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 Spanish books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
John of God1495–1550 · 16th century · 🇵🇹 Portugal6.9 - 2
Lope de Vega1562–1635 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers6.6 - 3
Francis Xavier1506–1552 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers5.4 - 4
Rubén Darío1867–1916 · 20th century · Writers4.5 - 5
Simón Bolívar1783–1830 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians4.2 - 6
Christopher Columbus1451–1506 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures3.5 - 7
Andrés Bello1781–1865 · 19th century · Politicians3.5 - 8
Porfirio Díaz1830–1915 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians3.2 - 9
Fidel Castro1926–2016 · 20th century · Politicians3.0 - 10
Hernán Cortés1485–1547 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2.9 - 11JFJuan Fernández1529–1602 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2.4
- 12
John of the Cross1542–1591 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers2.3 - 13
Bartolomé Mitre1821–1906 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians2.3 - 14
Gonzalo Pizarro1502–1548 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2.2 - 15
Benito Juárez1806–1872 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians2.2 - 16
Antonio Machado1875–1939 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers2.1 - 17
José de San Martín1778–1850 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians2.0 - 18
Teresa of Ávila1515–1582 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.9 - 19
Francisco Pizarro1478–1541 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.8 - 20
Miguel de Cervantes1547–1616 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.7 - 21
Eva Perón1919–1952 · 20th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Actors1.7
- 22
Bartolomé de las Casas1484–1566 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.7 - 23
Miguel de Unamuno1864–1936 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.6 - 24
Juan Ramón Jiménez1881–1958 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.6
- 25
Venustiano Carranza1859–1920 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians1.6 - 26
Gabriela Mistral1889–1957 · 20th century · Writers1.5 - 27
Octavio Paz1914–1998 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Writers1.5 - 28
John of Austria1547–1578 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.5 - 29
Garcilaso de la Vega1503–1536 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.5 - 30
Pedro de Alvarado1486–1541 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.5 - 31
Pedro de Valdivia1497–1553 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.4 - 32
Tirso de Molina1583–1648 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.3 - 33
Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía1510–1572 · 16th century · Politicians1.3 - 34
Francisco de Borja1441–1511 · 15th century · Writers1.3 - 35
Luis de León1527–1591 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.3 - 36
Ignatius of Loyola1491–1556 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1.3 - 37
Juan Vicente Gómez1857–1935 · 19th century · Politicians1.3 - 38
Juan Manuel de Rosas1793–1877 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians1.2 - 39
Ricardo Palma1833–1919 · 19th century · Writers1.2 - 40
Pablo Neruda1904–1973 · 20th century · Writers1.2 - 41
Bernardino Rivadavia1780–1845 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians1.1 - 42
Francisco I. Madero1873–1913 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Activists1.1 - 43
Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa1515–1582 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.1 - 44
Nicolás Antonio1617–1684 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.1 - 45
Felipe Gonzálezborn 1942 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.1 - 46
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz1651–1695 · 17th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Writers1.0 - 47
José Hernández1834–1886 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Writers1.0 - 48
Manuel Belgrano1770–1820 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians1.0 - 49
Diego de Almagro1475–1538 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.0
- 50
Diego Velázquez1599–1660 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists1.0 - 51
Francis Solanus1549–1610 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain1.0 - 52
Pope Alexander VI1431–1503 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1.0 - 53
John I of France1316–1316 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.99
- 54
Jorge Luis Borges1899–1986 · 20th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Writers0.97 - 55
Fernán González of Castile910–970 · 10th century0.94 - 56
Francisco de Villagra1511–1563 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.94 - 57
Federico García Lorca1898–1936 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.91 - 58
Bernardo O'Higgins1778–1842 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.90 - 59
Emiliano Zapata1879–1919 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Activists0.88 - 60
Victoriano Huerta1850–1916 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians0.87 - 61
Cipriano Castro1858–1924 · 19th century · Politicians0.84 - 62
María de Jesús1560–1640 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.84 - 63
César Vallejo1892–1938 · 20th century · Writers0.83 - 64
Carlos Pellegrini1846–1906 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Journalists0.83 - 65
Bernal Díaz del Brawl1492–1584 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.81 - 66
Vincent Ferrer1350–1419 · 14th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0.80 - 67
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento1811–1888 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians0.79 - 68
Francisco de Vitoria1480–1546 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.79 - 69
Francisco Quevedo1584–1645 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.78 - 70
Diego Rivera1886–1957 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Designers0.78 - 71
Carlos Fuentes1928–2012 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Writers0.77 - 72
Juanesborn 1972 · 21st century · Musicians0.76 - 73
Juan de Garay1528–1583 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.76 - 74
Pedro Sánchezborn 1972 · 21st century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.76 - 75
Roque Sáenz Peña1851–1914 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians0.75 - 76
Jorge Juan y Santacilia1713–1773 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists0.75 - 77LDLope de Aguirre1510–1561 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.74
- 78
Pío Baroja1872–1956 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.74 - 79
Hernando Pizarro1502–1578 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.73 - 80
Juan Andrés1740–1817 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.73 - 81
Hipólito Yrigoyen1850–1933 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians0.72 - 82
Che Guevara1928–1967 · 20th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Activists0.72 - 83
Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo1856–1912 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.72 - 84
Antonio José de Sucre1795–1830 · 19th century · Politicians0.71
- 85
Francisco de Miranda1750–1816 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.71 - 86
Ernesto Zedilloborn 1951 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians0.71 - 87
José Ortega y Gasset1883–1955 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.70 - 88
Gabriel García Márquez1927–2014 · 20th century · Writers0.69 - 89
Salvador Allende1908–1973 · 20th century · Politicians0.68 - 90
Francisco de Paula Santander1792–1840 · 19th century · Politicians0.67 - 91
Lope de Rueda1505–1566 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.67 - 92
Juan Montalvo1832–1889 · 19th century · Writers0.66 - 93
Jose Miguel Carrera1785–1821 · 19th century · Politicians0.64 - 94
Fernando Gonzálezborn 1980 · 21st century · Tennis Players0.63 - 95
Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés1478–1557 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.63 - 96
Mario Vargas Llosa1936–2025 · 20th century · Writers0.62 - 97
Peter of Alcantara1499–1562 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.61 - 98
Juan Bautista Alberdi1810–1884 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians0.61 - 99
Francisco de Aguirre1507–1581 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.60 - 100
Julio Cortázar1914–1984 · 20th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Writers0.58
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
Lu Xun1881–1936 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers13 decades - 2
Liu Xiaobo1955–2017 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers4 decades - 3
Liu Cixinborn 1963 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 4
Mo Yanborn 1955 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers4 decades - 5
Jin Yong1924–2018 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 6
Gao Xingjianborn 1940 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers4 decades - 7
Bogd Khan1869–1924 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 8
Lao She1899–1966 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 9
Guo Moruo1892–1978 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 10
Yu Huaborn 1960 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 11
Lin Yutang1895–1976 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers7 decades - 12
Xu Zhimo1897–1931 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 13
Ba Jin1904–2005 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 14
Sanmao1943–1991 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 15
Wei Jingshengborn 1950 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 16
Watchman Nee1903–1972 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 17
Chiung Yao1938–2024 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 18
Bei Daoborn 1949 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 19
Ding Ling1904–1986 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 20
Fang Fangborn 1955 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 21
Shen Congwen1902–1988 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 22
Mao Dun1896–1981 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 23
Yan Liankeborn 1958 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 24
Qian Zhongshu1910–1998 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 25
Zhou Zuoren1885–1967 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 26
Bing Xin1900–1999 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 27
Tian Han1898–1968 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 28
Ai Qing1910–1996 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 29
Wen Yiduo1899–1946 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 30
Michael Huiborn 1942 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 31
Yang Jiang1911–2016 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 32
Zhu Ziqing1898–1948 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 33
Hiro Saga1914–1987 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 34
Li Ao1935–2018 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 35
Tie Ningborn 1957 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 36
Li Zhaoxingborn 1940 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 37
Geling Yanborn 1958 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 38
Gao Zhishengborn 1964 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 39
Can Xueborn 1953 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 40
Cao Yu1910–1996 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 41
Wang Xiaobo1952–1997 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 42
Su Tongborn 1963 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 43
Ji Xianlin1911–2009 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 44
Qiao Guanhua1913–1983 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 45
Huang Hua1913–2010 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 46
Huang Xianfan1899–1982 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 47
Gu Cheng1956–1993 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 48
Qiu Xiaolongborn 1953 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 49
Liao Yiwuborn 1958 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 50
Chen Yinque1890–1969 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 51
Lin Zhao1932–1968 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 52
Liu Zhenyunborn 1958 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 53
Jia Pingwaborn 1952 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 54
Wai Ka-faiborn 1962 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 55
Wang Anyiborn 1954 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 56
Hu Feng1902–1986 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 57
Zhang Jie1937–2022 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 58
Fu Lei1908–1966 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 59
Wu Xueqian1921–2008 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 60
Ma Zhaoxuborn 1963 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 61
Alex Manborn 1957 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 62
Liang Yusheng1924–2009 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 63GMGui Minhaiborn 1964 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 64
Gu Jiegang1893–1980 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 65
Li Zehou1930–2021 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 66LLLilian Leeborn 1958 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 67
Ye Shengtao1894–1988 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 68
Qi Xinborn 1926 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 69ZAZhong Achengborn 1949 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 70
Liang Shih-chiu1903–1987 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 71
Mao Anqing1923–2007 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 72
Muhammad Ma Jian1906–1978 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 73WSWang Shuoborn 1958 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 74
Lau Danborn 1942 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 75
Nan Huai-Chin1918–2012 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 76
Mipham Chokyi Lodro1952–2014 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 77
Zhang Chengzhiborn 1948 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 78
Chen Zhongshi1942–2016 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 79LJLü Jiaminborn 1946 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 80
Li Fang-Kuei1902–1987 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 81BWBarry Wong1946–1991 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 82DDDuo Duoborn 1951 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 83ZXZhang Xianliang1936–2014 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 84
Liu Binyan1925–2005 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 85
Shu Tingborn 1952 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 86
Tu Weimingborn 1940 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 87
Yi Zhongtianborn 1947 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 88
Zhang Yesuiborn 1953 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 89
Xi Xi1937–2022 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 90
Bi Feiyuborn 1964 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 91
Cao Wenxuanborn 1954 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 92
Hai Zi1964–1989 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 93
Chen Mengjia1911–1966 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 94LYLu Yao1949–1992 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 95
Xia Meng1933–2016 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 96GFGe Feiborn 1964 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured—
- 97
Alaiborn 1959 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 98
Wang Lixiongborn 1953 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 99
Liu Jieyiborn 1957 · 🇨🇳 China · Writersnot measured— - 100
Khenpo Sodargyeborn 1962 · 🇨🇳 China · 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.