215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1900-1999

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.

  1. 1Rav Ashi352-427 · 4th century16
  2. 2Ahad Ha'am1856-1927 · 19th century · Russia · Writers12
  3. 3Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures12
  4. 4Sabbatai Zevi1626-1676 · 17th century · Turkey · Religious Figures8.2
  5. 5Saadia Gaon882-942 · 10th century · Academics8.1
  6. 6Johanan ben Zakai50 BC-70 · 1st millennium BC5.5
  7. 7Josephus37-100 · 1st century · Writers5.5
  8. 8Habakkuk626 BC-600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures5.3
  9. 9Hai Gaon939-1038 · 10th century · Writers4.8
  10. 10Simeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century4.8
  11. 11Menachem Begin1913-1992 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians4.4
  12. 12Nathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century3.8
  13. 13Shimon Peres1923-2016 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.6
  14. 14Paul the Apostle5-66 · 1st century · Turkey · Writers3.3
  15. 15Samuel ibn Naghrillah993-1055 · 11th century · Writers3.2
  16. 16Moshe Dayan1915-1981 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians3.2
  17. 17Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150-1217 · 12th century · Academics3.1
  18. 18Hillel the Elder50 BC-100 · 1st millennium BC3.1
  19. 19Simeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century2.8
  20. 20Judas Maccabeus500 BC-160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures2.7
  21. 21Yitzhak Rabin1922-1995 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians2.7
  22. 22Golda Meir1898-1978 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians2.6
  23. 23Yanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers2.5
  24. 24Moshe Sharett1894-1965 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians2.2
  25. 25Isaac Abrabanel1437-1508 · 15th century · Academics2.1
  26. 26Levi Eshkol1895-1969 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians2.0
  27. 27Rabbeinu Tam1100-1171 · 12th century · France · Writers2.0
  28. 28Reuven Rivlinborn 1939 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.8
  29. 29Moses Sofer1762-1839 · 18th century1.7
  30. 30Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542-1620 · 16th century · Turkey · Musicians1.7
  31. 31Menasseh Ben Israel1604-1657 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics1.6
  32. 32Mendele Mocher Sforim1835-1917 · 19th century · Belarus · Writers1.5
  33. 33Shimon bar Yochai100-160 · 2nd century1.5
  34. 34Nathan of Gaza1644-1680 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers1.4
  35. 35Amram Gaon810-875 · 9th century1.4
  36. 36Baal Shem Tov1698-1760 · 18th century1.4
  37. 37Amos Oz1939-2018 · 20th century · Israel · Writers1.3
  38. 38Solomon Molcho1500-1532 · 16th century · Academics1.3
  39. 39Jacob Emden1697-1776 · 18th century · Germany1.2
  40. 40Ariel Sharon1928-2014 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.1
  41. 41Ehud Olmertborn 1945 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.1
  42. 42Benjamin Netanyahuborn 1949 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.1
  43. 43Yitzhak Shamir1915-2012 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians1.0
  44. 44Nachman of Breslov1772-1810 · 19th century · Russia0.99
  45. 45Hasdai Crescas1340-1410 · 14th century · Academics0.94
  46. 46Joseph Albo1380-1444 · 15th century · Academics0.94
  47. 47Azariah dei Rossi1513-1578 · 16th century · Writers0.93
  48. 48Mordecai Yoffe1530-1612 · 16th century · Poland0.91
  49. 49Immanuel the Roman1260-1328 · 13th century · Writers0.87
  50. 50Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522-1570 · 16th century · Turkey · Actors0.82
  51. 51Joseph Nasi1524-1579 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.78
  52. 52Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724-1806 · 18th century · Turkey · Historical Figures0.77
  53. 53Baruch Spinoza1632-1677 · 17th century · Netherlands · Academics0.75
  54. 54Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745-1812 · 18th century · Russia · Academics0.75
  55. 55Yehuda Alharizi1165-1225 · 13th century · Writers0.74
  56. 56Jonathan Eybeschutz1690-1764 · 18th century · Germany0.70
  57. 57Joseph Kimhi1105-1170 · 12th century · France · Writers0.67
  58. 58Zerachiah haLevi of Girona1130-1186 · 12th century · France · Writers0.58
  59. 59Ehud Barakborn 1942 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.58
  60. 60Chaim Weizmann1874-1952 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.55
  61. 61Chaim ibn Attar1696-1743 · 18th century · Morocco0.53
  62. 62Hanina ben Dosa40-75 · 1st century0.53
  63. 63Dunash ben Labrat920-990 · 10th century · Morocco · Writers0.51
  64. 64Chaim Herzog1918-1997 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.50
  65. 65Moshe Alshich1508-1593 · 16th century · Turkey0.50
  66. 66Abraham bar Hiyya1070-1136 · 12th century · Academics0.49
  67. 67Isaac the Blind1160-1235 · 12th century · France · Writers0.48
  68. 68Eliezer ben Hurcanus100-200 · 2nd century0.46
  69. 69Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505-1576 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.44
  70. 70Gaon of Vilnius1720-1797 · 18th century · Russia0.40
  71. 71Israel ben Moses Najara1555-1628 · 16th century · Turkey · Writers0.38
  72. 72Ishtori Haparchi1280-1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.38
  73. 73Shalom Shabazi1619-1719 · 17th century · Turkey · Writers0.36
  74. 74Isaac ben Moses Arama1420-1494 · 15th century0.34
  75. 75Shmuel Yosef Agnon1887-1970 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.34
  76. 76Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249-1306 · 13th century · France · Musicians0.34
  77. 77Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270-1340 · 14th century · France · Academics0.33
  78. 78Yonah Gerondi1210-1263 · 13th century · Academics0.32
  79. 79Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.31
  80. 80Bahya ben Asher1255-1340 · 13th century · Writers0.30
  81. 81Moses Kimhi1127-1190 · 12th century · France0.28
  82. 82Benjamin of Tudela1130-1174 · 12th century · Spain · Historical Figures0.27
  83. 83Profiat Duran1350-1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.27
  84. 84Jonah ibn Janah990-1050 · 11th century · Academics0.25
  85. 85Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451-1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.25
  86. 86Eleazar ben Arach100-200 · 2nd century0.24
  87. 87Joseph Caspi1280-1345 · 14th century · France · Academics0.24
  88. 88Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470-1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.23
  89. 89Joel Sirkis1561-1640 · 16th century0.19
  90. 90Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev1740-1809 · 18th century · Russia · Musicians0.18
  91. 91Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310-1385 · 14th century · Writers0.18
  92. 92David Grossmanborn 1954 · 20th century · Israel · Writers0.18
  93. 93Onias III300 BC-170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.16
  94. 94Rashbam1080-1158 · 12th century0.16
  95. 95Jacob ibn Habib1450-1516 · 15th century0.16
  96. 96Jacob ben Asher1269-1343 · 14th century · Writers0.16
  97. 97Tzipi Livniborn 1958 · 20th century · Israel · Politicians0.15
  98. 98Moses ben Joshua1300-1362 · 14th century · Academics0.15
  99. 99Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075-1149 · 12th century · Academics0.15
  100. 100Eleazar ben Killir600-700 · 7th century · Writers0.14

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 20th century, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Alan Turing1912-1954 · United Kingdom · Academics4 decades
  2. 2Jane Goodall1934-2025 · United Kingdom · Academics5 decades
  3. 3Noam Chomskyborn 1928 · United States · Academics6 decades
  4. 4B. R. Ambedkar1891-1956 · India · Academics8 decades
  5. 5Albert Camus1913-1960 · France · Academics8 decades
  6. 6Srinivasa Ramanujan1887-1920 · India · Academics0 decades
  7. 7Hannah Arendt1906-1975 · United States · Academics8 decades
  8. 8Jean-Paul Sartre1905-1980 · France · Academics9 decades
  9. 9Simone de Beauvoir1908-1986 · France · Academics8 decades
  10. 10Manmohan Singh1932-2024 · India · Academics5 decades
  11. 11Michel Foucault1926-1984 · France · Academics8 decades
  12. 12Jordan Petersonborn 1962 · Canada · Academics0 decades
  13. 13Bertrand Russell1872-1970 · United Kingdom · Academics13 decades
  14. 14T. E. Lawrence1888-1935 · United Kingdom · Academics10 decades
  15. 15John Forbes Nash Jr.1928-2015 · United States · Academics0 decades
  16. 16Ludwig Wittgenstein1889-1951 · United Kingdom · Academics8 decades
  17. 17John von Neumann1903-1957 · Hungary · Academics4 decades
  18. 18Muhammad Yunusborn 1940 · Bangladesh · Academics3 decades
  19. 19Martin Heidegger1889-1976 · Germany · Academics10 decades
  20. 20Antonio Gramsci1891-1937 · Italy · Academics9 decades
  21. 21Milton Friedman1912-2006 · United States · Academics9 decades
  22. 22John Maynard Keynes1883-1946 · United Kingdom · Academics10 decades
  23. 23Dietrich Bonhoeffer1906-1945 · Germany · Academics8 decades
  24. 24Jürgen Habermas1929-2026 · Germany · Academics8 decades
  25. 25Billy Graham1918-2018 · United States · Academics7 decades
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.