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 Italian books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Giotto1267–1337 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.4 - 2
Dante Alighieri1265–1321 · 14th century · Writers5.0 - 3
Caravaggio1571–1610 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists3.8 - 4
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists3.8 - 5
Antonio da Correggio1489–1534 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists3.7 - 6
Benedetto Croce1866–1952 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics3.3 - 7
Donato Bramante1444–1514 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects2.9 - 8
Donatello1386–1466 · 15th century · Artists2.8 - 9
Giuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists2.2 - 10
Alessandro Manzoni1785–1873 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers2.2 - 11
Ugo Foscolo1778–1827 · 19th century · Writers2.1 - 12
Pietro Perugino1448–1523 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.0 - 13
Tintoretto1519–1594 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.9 - 14
Francis of Assisi1182–1226 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.8 - 15
Giacomo Leopardi1798–1837 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.8 - 16
Benito Mussolini1883–1945 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.8 - 17
Torquato Tasso1544–1595 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.7 - 18
Masaccio1401–1428 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.7 - 19
Giordano Bruno1548–1600 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics1.6 - 20
Lorenzo de' Medici1449–1492 · 15th century · Politicians1.6 - 21
Galileo Galilei1564–1642 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists1.6 - 22
Charles Borromeo1538–1584 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.6 - 23
Giosuè Carducci1835–1907 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.5 - 24
Marco Polo1254–1324 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.4 - 25
Giuseppe Verdi1813–1901 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians1.4 - 26
Vittorio Alfieri1749–1803 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.4 - 27
Petrarch1304–1374 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics1.2 - 28
Philip Neri1515–1595 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.2 - 29
Francesco Crispi1818–1901 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.2 - 30
Giovanni Pascoli1855–1912 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2 - 31
Cimabue1240–1302 · 13th century · Artists1.2 - 32
Paul the Deacon720–799 · 8th century · Writers1.2 - 33
Farinelli1705–1782 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians1.2 - 34
Silvio Pellico1789–1854 · 19th century · Writers1.1 - 35
Gabriele D'Annunzio1863–1938 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.1 - 36
Guercino1591–1666 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1 - 37
Piero della Francesca1415–1492 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1
- 38
Giulio Romano1499–1546 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1 - 39
Carlo Goldoni1707–1793 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.99 - 40
Luigi Pirandello1867–1936 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.95 - 41
Bernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.94 - 42
Luigi Einaudi1874–1961 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.93 - 43
Pietro Verri1728–1797 · 18th century · Academics0.89 - 44
Leon Battista Alberti1404–1472 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0.88 - 45
Pietro Aretino1492–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.88 - 46
Vincenzo Gioberti1801–1852 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.87 - 47
Pisanello1395–1455 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.86
- 48
Domenichino1581–1641 · 17th century · Artists0.86 - 49
Cesare Balbo1789–1853 · 19th century · Politicians0.84 - 50
Pontormo1494–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.83 - 51
Cesare Borgia1475–1507 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.83 - 52
Niccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · 16th century · Politicians0.82 - 53
Salvator Rosa1615–1673 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.82 - 54
Aldo Moro1916–1978 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.82 - 55
Vittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.82 - 56
Antonio Rosmini1797–1855 · 19th century · Academics0.81 - 57
Paolo Rossi1956–2020 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Footballers0.80 - 58
Filippo Turati1857–1932 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.80 - 59
Parmigianino1503–1540 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.78 - 60
Giovanni Boccaccio1313–1375 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.77 - 61
Cosimo de' Medici1389–1464 · 15th century · Politicians0.76 - 62
Francesca da Rimini1259–1285 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.76 - 63
Massimo d'Azeglio1798–1866 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.76 - 64
Bettino Ricasoli1809–1880 · 19th century · Politicians0.74 - 65
Guido Cavalcanti1258–1300 · 13th century · Writers0.74 - 66
Umberto Eco1932–2016 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.73 - 67
Canaletto1697–1768 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.73 - 68
Guido Reni1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.72 - 69
Andrea Doria1466–1560 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.71 - 70
Marsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.70 - 71
Niccolò Tommaseo1802–1874 · 19th century · Academics0.69 - 72
Giorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.69 - 73
Antonio Gramsci1891–1937 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.68 - 74
Pietro Bembo1470–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.68 - 75
Pietro da Cortona1596–1669 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.68
- 76
Luigi Luzzatti1841–1927 · 19th century · Politicians0.67 - 77
Paolo Sarpi1552–1623 · 16th century · Academics0.67 - 78
Paolo Veronese1528–1588 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.67 - 79
Giovanni Bellini1430–1516 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.67 - 80
Andrea del Sarto1486–1530 · 16th century · Artists0.66 - 81
Giambattista Vico1668–1744 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.65 - 82
Marco Minghetti1818–1886 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.64 - 83
Margaret of Savoy1851–1926 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.64 - 84
Bettino Craxi1934–2000 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.62 - 85
Giovanni Verga1840–1922 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.61 - 86
Francesco Guicciardini1483–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.61 - 87
Paolo Uccello1397–1475 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.61 - 88
Domenico Passignano1559–1638 · 16th century · Artists0.61 - 89
Antonio Labriola1843–1904 · 19th century · Academics0.60 - 90
Pinturicchio1454–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.60 - 91
Leonardo Bruni1369–1444 · 15th century · Writers0.60 - 92
Grazia Deledda1871–1936 · 20th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.60 - 93
Francesco Gonzaga1444–1483 · 15th century0.60 - 94
Alessandro Cagliostro1743–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.59 - 95
Lucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.59 - 96
Isabella d'Este1474–1539 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.58 - 97
Isabella d'Este, Duchess of Parma1635–1666 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.58 - 98
Filippo Maria Visconti1392–1447 · 15th century · Politicians0.58 - 99
Girolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.57 - 100
Tommaso Campanella1568–1639 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.57
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
Toshiro Mifune1920–1997 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actors5 decades - 2
Ken Watanabeborn 1959 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actors0 decades - 3
Hiroyuki Sanadaborn 1960 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 4
Mako1933–2006 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 5
Sonny Chiba1939–2021 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 6
Yasuhiro Yamashitaborn 1957 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 7
Tatsuya Nakadai1932–2025 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 8
Sessue Hayakawa1889–1973 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 9
Takashi Shimura1905–1982 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 10
Setsuko Hara1920–2015 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 11
Ko Yong-hui1952–2004 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 12
Sada Abeborn 1905 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 13
Sadaharu Ohborn 1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 14
Kōichi Yamaderaborn 1961 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 15
Hiroshi Abeborn 1964 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 16
Ken Takakura1931–2014 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 17
Yuriko, Princess Mikasa1923–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 18
Machiko Kyō1924–2019 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 19
Shintarō Katsu1931–1997 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 20
Mayumi Tanakaborn 1955 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 21
Meiko Kajiborn 1947 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 22
Akio Ōtsukaborn 1959 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 23
Chieko Baishōborn 1941 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 24
Miyoshi Umeki1929–2007 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 25
Tōru Furuyaborn 1953 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 26
Eiji Aonumaborn 1963 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 27
Akiko Wakabayashiborn 1939 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 28
Kinuyo Tanaka1909–1977 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 29
Tetsuko Kuroyanagiborn 1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 30
Momoko Kōchi1932–1998 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 31
Kōji Yakushoborn 1956 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 32
Mie Hamaborn 1943 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 33
Shigeo Nagashima1936–2025 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 34
Noriko Ohara1935–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 35
Noriko Hidakaborn 1962 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 36
Keiji Fujiwara1964–2020 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 37
Masako Nozawaborn 1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 38
Kirin Kiki1943–2018 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 39
Chishū Ryū1904–1993 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 40
Sho Kosugiborn 1948 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 41
Toshiko Fujita1950–2018 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 42
Yōko Shimada1953–2022 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 43
Akira Takarada1934–2022 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 44
Iva Toguri D'Aquino1916–2006 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 45
Akira Emotoborn 1948 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 46
Kyōko Kagawaborn 1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 47
Tōru Iwataniborn 1955 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 48
Hiromi Tsuru1960–2017 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 49
Keiko Kishiborn 1932 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 50
Kaori Momoiborn 1951 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 51
Emi Shinohara1963–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 52
Atsuko Tanaka1962–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 53
Kenyu Horiuchiborn 1957 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 54
Toshio Furukawaborn 1946 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 55
Yoshiko Kuga1931–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 56
Yusaku Matsuda1949–1989 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 57
Daisuke Gōri1952–2010 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 58
Hōchū Ōtsukaborn 1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 59
Rikiya Koyamaborn 1963 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 60
Kiyoshi Atsumi1928–1996 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 61
Haruo Nakajima1929–2017 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 62
Ryūsei Nakaoborn 1951 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 63
Sayuri Yoshinagaborn 1945 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 64
Rentarō Mikuni1923–2013 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 65
Norio Wakamotoborn 1945 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 66
Akira Teraoborn 1947 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 67
Jirō Onoborn 1925 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 68
Tetsurō Tamba1922–2006 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 69
Ichirō Nagai1931–2014 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 70
Etsuko Ichihara1936–2019 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 71
Fujio Akatsuka1935–2008 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 72
Sumi Shimamotoborn 1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 73
Akira Kamiyaborn 1946 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 74TSToshihiko Sekiborn 1958 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 75
Ken Ogata1937–2008 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 76
Kaoru Yachigusa1931–2019 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 77
Chikao Ōtsuka1929–2015 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 78
Hiroaki Hirataborn 1963 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 79
Unshō Ishizuka1951–2018 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 80
Ayako Wakaoborn 1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 81
Jōji Nakataborn 1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 82
Ren Ōsugi1951–2018 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 83
Isuzu Yamada1917–2012 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 84
Kumiko Okae1956–2020 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 85
Mika Kanaiborn 1964 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 86
Mariko Okadaborn 1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 87
Naoya Uchidaborn 1953 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 88
Yūko Tanakaborn 1955 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 89
Yūjirō Ishihara1934–1987 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 90
Ichikawa Raizō VIII1931–1969 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 91
Banjō Gingaborn 1948 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 92
Nobuyo Ōyama1933–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 93
Chikage Awashima1924–2012 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 94
Hiroshi Fujiokaborn 1946 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 95
Keiko Awaji1933–2014 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
- 96
Mami Koyamaborn 1955 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 97
Kazuo Hasegawa1908–1984 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 98
Toshiyuki Nishida1947–2024 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 99
Tsutomu Yamazakiborn 1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured— - 100
Yūko Mizutani1964–2016 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot 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.