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 English books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
.jpg?width=1200)
Jesus5 BC–30 · 1st century · Religious Figures30 - 2
Aristotle384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.1 - 3
Plato428 BC–348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.1 - 4
.jpg?width=1200)
Homer900 BC–800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers7.1 - 5
.jpg?width=1200)
Augustus63 BC–14 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4.9 - 6
.jpg?width=1200)
Sealborn 1963 · 20th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians4.5 - 7
RMborn 1994 · 21st century · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Musicians4.5 - 8
Johns Hopkins1795–1873 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders4.4 - 9
_-_Palazzo_Nuovo_-_Musei_Capitolini_-_Rome_2016.jpg?width=1200)
Cicero106 BC–43 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4.0 - 10
George Washington1732–1799 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians3.8 - 11
Socrates470 BC–399 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Academics3.4 - 12
.jpg?width=1200)
Virgil70 BC–19 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3.3 - 13
Abraham Lincoln1809–1865 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians2.0 - 14
Euclid333 BC–285 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics1.9 - 15
.jpg?width=1200)
Pinkborn 1979 · 21st century · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians1.6 - 16AAcmedied 5 BC · 1st millennium BC1.6
- 17
(cropped).jpg?width=1200)
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.6 - 18
.png?width=1200)
IUborn 1993 · 21st century · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Musicians1.6 - 19
Ovid43 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.6 - 20
_(cropped).jpg?width=1200)
Madonnaborn 1958 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians1.5 - 21
Charles II, Duke of Savoy1489–1496 · 15th century · Historical Figures1.5 - 22
Charles II, Lord of Monaco1555–1589 · 16th century · Politicians1.5 - 23
Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1545–1617 · 16th century · Historical Figures1.5 - 24
Mark Twain1835–1910 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1.5 - 25
Plutarch40–120 · 1st century · Academics1.5 - 26
Cleopatra69 BC–30 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figures1.4 - 27
Theodore Roosevelt1858–1919 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.4 - 28
Woodrow Wilson1856–1924 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.4 - 29
William Henry1774–1836 · 19th century · Scientists1.3 - 30
Benjamin Franklin1706–1790 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.3 - 31
.jpg)
Herodotus484 BC–425 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers1.3 - 32
Charlemagne748–814 · 8th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 33
Rembrandt1606–1669 · 17th century · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists1.3 - 34
Euripides480 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.2 - 35
Pocahontas1596–1617 · 17th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1.1
- 36
.jpg?width=1200)
John Brown1800–1859 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders1.1 - 37
John Smith1580–1631 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures1.0 - 38
Adam Smith1723–1790 · 18th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics1.0 - 39
Henry IV, Duke of Brabant1251–1272 · 13th century1.0 - 40HIHenry IV, Count of Waldeck1300–1348 · 14th century1.0
- 41
Henry IV, Duke of Limburg1195–1247 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.0 - 42HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1463–1514 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.0
- 43
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor1050–1106 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 44
Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg1113–1196 · 12th century · Politicians1.0 - 45
John Adams1735–1826 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.0 - 46
Sophocles496 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.0 - 47
Henry James1843–1916 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0.99 - 48
Galen129–300 · 2nd century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors0.97 - 49
Walter Scott1771–1832 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.95 - 50
Livy59 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.95 - 51
Bede672–735 · 8th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.94 - 52
John the Baptist6 BC–30 · 1st century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures0.93 - 53
Solon630 BC–560 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.93 - 54
Prince George, Duke of Cumberland1653–1708 · 17th century0.90 - 55
Pericles494 BC–429 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.89 - 56
John Henry1322–1375 · 14th century0.87 - 57
_(cropped).jpg?width=1200)
Julius Caesar100 BC–44 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.86 - 58
.jpg)
Winston Churchill1874–1965 · 20th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians0.86 - 59
.jpg?width=1200)
William James1842–1910 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.86 - 60
Hadrian76–138 · 2nd century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.83 - 61
Andrew Jackson1767–1845 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.83 - 62
Thucydides460 BC–395 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.83 - 63
Henry Ford1863–1947 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0.81 - 64
Aristophanes445 BC–385 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.79 - 65
Charles I, Duke of Savoy1468–1490 · 15th century0.79 - 66
Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal1682–1770 · 18th century0.79 - 67
Charles I, Count of Flanders1084–1127 · 12th century · Politicians0.79 - 68CICharles I1516–1576 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.79
- 69
.JPG?width=1200)
Charles I, Count of Nevers1414–1464 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.79 - 70AAbababorn 200 · 3rd century0.78
- 71
Origen185–254 · 3rd century · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academics0.76 - 72
George Eliot1819–1880 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.75 - 73
Demosthenes384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.75 - 74
John F. Kennedy1917–1963 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.75 - 75
Brigham Young1801–1877 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.75 - 76
Xenophon430 BC–354 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.73 - 77
Henry VI, Count of Luxembourg1240–1288 · 13th century · Politicians0.72 - 78HVHenry VI, Count of Waldeck1340–1397 · 14th century0.72
- 79
Henry VI1376–1454 · 15th century0.72 - 80
William Penn1644–1718 · 17th century · Founders0.71 - 81
_by_John_Trumbull.jpg?width=1200)
Alexander Hamilton1757–1804 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.71 - 82
Henry II1207–1248 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.70 - 83
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor973–1024 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.70 - 84
Henry II , Duke of Lower Lorraine1059–1119 · 11th century0.70 - 85
Henry II, Duke of Ziębice1396–1420 · 15th century0.70 - 86
Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1317–1390 · 14th century0.70 - 87
Henry II, Count of Champagne1166–1197 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.70 - 88
Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1507–1548 · 16th century0.70 - 89HIHenry II, Margrave of the Nordmark1102–1128 · 12th century0.70
- 90
Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1289–1351 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.70 - 91
Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1215–1266 · 13th century · Historical Figures0.70 - 92
Henry II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal1308–1320 · 14th century · Models0.70 - 93
Henry II, Duke of Świdnica1312–1345 · 14th century0.70 - 94
Richard II963–1026 · 10th century · 🇫🇷 France0.69 - 95
John Marshall1755–1835 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67 - 96
Henry Clay1777–1852 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67 - 97
Jefferson Davis1808–1889 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67 - 98
James I, Count of Urgell1321–1347 · 14th century0.67 - 99
Osceola1804–1838 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67
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
_(cropped).jpg?width=1200)
Pope John Paul I1912–1978 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers2 decades - 2
Umberto Eco1932–2016 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers7 decades - 3
Pier Paolo Pasolini1922–1975 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers8 decades - 4
.jpg?width=1200)
Pierluigi Collinaborn 1960 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1 decades - 5EFElena Ferranteborn 1943 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3 decades
- 6
.jpg?width=1200)
Alberto Moravia1907–1990 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers10 decades - 7
Luigi Pirandello1867–1936 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers13 decades - 8
Cesare Pavese1908–1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers9 decades - 9
Natalia Ginzburg1916–1991 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers8 decades - 10
Grazia Deledda1871–1936 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers13 decades - 11
Nanni Morettiborn 1953 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 12
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa1896–1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers7 decades - 13
Gianni Rodari1920–1980 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers6 decades - 14
Dario Fo1926–2016 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers7 decades - 15
Dino Buzzati1906–1972 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers8 decades - 16
Andrea Camilleri1925–2019 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 17
Curzio Malaparte1898–1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers10 decades - 18
.jpg?width=1200)
Lina Wertmüller1928–2021 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers4 decades - 19
Elsa Morante1912–1985 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers8 decades - 20
Alessandro Bariccoborn 1958 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 21
Ettore Scola1931–2016 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 22
Leonardo Sciascia1921–1989 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 23
Eugenio Montale1896–1981 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers10 decades - 24
_by_Erling_Mandelmann_-_2.jpg?width=1200)
Hugo Pratt1927–1995 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 25
Giuseppe Ungaretti1888–1970 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers11 decades - 26
Salvatore Quasimodo1901–1968 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers9 decades - 27
Carlo Ginzburg1939–2026 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 28
Umberto Saba1883–1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 29
Margherita Sarfatti1880–1961 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 30
Dacia Marainiborn 1936 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 31
Stefano Benni1947–2025 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 32
Nichi Vendolaborn 1958 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3 decades - 33
.jpg?width=1200)
Ignazio Silone1900–1978 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 34
Alda Merini1931–2009 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 35
Chiara Lubich1920–2008 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 36
Antonio Tabucchi1943–2012 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers5 decades - 37
Pietro Germi1914–1974 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 38
Luciano De Crescenzo1928–2019 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 39
Ennio Flaiano1910–1972 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 40
Carlo M. Cipolla1922–2000 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 41
Giovanni Papini1881–1956 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 42
Carlo Emilio Gadda1893–1973 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 43
Sibilla Aleramo1876–1960 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 44
Erri De Lucaborn 1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 45
Damiano Damiani1922–2013 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 46
.jpg?width=1200)
Giorgio Bassani1916–2000 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 47
Elio Vittorini1908–1966 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 48
Tonino Guerra1920–2012 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 49
Margaret Mazzantiniborn 1961 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 50
Claudio Magrisborn 1939 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 51
.jpg?width=1200)
Alessandro Barberoborn 1959 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 52
Alberto Angelaborn 1962 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 53
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoyborn 1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 54
Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark1939–2024 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 55
Susanna Tamaroborn 1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 56
Mario Rigoni Stern1921–2008 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 57
Enzo Bianchiborn 1943 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 58
Marella Agnelli1927–2019 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 59
Cesare Zavattini1902–1989 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 60
Ada Negri1870–1945 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 61MSMario Salieriborn 1957 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
- 62
.jpg?width=1200)
Elisabetta Damiborn 1958 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 63
Maria Valtorta1897–1961 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 64
Giorgio Faletti1950–2014 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 65
Beppe Fenoglio1922–1963 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 66
Alba de Céspedes1911–1997 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 67
_by_Erling_Mandelmann.jpg?width=1200)
Roberto Calasso1941–2021 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 68
Valerio Massimo Manfrediborn 1943 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 69
.jpg?width=1200)
Andrea Riccardiborn 1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 70
Federico Mocciaborn 1963 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 71
Vitaliano Brancati1907–1954 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 72
Anna Maria Ortese1914–1998 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 73
Bianca Pitzornoborn 1942 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 74
.jpg?width=1200)
Sandro Veronesiborn 1959 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 75
.jpg?width=1200)
Vasco Pratolini1913–1991 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 76NRNicholas Romanov1922–2014 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
- 77
Tommaso Landolfi1908–1979 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 78
Pitigrilli1893–1975 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 79
Claudio Gugerottiborn 1955 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 80
Giovanni Benelli1921–1982 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 81
Lorenzo Milani1923–1967 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 82
Aldo Palazzeschi1885–1974 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 83
Pasquale Panellaborn 1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 84
Bruno Corbucci1931–1996 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 85
Suso Cecchi d'Amico1914–2010 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 86GAGiovanni Arpino1927–1987 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
- 87
.jpg?width=1200)
Massimo Bontempelli1878–1960 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 88
Vittorio Messori1941–2026 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 89
Vincenzo Cerami1940–2013 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 90
.jpg?width=1200)
Gianrico Carofiglioborn 1961 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 91
Giuseppe Berto1914–1978 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 92
Danilo Dolci1924–1997 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 93
Emilio Gentileborn 1946 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 94
Renzo De Felice1929–1996 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 95
Boris Pahor1913–2022 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 96
Gesualdo Bufalino1920–1996 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 97
Andrea Gallo1928–2013 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 98
Edoardo Sanguineti1930–2010 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 99
Giorgio Amendola1907–1980 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured— - 100
Alberto Bevilacqua1934–2013 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot 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.