1900–1999
The 20th century
Whose names filled the books of the 20th 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 German books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1700–1771 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany8.0 - 2
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.0 - 3
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Frederick William, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen1663–1735 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.0 - 4
Frederick William of Saxe-Meiningen1679–1746 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.0 - 5
Thomas Mann1875–1955 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers6.1 - 6
Novalis1772–1801 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers5.5 - 7
Karl Marx1818–1883 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics4.7 - 8
Jean Paul1763–1825 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers4.3 - 9
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1676–1732 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians3.3 - 10
Frederick II, Elector Palatine1482–1556 · 16th century3.3 - 11
Frederick II of Legnica1480–1547 · 16th century3.3 - 12
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1418–1478 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.3 - 13
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Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1633–1708 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.3 - 14
Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden1857–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures3.3 - 15
Johann Georg, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels1677–1712 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 16
John George, Elector of Brandenburg1525–1598 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.9 - 17
John Frederick, Count Palatine of Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein1587–1644 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.8 - 18
John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1654–1686 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models2.8 - 19
John Frederick, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt1721–1767 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.8 - 20
John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg1582–1628 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.8 - 21
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1625–1679 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.8 - 22
John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania1542–1600 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.8 - 23
Adolf Hitler1889–1945 · 20th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politicians2.6 - 24
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William II, Duke of Jülich1325–1393 · 14th century · Historical Figures2.6 - 25
William II of Hesse-Kassel1777–1847 · 19th century · Historical Figures2.6 - 26
Wilhelm II, German Emperor1859–1941 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.6 - 27WIWilliam II, Margrave of Meissen1371–1425 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.6
- 28WIWilliam II of Jülich1200–1207 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.6
- 29
William II, Duke of Bavaria1365–1417 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.6 - 30WIWilliam II, Count of Weimar930–1003 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.6
- 31
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Wilhelm II of Württemberg1848–1921 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.6 - 32
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William II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1300–1369 · 14th century · Historical Figures2.6 - 33
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Maria Theresa1717–1780 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures2.5 - 34
Max Weber1864–1920 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics2.5 - 35
Paracelsus1493–1541 · 16th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors2.5 - 36
Richard Wagner1813–1883 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians2.4 - 37
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Friedrich Engels1820–1895 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics2.3 - 38
William, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg1648–1725 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.0 - 39
William I, German Emperor1797–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.0 - 40
William the Silent1533–1584 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians2.0 - 41WIWilliam I of Weimar900–963 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.0
- 42
William I, Elector of Hesse1743–1821 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.0 - 43
William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen1487–1559 · 16th century2.0 - 44
William I, Duke of Bavaria1330–1389 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians2.0 - 45
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William I1343–1407 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.0 - 46
Wilhelm I of Württemberg1781–1864 · 19th century · Historical Figures2.0 - 47
Friedrich Schlegel1772–1829 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.8 - 48
Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg1417–1477 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.8 - 49HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1460–1526 · 15th century · Historical Figures1.8
- 50HIHenry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1397–1427 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.8
- 51
Erich Honecker1912–1994 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.7 - 52
Heinrich Mann1871–1950 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.7 - 53
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Martin Luther1483–1546 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1.6 - 54
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Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg1668–1721 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.6 - 55
Charles Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen1712–1743 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6 - 56
Carl Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1783–1853 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6 - 57
Heinrich Heine1797–1856 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.6 - 58
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1699–1772 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 59
Frederick III, Burgrave of Nuremberg1220–1297 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 60
Frederick III, Prince of Salm-Kyrburg1744–1794 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 61
Frederick III of Legnica1520–1570 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 62
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Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1597–1659 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.5 - 63
Frederick III, German Emperor1831–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 64
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Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1673–1746 · 18th century · Politicians1.5 - 65
Friedrich III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1711–1763 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.5 - 66
Frederick III, Margrave of Baden1327–1353 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.5 - 67
Frederick III of the Palatinate1515–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.5 - 68
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Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757–1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.5 - 69
Karl Kraus1874–1936 · 20th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Writers1.5 - 70
Walter Ulbricht1893–1973 · 20th century · Politicians1.4 - 71
Hans Sachs1494–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.4 - 72
William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532–1592 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1.4 - 73
Gottfried Keller1819–1890 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers1.4 - 74
Rosa Luxemburg1871–1919 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Activists1.4 - 75
Gerhart Hauptmann1862–1946 · 19th century · Writers1.4 - 76
Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633–1695 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.3 - 77
Frederick I1425–1476 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.3 - 78
Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1357–1400 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 79
Frederick I of Prussia1657–1713 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.3 - 80
Frederick I of Liegnitz1446–1488 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 81
Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden1826–1907 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 82
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg1371–1440 · 15th century1.3 - 83
Duke Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt1831–1904 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 84
Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1585–1638 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 85
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Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1646–1691 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 86
Frederick I, Count Palatine of Simmern1417–1480 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 87
Tannhäuser1300–1300 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.3 - 88
Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse1299–1376 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 89HIHenry II, Count of Gorizia1150–1150 · 12th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3
- 90
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria951–995 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 91HIHenry II, Margrave of Meissen1103–1123 · 12th century · Models1.3
- 92HIHenry II of Augsburg1001–1063 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1.3
- 93
Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera1572–1635 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 94HIHenry II, Lord of Mecklenburg1262–1329 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.3
- 95HIHenry II, Duke of Limburg1110–1167 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.3
- 96
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Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1489–1568 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 97
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316–1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 98
Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1662–1731 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2 - 99
Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern1715–1781 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2 - 100WIWilliam III, Count of Weimar1000–1039 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 20th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Luciano Pavarotti1935–2007 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians5 decades - 2
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Andrea Bocelliborn 1958 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians3 decades - 3
Adriano Celentanoborn 1938 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians6 decades - 4
Ennio Morricone1928–2020 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians6 decades - 5
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Eros Ramazzottiborn 1963 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians4 decades - 6
Toto Cutugno1943–2023 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians4 decades - 7
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Giorgio Moroderborn 1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 8
Enrico Caruso1873–1921 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians12 decades - 9
Albano Carrisiborn 1943 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 10
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Ludovico Einaudiborn 1955 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 11
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Minaborn 1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 12
Raffaella Carrà1943–2021 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 13
Domenico Modugno1928–1994 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians7 decades - 14
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Franco Battiato1945–2021 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 15
Zuccheroborn 1955 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 16
Gianna Nanniniborn 1954 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 17
Fabrizio De André1940–1999 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 18
Lucio Dalla1943–2012 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 19
Gigliola Cinquettiborn 1947 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians6 decades - 20
Frank Farian1941–2024 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 21
Salvatore Adamoborn 1943 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 22
Arturo Toscanini1867–1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades - 23
Nino Rota1911–1979 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians9 decades - 24
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Gianni Morandiborn 1944 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 25
Mango1954–2014 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 26
Claudio Abbado1933–2014 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians6 decades - 27
Mia Martini1947–1995 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 28
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Umberto Tozziborn 1952 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 29
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Riccardo Mutiborn 1941 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 30
Ornella Vanoni1934–2025 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 31
Vasco Rossiborn 1952 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 32
Peppino di Capriborn 1939 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 33
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Iva Zanicchiborn 1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 34
Riccardo Coccianteborn 1946 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 35
Lucio Battisti1943–1998 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 36
Ferruccio Busoni1866–1924 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians12 decades - 37
Luigi Tenco1938–1967 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 38
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Ottorino Respighi1879–1936 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 39
Pino Daniele1955–2015 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 40
Gino Paoli1934–2026 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 41
Paolo Conteborn 1937 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 42
Francesco Gucciniborn 1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 43
Anna Oxaborn 1961 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 44
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Milva1939–2021 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 45
Romano Mussolini1927–2006 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 46
Luciano Ligabueborn 1960 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 47
Rino Gaetano1950–1981 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 48
Patty Pravoborn 1948 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 49
Bobby Soloborn 1945 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 50
Giorgio Gaber1939–2003 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 51
Loredana Bertèborn 1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 52
Riccardo Fogliborn 1947 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 53
Renata Tebaldi1922–2004 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 54
Enzo Jannacci1935–2013 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 55
Antonello Vendittiborn 1949 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 56
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Gian Carlo Menotti1911–2007 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 57
Gazeboborn 1960 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 58
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Luigi Nono1924–1990 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 59
Nino Ferrer1934–1998 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 60
Claudio Baglioniborn 1951 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 61
Claudio Villa1926–1987 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 62
Rafborn 1959 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 63
Angelo Branduardiborn 1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 64
Maurizio Pollini1942–2024 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 65
Aliceborn 1954 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 66
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Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli1920–1995 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 67
Luciano Berio1925–2003 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 68
Franco Corelli1921–2003 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 69
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Fiorella Mannoiaborn 1954 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 70
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Cristina D'Avenaborn 1964 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 71
Nicola Di Bariborn 1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 72
Giuseppe Sinopoli1946–2001 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 73
Biagio Antonacciborn 1963 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 74
Sergio Endrigo1933–2005 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 75
Beniamino Gigli1890–1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured—
- 76
Mirella Freni1935–2020 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 77
Caterina Caselliborn 1946 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 78
Mario Del Monaco1915–1982 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 79
Nicola Piovaniborn 1946 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 80
Dario Marianelliborn 1963 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 81
Enrico Ruggeriborn 1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 82
Francesco De Gregoriborn 1951 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 83
Marcella Bellaborn 1952 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 84
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Umberto Giordano1867–1948 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 85
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Den Harrowborn 1962 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 86
Anna Maria Alberghettiborn 1936 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 87
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Marco Masiniborn 1964 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 88
Giuseppe Di Stefano1921–2008 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 89
Pupoborn 1955 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 90
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Riccardo Chaillyborn 1953 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 91
Renato Carosone1920–2001 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 92
Roberto Vecchioniborn 1943 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 93
Edoardo Bennatoborn 1946 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 94
Mogolborn 1936 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 95
Nino D'Angeloborn 1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 96
Ivana Spagnaborn 1954 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 97
Armando Trovaioli1917–2013 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 98
Alfredo Casella1883–1947 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 99
Lina Cavalieri1874–1944 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 100
Vittorio Monti1868–1922 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot 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.