göbel1818–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  88. 88William Henry PickeringWilliam Henry Pickering1858–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  89. 89William Barton RogersWilliam Barton Rogers1804–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  90. 90L. L. LangstrothL. L. Langstroth1810–1895 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists3 decades
  91. 91Thomas SayThomas Say1787–1834 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists20 decades
  92. 92John Wesley HyattJohn Wesley Hyatt1837–1920 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists1 decades
  93. 93James Buchanan EadsJames Buchanan Eads1820–1887 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  94. 94John Taliaferro ThompsonJohn Taliaferro Thompson1860–1940 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  95. 95George Washington GoethalsGeorge Washington Goethals1858–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  96. 96Liberty Hyde BaileyLiberty Hyde Bailey1858–1954 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists10 decades
  97. 97Almon Brown StrowgerAlmon Brown Strowger1839–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  98. 98Jacob PerkinsJacob Perkins1766–1849 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  99. 99William StanleyWilliam Stanley1858–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  100. 100John Strong NewberryJohn Strong Newberry1822–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot 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.