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

In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
  1. 1Zhu XiZhu Xi1130–1200 · 12th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers870
  2. 2Li HongzhangLi Hongzhang1823–1901 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians149
  3. 3Zhang ZhidongZhang Zhidong1837–1909 · 19th century · Politicians86
  4. 4Zuo ZongtangZuo Zongtang1812–1885 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians43
  5. 5Ban GuBan Gu32–92 · 1st century · Writers40
  6. 6Ge HongGe Hong284–364 · 4th century · Academics40
  7. 7CSChen Shou233–297 · 3rd century · Writers14
  8. 8Mao ZedongMao Zedong1893–1976 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians12
  9. 9Lu XunLu Xun1881–1936 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers11

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. 1Victor HugoVictor Hugo1802–1885 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Alexandre DumasAlexandre Dumas1802–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  3. 3Jules VerneJules Verne1828–1905 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  4. 4Émile ZolaÉmile Zola1840–1902 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  5. 5Honoré de BalzacHonoré de Balzac1799–1850 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  6. 6George SandGeorge Sand1804–1876 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  7. 7Guy de MaupassantGuy de Maupassant1850–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  8. 8Arthur RimbaudArthur Rimbaud1854–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  9. 9Charles BaudelaireCharles Baudelaire1821–1867 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  10. 10Gustave FlaubertGustave Flaubert1821–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  11. 11StendhalStendhal1783–1842 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  12. 12Paul VerlainePaul Verlaine1844–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  13. 13Alfred de MussetAlfred de Musset1810–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  14. 14François-René de ChateaubriandFrançois-René de Chateaubriand1768–1848 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers11 decades
  15. 15Alexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville1805–1859 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  16. 16Anatole FranceAnatole France1844–1924 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  17. 17Alphonse de LamartineAlphonse de Lamartine1790–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  18. 18Alexandre Dumas filsAlexandre Dumas fils1824–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  19. 19Germaine de StaëlGermaine de Staël1766–1817 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers10 decades
  20. 20Théophile GautierThéophile Gautier1811–1872 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  21. 21Alphonse DaudetAlphonse Daudet1840–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  22. 22Octave MirbeauOctave Mirbeau1848–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  23. 23Prosper MériméeProsper Mérimée1803–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  24. 24Frédéric MistralFrédéric Mistral1830–1914 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  25. 25Louise MichelLouise Michel1830–1905 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  26. 26Stéphane MallarméStéphane Mallarmé1842–1898 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  27. 27Gérard de NervalGérard de Nerval1808–1855 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  28. 28Ludwig I of BavariaLudwig I of Bavaria1786–1868 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers5 decades
  29. 29Jules MicheletJules Michelet1798–1874 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  30. 30Pierre LotiPierre Loti1850–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  31. 31Hippolyte TaineHippolyte Taine1828–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  32. 32Maurice BarrèsMaurice Barrès1862–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  33. 33Joris-Karl HuysmansJoris-Karl Huysmans1848–1907 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers11 decades
  34. 34François GuizotFrançois Guizot1787–1874 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  35. 35Maurice LeblancMaurice Leblanc1864–1941 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  36. 36Eugène François VidocqEugène François Vidocq1775–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  37. 37Comte de LautréamontComte de Lautréamont1846–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers8 decades
  38. 38Paul LafarguePaul Lafargue1842–1911 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  39. 39Jean-Henri FabreJean-Henri Fabre1823–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers7 decades
  40. 40Éliphas LéviÉliphas Lévi1810–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers6 decades
  41. 41Sully PrudhommeSully Prudhomme1839–1907 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  42. 42Élisée ReclusÉlisée Reclus1830–1905 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  43. 43Eugène SueEugène Sue1804–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  44. 44Juliette RécamierJuliette Récamier1777–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers12 decades
  45. 45Jules RenardJules Renard1864–1910 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  46. 46Charles-Augustin Sainte-BeuveCharles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve1804–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  47. 47Adelbert von ChamissoAdelbert von Chamisso1781–1838 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  48. 48Alfred de VignyAlfred de Vigny1797–1863 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  49. 49Flora TristanFlora Tristan1803–1844 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  50. 50Alphonse AllaisAlphonse Allais1854–1905 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  51. 51Jules Amédée Barbey d'AurevillyJules Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly1808–1889 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  52. 52Sophie Rostopchine, Comtesse de SégurSophie Rostopchine, Comtesse de Ségur1799–1874 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  53. 53Zygmunt KrasińskiZygmunt Krasiński1812–1859 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  54. 54Léon BloyLéon Bloy1846–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  55. 55Marie d'AgoultMarie d'Agoult1805–1876 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers10 decades
  56. 56Georges FeydeauGeorges Feydeau1862–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  57. 57Charles Marie René Leconte de LisleCharles Marie René Leconte de Lisle1818–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  58. 58Hector MalotHector Malot1830–1907 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  59. 59Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-AdamAuguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam1838–1889 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  60. 60Victorien SardouVictorien Sardou1831–1908 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  61. 61Marceline Desbordes-ValmoreMarceline Desbordes-Valmore1786–1859 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  62. 62Paul BourgetPaul Bourget1852–1935 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  63. 63Robert de MontesquiouRobert de Montesquiou1855–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  64. 64Edmond de GoncourtEdmond de Goncourt1822–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  65. 65Charles NodierCharles Nodier1780–1844 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  66. 66Paul FévalPaul Féval1816–1887 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  67. 67José-Maria de HerediaJosé-Maria de Heredia1842–1905 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  68. 68Pierre-Jean de BérangerPierre-Jean de Béranger1780–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2 decades
  69. 69Théodore de BanvilleThéodore de Banville1823–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  70. 70Léo TaxilLéo Taxil1854–1907 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  71. 71Rodolphe TöpfferRodolphe Töpffer1799–1846 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers6 decades
  72. 72Edgar QuinetEdgar Quinet1803–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  73. 73Auguste MaquetAuguste Maquet1813–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  74. 74Michel VerneMichel Verne1861–1925 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers6 decades
  75. 75Eugène ScribeEugène Scribe1791–1861 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  76. 76Jules LaforgueJules Laforgue1860–1887 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  77. 77Numa Denis Fustel de CoulangesNuma Denis Fustel de Coulanges1830–1889 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  78. 78Tristan CorbièreTristan Corbière1845–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  79. 79Émile GaboriauÉmile Gaboriau1832–1873 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3 decades
  80. 80Henri de RégnierHenri de Régnier1864–1936 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  81. 81Eugène LabicheEugène Labiche1815–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  82. 82Robert SurcoufRobert Surcouf1773–1827 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  83. 83François CoppéeFrançois Coppée1842–1908 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  84. 84Armand Augustin Louis de CaulaincourtArmand Augustin Louis de Caulaincourt1773–1827 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  85. 85Remy de GourmontRemy de Gourmont1858–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  86. 86George du MaurierGeorge du Maurier1834–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  87. 87Frédéric OzanamFrédéric Ozanam1813–1853 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  88. 88Charles CrosCharles Cros1842–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  89. 89Aloysius BertrandAloysius Bertrand1807–1841 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  90. 90Georges CourtelineGeorges Courteline1858–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  91. 91Joséphin PeladanJoséphin Peladan1858–1918 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  92. 92Henri MurgerHenri Murger1822–1861 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  93. 93Marie Anne LenormandMarie Anne Lenormand1772–1843 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  94. 94Charles Paul de KockCharles Paul de Kock1793–1871 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  95. 95Jean RichepinJean Richepin1849–1926 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  96. 96Adèle HugoAdèle Hugo1830–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  97. 97Catulle MendèsCatulle Mendès1841–1909 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades
  98. 98Jules HetzelJules Hetzel1814–1886 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers6 decades
  99. 99Émile AugierÉmile Augier1820–1889 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  100. 100Edmond François Valentin AboutEdmond François Valentin About1828–1885 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades

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.