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 Hebrew books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Rav Ashi352–427 · 4th century16 - 2
Ahad Ha'am1856–1927 · 19th century · Writers12 - 3
Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures12 - 4
Sabbatai Zevi1626–1676 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures8.2 - 5
Saadia Gaon882–942 · 10th century · Academics8.1 - 6
Johanan ben Zakai50 BC–70 · 1st millennium BC5.5 - 7
Josephus37–100 · 1st century · Writers5.5 - 8
Habakkuk626 BC–600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures5.3 - 9
Hai Gaon939–1038 · 10th century · Writers4.8 - 10SBSimeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century4.8
- 11
Menachem Begin1913–1992 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians4.4 - 12NTNathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century3.8
- 13
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Shimon Peres1923–2016 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians3.6 - 14
Paul the Apostle5–66 · 1st century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers3.3 - 15SISamuel ibn Naghrillah993–1055 · 11th century · Writers3.2
- 16
Moshe Dayan1915–1981 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians3.2 - 17JBJudah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150–1217 · 12th century · Academics3.1
- 18
Hillel the Elder50 BC–100 · 1st millennium BC3.1 - 19SBSimeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century2.8
- 20
Judas Maccabeus500 BC–160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures2.7 - 21
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Yitzhak Rabin1922–1995 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians2.7 - 22
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Golda Meir1898–1978 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians2.6 - 23YYanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers2.5
- 24
Moshe Sharett1894–1965 · 20th century · Politicians2.2 - 25
Isaac Abrabanel1437–1508 · 15th century · Academics2.1 - 26
Levi Eshkol1895–1969 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians2.0 - 27
Rabbeinu Tam1100–1171 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.0 - 28
Reuven Rivlinborn 1939 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians1.8 - 29
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Moses Sofer1762–1839 · 18th century1.7 - 30
Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542–1620 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Musicians1.7 - 31
Menasseh Ben Israel1604–1657 · 17th century · Academics1.6 - 32
Mendele Mocher Sforim1835–1917 · 19th century · Writers1.5 - 33
Shimon bar Yochai100–160 · 2nd century1.5 - 34
Nathan of Gaza1644–1680 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers1.4 - 35
Amram Gaon810–875 · 9th century1.4 - 36
Baal Shem Tov1698–1760 · 18th century1.4 - 37
Amos Oz1939–2018 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Writers1.3 - 38
Solomon Molcho1500–1532 · 16th century · Academics1.3 - 39
Jacob Emden1697–1776 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2 - 40
Ariel Sharon1928–2014 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians1.1 - 41
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Ehud Olmertborn 1945 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians1.1 - 42
Benjamin Netanyahuborn 1949 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians1.1 - 43
Yitzhak Shamir1915–2012 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians1.0 - 44
Nachman of Breslov1772–1810 · 19th century0.99 - 45Hasdai Crescas1340–1410 · 14th century · Academics0.94
- 46Joseph Albo1380–1444 · 15th century · Academics0.94
- 47
Azariah dei Rossi1513–1578 · 16th century · Writers0.93 - 48MYMordecai Yoffe1530–1612 · 16th century0.91
- 49
Immanuel the Roman1260–1328 · 13th century · Writers0.87 - 50
Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522–1570 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Actors0.82 - 51JNJoseph Nasi1524–1579 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.78
- 52
Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724–1806 · 18th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0.77 - 53
Baruch Spinoza1632–1677 · 17th century · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Academics0.75 - 54
Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745–1812 · 18th century · Academics0.75 - 55
Yehuda Alharizi1165–1225 · 13th century · Writers0.74 - 56
Jonathan Eybeschutz1690–1764 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany0.70 - 57JKJoseph Kimhi1105–1170 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.67
- 58ZHZerachiah haLevi of Girona1130–1186 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.58
- 59
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Ehud Barakborn 1942 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians0.58 - 60
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Chaim Weizmann1874–1952 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians0.55 - 61
Chaim ibn Attar1696–1743 · 18th century0.53 - 62HBHanina ben Dosa40–75 · 1st century0.53
- 63
Dunash ben Labrat920–990 · 10th century · Writers0.51 - 64
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Chaim Herzog1918–1997 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians0.50 - 65
Moshe Alshich1508–1593 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey0.50 - 66
Abraham bar Hiyya1070–1136 · 12th century · Academics0.49 - 67
Isaac the Blind1160–1235 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.48 - 68EBEliezer ben Hurcanus100–200 · 2nd century0.46
- 69
Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505–1576 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.44 - 70
Gaon of Vilnius1720–1797 · 18th century0.40 - 71IBIsrael ben Moses Najara1555–1628 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.38
- 72
Ishtori Haparchi1280–1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.38 - 73
Shalom Shabazi1619–1719 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.36 - 74IBIsaac ben Moses Arama1420–1494 · 15th century0.34
- 75
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Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887–1970 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0.34 - 76
Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249–1306 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0.34 - 77JBJedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270–1340 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.33
- 78
Yonah Gerondi1210–1263 · 13th century · Academics0.32 - 79
Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.31 - 80BBBahya ben Asher1255–1340 · 13th century · Writers0.30
- 81MKMoses Kimhi1127–1190 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France0.28
- 82
Benjamin of Tudela1130–1174 · 12th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.27 - 83PDProfiat Duran1350–1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.27
- 84JIJonah ibn Janah990–1050 · 11th century · Academics0.25
- 85
Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451–1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.25 - 86EBEleazar ben Arach100–200 · 2nd century0.24
- 87JCJoseph Caspi1280–1345 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.24
- 88OBObadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470–1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.23
- 89
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Joel Sirkis1561–1640 · 16th century0.19 - 90
Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740–1809 · 18th century · Musicians0.18 - 91MBMenahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310–1385 · 14th century · Writers0.18
- 92
David Grossmanborn 1954 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Writers0.18 - 93
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Onias III300 BC–170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.16 - 94RRashbam1080–1158 · 12th century0.16
- 95JIJacob ibn Habib1450–1516 · 15th century0.16
- 96
Jacob ben Asher1269–1343 · 14th century · Writers0.16 - 97
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Tzipi Livniborn 1958 · 20th century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians0.15 - 98Moses ben Joshua1300–1362 · 14th century · Academics0.15
- 99Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075–1149 · 12th century · Academics0.15
- 100
Eleazar ben Killir600–700 · 7th century · Writers0.14
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
%E2%80%99.jpg?width=1200)
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.