215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time2000-2009

The 2000s

Whose names filled the books of the 2000s - 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 2000s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Mao Zedong1893-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians126
  2. 2Deng Xiaoping1904-1997 · 20th century · China · Politicians87
  3. 3Jiang Zemin1926-2022 · 20th century · China · Politicians65
  4. 4Lu Xun1881-1936 · 20th century · China · Writers46
  5. 5Hu Jintaoborn 1942 · 20th century · China · Politicians34
  6. 6Zhou Enlai1898-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians32
  7. 7Sun Yat-sen1866-1925 · 20th century · China · Politicians15
  8. 8Liu Shaoqi1898-1969 · 20th century · China · Politicians13
  9. 9Confucius551 BC-479 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Academics12
  10. 10Wen Jiabaoborn 1942 · 20th century · China · Politicians6.1
  11. 11Lin Biao1907-1971 · 20th century · China · Politicians5.5
  12. 12Zhu De1886-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians5.4
  13. 13Chen Shui-bianborn 1950 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians5.3
  14. 14Laozi579 BC-500 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics4.2
  15. 15Jiang Qing1914-1991 · 20th century · China · Actors4.2
  16. 16Yuan Shikai1859-1916 · 19th century · China · Politicians3.4
  17. 17Lee Teng-hui1923-2020 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians3.4
  18. 18Zhuang Zhou369 BC-288 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Academics2.5
  19. 19Gao Ming1305-1370 · 14th century · Writers2.4
  20. 20Li Peng1928-2019 · 20th century · China · Politicians2.3
  21. 21Yan Fu1854-1921 · 19th century · Writers1.8
  22. 22Zhang Yimouborn 1950 · 20th century · China · Directors1.8
  23. 23Kang Youwei1858-1927 · 19th century · China · Politicians1.7
  24. 24Soong Ching-ling1893-1981 · 20th century · China · Politicians1.7
  25. 25Li Hongzhang1823-1901 · 19th century · China · Politicians1.6
  26. 26Zhu Rongji1928-2026 · 20th century · China · Politicians1.6
  27. 27Sima Qian145 BC-86 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Writers1.3
  28. 28Cao Xueqin1724-1760 · 18th century · China · Writers1.2
  29. 29Li Si280 BC-208 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Politicians1.00
  30. 30Du Fu712-770 · 8th century · China · Writers0.99
  31. 31Zhu Xi1130-1200 · 12th century · China · Writers0.96
  32. 32Jack Maborn 1964 · 20th century · China · Founders0.92
  33. 33Chiang Ching-kuo1910-1988 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.87
  34. 34Ma Ying-jeouborn 1950 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians0.81
  35. 35Mo Yanborn 1955 · 20th century · China · Writers0.80
  36. 36Zheng He1371-1433 · 15th century · China · Historical Figures0.80
  37. 37Li Bai701-762 · 8th century · Writers0.78
  38. 38Lee Kuan Yew1923-2015 · 20th century · Singapore · Politicians0.77
  39. 39Qu Yuan343 BC-278 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Writers0.71
  40. 40Chen-ning Yang1922-2025 · 20th century · China · Scientists0.68
  41. 41Lin Yutang1895-1976 · 20th century · China · Writers0.66
  42. 42Zhuge Liang181-234 · 3rd century · China · Politicians0.64
  43. 43Wang Yangming1472-1529 · 16th century · China · Academics0.53
  44. 44Li Qiangborn 1959 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.53
  45. 45Yao Mingborn 1980 · 21st century · China · Basketball Players0.51
  46. 46Tao Yuanming365-427 · 5th century · China · Writers0.46
  47. 47Wang Anshi1021-1086 · 11th century · China · Politicians0.42
  48. 48Dong Zhongshu179 BC-104 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.42
  49. 49Li Keqiang1955-2023 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.42
  50. 50Bruce Lee1940-1973 · 20th century · United States · Actors0.41
  51. 51Lin Tse-hsu1785-1850 · 19th century · Politicians0.39
  52. 52Xi Jinpingborn 1953 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.38
  53. 53Pang De170-219 · 3rd century0.38
  54. 54Xun Kuang313 BC-230 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.35
  55. 55Hong Xiuquan1814-1864 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.35
  56. 56Tan Sitong1865-1898 · 19th century · China · Academics0.31
  57. 57Li Zicheng1606-1645 · 17th century · China · Politicians0.30
  58. 58Wong Kar-waiborn 1958 · 20th century · China · Directors0.29
  59. 59Bai Juyi772-846 · 9th century · China · Writers0.27
  60. 60Wang Chong27-97 · 1st century · Scientists0.27
  61. 61Zeng Guofan1811-1872 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.25
  62. 62Koxinga1624-1662 · 17th century · Japan · Politicians0.25
  63. 63Xu Xiake1587-1641 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.24
  64. 64Wu Zetian624-705 · 7th century · China · Writers0.24
  65. 65Cao Cao155-220 · 2nd century · China · Politicians0.23
  66. 66Wang Fuzhi1619-1692 · 17th century · China · Writers0.22
  67. 67Yuan Jie719-772 · 8th century · Writers0.22
  68. 68Ouyang Xiu1007-1072 · 11th century · China · Writers0.21
  69. 69Han Yu768-824 · 9th century · China · Writers0.20
  70. 70Liu Bei161-223 · 2nd century0.20
  71. 71Liu Xiangborn 1983 · 21st century · China · Athletes0.19
  72. 72Gao Xingjianborn 1940 · 20th century · China · Writers0.19
  73. 73Park Chung-hee1917-1979 · 20th century · South Korea · Politicians0.19
  74. 74Dai Zhen1724-1777 · 18th century · China · Academics0.18
  75. 75Zhang Juzheng1525-1582 · 16th century · China · Politicians0.17
  76. 76Hongwu Emperor1328-1398 · 14th century · China · Historical Figures0.16
  77. 77Mozi470 BC-391 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.16
  78. 78Wang Wei699-759 · 8th century · China · Writers0.16
  79. 79Liu Zongyuan773-819 · 9th century · Writers0.15
  80. 80Gu Yanwu1613-1682 · 17th century · Writers0.14
  81. 81Faye Wongborn 1969 · 21st century · China · Musicians0.13
  82. 82Xu Guangqi1562-1633 · 16th century · Politicians0.12
  83. 83Jay Chouborn 1979 · 21st century · Taiwan · Musicians0.11
  84. 84Su Shi1037-1101 · 11th century · China · Writers0.11
  85. 85Liu Qing78-106 · 2nd century0.11
  86. 86Huang Zongxi1610-1695 · 17th century · Academics0.10
  87. 87Qi Baishi1864-1957 · 19th century · China · Artists0.10
  88. 88Zhang Zhidong1837-1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.10
  89. 89Leslie Cheung1956-2003 · 20th century · China · Musicians0.10
  90. 90Puyi1906-1967 · 20th century · China · Historical Figures0.09
  91. 91Ban Gu32-92 · 1st century · Writers0.09
  92. 92Hai Rui1514-1587 · 16th century0.09
  93. 93Wang Bi226-249 · 3rd century · Politicians0.09
  94. 94Hsu Shih-chang1855-1939 · 19th century · Politicians0.09
  95. 95Kim Il-sung1912-1994 · 20th century · North Korea · Politicians0.09
  96. 96Zhang Xuecheng1738-1801 · 18th century · Academics0.08
  97. 97Guan Hanqing1210-1298 · 13th century · Writers0.08
  98. 98Zhang Zai1020-1077 · 11th century · Academics0.08
  99. 99Emperor Wu of Han156 BC-87 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.08
  100. 100Zhang Ziyiborn 1979 · 21st century · China · Actors0.08

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 2000s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Elon Muskborn 1971 · South Africa · Founders1 decades
  2. 2Leonardo DiCaprioborn 1974 · United States · Actors3 decades
  3. 3Justin Trudeauborn 1971 · Canada · Politicians1 decades
  4. 4Melania Trumpborn 1970 · Slovenia · Models1 decades
  5. 5Nicole Kidmanborn 1967 · Australia · Actors3 decades
  6. 6Eminemborn 1972 · United States · Musicians2 decades
  7. 7Zinedine Zidaneborn 1972 · France · Footballers3 decades
  8. 8Christopher Nolanborn 1970 · United Kingdom · Directors2 decades
  9. 9Matt Damonborn 1970 · United States · Actors3 decades
  10. 10Jennifer Lopezborn 1969 · United States · Musicians3 decades
  11. 11Dwayne Johnsonborn 1972 · Canada · Actors1 decades
  12. 12Michael Schumacherborn 1969 · Germany · Athletes3 decades
  13. 13Jennifer Anistonborn 1969 · United States · Actors2 decades
  14. 14Heath Ledger1979-2008 · Australia · Actors2 decades
  15. 15Pamela Andersonborn 1967 · Canada · Actors3 decades
  16. 16Ben Affleckborn 1972 · United States · Actors2 decades
  17. 17Julia Robertsborn 1967 · United States · Actors3 decades
  18. 18Cameron Diazborn 1972 · United States · Actors3 decades
  19. 19Gwyneth Paltrowborn 1972 · United States · Actors3 decades
  20. 20Will Smithborn 1968 · United States · Actors3 decades
  21. 21Jason Stathamborn 1967 · United Kingdom · Actors0 decades
  22. 22Mark Carneyborn 1965 · Canada · Politicians1 decades
  23. 23Celine Dionborn 1968 · Canada · Musicians1 decades
  24. 24Winona Ryderborn 1971 · United States · Actors3 decades
  25. 25Adam Sandlerborn 1966 · United States · Actors2 decades
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.