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
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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
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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
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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
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Benito Juárez1806–1872 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians2.2 - 16
Antonio Machado1875–1939 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers2.1 - 17
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José de San Martín1778–1850 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians2.0 - 18
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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
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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
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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
Francisco de Borja1441–1511 · 15th century · Writers1.3 - 34
Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía1510–1572 · 16th century · Politicians1.3 - 35
Luis de León1527–1591 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.3 - 36
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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
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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
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Francis Solanus1549–1610 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain1.0 - 52
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Pope Alexander VI1431–1503 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1.0 - 53
John I of France1316–1316 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.99 - 54
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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
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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
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Francisco Quevedo1584–1645 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.78 - 70
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Diego Rivera1886–1957 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Designers0.78 - 71
Carlos Fuentes1928–2012 · 20th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Writers0.77 - 72
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Juanesborn 1972 · 21st century · Musicians0.76 - 73
Juan de Garay1528–1583 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.76 - 74
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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
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Pío Baroja1872–1956 · 20th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.74 - 79
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Hernando Pizarro1502–1578 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.73 - 80
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Juan Andrés1740–1817 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.73 - 81
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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
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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
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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
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M. F. Husain1915–2011 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 2
Abanindranath Tagore1871–1951 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 3
R. K. Laxman1924–2015 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 4
Raghu Rai1942–2026 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 5
Jamini Roy1887–1972 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 6
Lalita Lajmi1932–2023 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 7
Nandalal Bose1882–1966 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 8
Ram Vanji Sutar1925–2025 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 9
Mario Miranda1926–2011 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 10
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S. H. Raza1922–2016 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 11
Sarla Thakral1914–2008 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 12
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Satish Gujral1925–2020 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 13
Nalini Malaniborn 1946 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 14
Homai Vyarawalla1913–2012 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 15
Subodh Guptaborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 16
Nek Chand Saini1924–2015 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 17PBPamella Bordesborn 1961 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 18
Tyeb Mehta1925–2009 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 19
Dayanita Singhborn 1961 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 20
Sobha Singh1901–1986 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 21
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Anjolie Ela Menonborn 1940 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 22
Debi Prasad Roy Choudhury1899–1975 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 23
Bhupen Khakhar1934–2003 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 24SCShridhar Chillalborn 1938 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 25RKRam Kinker Baij1906–1980 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 26
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Arpita Singhborn 1937 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 27
K. G. Subramanyan1924–2016 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 28
Mrinalini Mukherjee1949–2015 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 29
Benode Behari Mukherjee1904–1980 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 30
Nilima Sheikhborn 1945 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 31
K. K. Hebbar1911–1996 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 32
Nasreen Mohamedi1937–1990 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 33JDJatin Dasborn 1941 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 34
Vivan Sundaram1943–2023 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 35
Ram Kumar1924–2018 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 36
Raghunath Mohapatra1943–2021 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 37
Edmund Thomas Clint1976–1983 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 38
Arpana Caurborn 1954 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 39
Francis Newton Souza1924–2002 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 40SGSheela Gowdaborn 1957 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 41
Rukmini Varmaborn 1940 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 42
Manjamma Jogathiborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 43LKLatika Katt1948–2025 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 44
A. Ramachandran1935–2024 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 45
T. K. Padmini1940–1969 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 46
Chintamoni Kar1915–2005 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 47
Vasudeo S. Gaitonde1924–2001 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 48
Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi1868–1951 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 49
Rathindranath Tagore1888–1961 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 50
Shanu Lahiri1928–2013 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 51
B. Prabha1933–2001 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 52
Nemai Ghosh1934–2020 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 53
Atul Dodiyaborn 1959 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 54
Pushpamala N.born 1956 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 55
Mahasundari Devi1922–2013 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 56SRSukanya Rahmanborn 1946 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 57
Ganesh Pyne1937–2013 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 58
K. C. S. Paniker1911–1977 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 59
Ramankutty Nair1925–2013 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 60
Prafulla Dahanukar1934–2014 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 61
Jodhaiya Bai Baiga1930–2024 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 62SDSita Devi1914–2005 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 63
Pablo Bartholomewborn 1955 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 64
Akbar Padamsee1928–2020 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 65
Li Gotami Govinda1906–1988 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 66
Madhvi Parekhborn 1942 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 67
Jyotsna Bhatt1940–2020 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 68
Aruna Mohantyborn 1960 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 69
Sheba Chhachhiborn 1958 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 70ADAnita Dubeborn 1958 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 71SHShamshad Hussain1946–2015 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 72
Asit Kumar Haldar1890–1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 73JBJayasri Burmanborn 1960 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 74GSGogi Saroj Pal1945–2024 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 75MBManjit Bawa1941–2008 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 76
Mattannoor Sankarankuttyborn 1954 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 77
Jivya Soma Mashe1934–2018 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 78
Mukund Nayakborn 1949 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 79SDShobha Deepak Singhborn 1943 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 80SDSunil Das1939–2015 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 81LGLaxma Goudborn 1940 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 82
Paris Viswanathanborn 1940 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 83
N.A.Nazeerborn 1962 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 84
Ravishankar Raval1892–1977 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 85
Swami Sundaranand1926–2020 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 86
Jehangir Sabavala1922–2011 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 87
Sukanya Ramgopalborn 1957 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 88
Sudhir Khastgir1907–1974 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 89
Pratiksha Apurvborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 90
Anju Dodiyaborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 91PSParitosh Sen1918–2008 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 92
Amritlal Vegad1928–2018 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 93PBPercy Brown1872–1955 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 94
Pilloo Pochkhanawala1923–1986 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 95SSShubbo Shankar1942–1992 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured—
- 96
Geetanjali Lalborn 1948 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 97
Asim Basu1935–2017 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 98
N. L. Balakrishnan1943–2014 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 99
Sadanand Bakre1920–2007 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot measured— - 100
Renuka Kesaramaduborn 1957 · 🇮🇳 India · Artistsnot 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.