Claim profile
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 Russian books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
  1. 1Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy1828–1910 · 19th century · Writers2.6
  2. 2Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · 17th century · Religious Figures2.2
  3. 3Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · 18th century · Politicians1.8
  4. 4Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of RussiaNicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia1843–1865 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.5
  5. 5Macarius, Metropolitan of MoscowMacarius, Metropolitan of Moscow1482–1563 · 16th century · Writers1.5
  6. 6Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · 16th century · Politicians1.4
  7. 7Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin1870–1924 · 20th century · Politicians1.4
  8. 8Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of Russia1796–1855 · 19th century · Models1.3
  9. 9Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of RussiaGrand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia1859–1919 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.2
  10. 10Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · 16th century · Politicians1.1
  11. 11Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia1777–1825 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.1
  12. 12Alexander II of RussiaAlexander II of Russia1818–1881 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.99
  13. 13Nicholas II of RussiaNicholas II of Russia1868–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.99
  14. 14Maxim GorkyMaxim Gorky1868–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.98
  15. 15Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia1904–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.97
  16. 16Ivan I of TverIvan I of Tver1357–1425 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.92
  17. 17Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.86
  18. 18Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia1832–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.86
  19. 19Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · 18th century · Politicians0.78
  20. 20Andrei BelyAndrei Bely1880–1934 · 20th century · Writers0.74
  21. 21Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia1847–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.72
  22. 22Sergo OrdzhonikidzeSergo Ordzhonikidze1886–1937 · 20th century · Politicians0.72
  23. 23Ivan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of SmolenskIvan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of Smolenskdied 1359 · 14th century0.72
  24. 24Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia1899–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.70
  25. 25Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia1827–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.65
  26. 26Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia1864–1931 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.64
  27. 27Alexander III of RussiaAlexander III of Russia1845–1894 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.63
  28. 28Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia1857–1905 · 19th century · Politicians0.63
  29. 29Alexander BlokAlexander Blok1880–1921 · 20th century · Writers0.62
  30. 30Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia1850–1908 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.59
  31. 31Alexandra VelyaminovaAlexandra Velyaminova1301–1364 · 14th century0.52
  32. 32Maria FeodorovnaMaria Feodorovna1847–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.51
  33. 33Michael of RussiaMichael of Russia1596–1645 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.51
  34. 34Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.48
  35. 35Vladimir MayakovskyVladimir Mayakovsky1893–1930 · 20th century · Writers0.47
  36. 36Aleksey TolstoyAleksey Tolstoy1882–1945 · 20th century · Writers0.45
  37. 37Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.45
  38. 38Aleksey Konstantinovich TolstoyAleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy1817–1875 · 19th century · Writers0.43
  39. 39Maximus the GreekMaximus the Greek1475–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.43
  40. 40Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.43
  41. 41Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaOlga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.43
  42. 42Leonid AndreyevLeonid Andreyev1871–1919 · 20th century · Writers0.43
  43. 43Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin1799–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.41
  44. 44Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin1931–2007 · 20th century · Politicians0.41
  45. 45Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia1779–1831 · 19th century · Politicians0.40
  46. 46Valery BryusovValery Bryusov1873–1924 · 20th century · Writers0.38
  47. 47Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.37
  48. 48Gleb UspenskyGleb Uspensky1843–1902 · 19th century · Writers0.37
  49. 49Boris of TverBoris of Tver1400–1461 · 15th century0.37
  50. 50Patriarch JoachimPatriarch Joachim1621–1690 · 17th century0.36
  51. 51Ivan FyodorovIvan Fyodorov1510–1583 · 16th century0.36
  52. 52Sergei YeseninSergei Yesenin1895–1925 · 20th century · Writers0.36
  53. 53Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia1858–1915 · 19th century · Writers0.35
  54. 54Avraamy PalitsynAvraamy Palitsyn1550–1626 · 16th century · Writers0.34
  55. 55Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.31
  56. 56Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin1878–1953 · 20th century · Politicians0.30
  57. 57Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Brezhnev1906–1982 · 20th century · Politicians0.29
  58. 58Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · 18th century · Politicians0.29
  59. 59Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov1860–1904 · 19th century · Writers0.28
  60. 60Stepan RazinStepan Razin1630–1671 · 17th century0.27
  61. 61Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia1728–1762 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.27
  62. 62Yuri GagarinYuri Gagarin1934–1968 · 20th century · Politicians0.26
  63. 63Anna AkhmatovaAnna Akhmatova1889–1966 · 20th century · Writers0.25
  64. 64Vladimir SolovyovVladimir Solovyov1853–1900 · 19th century · Academics0.24
  65. 65Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia1897–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.24
  66. 66Taras ShevchenkoTaras Shevchenko1814–1861 · 19th century · Writers0.24
  67. 67Catherine Pavlovna of RussiaCatherine Pavlovna of Russia1788–1819 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.24
  68. 68Georgi DimitrovGeorgi Dimitrov1882–1949 · 20th century · Politicians0.24
  69. 69Denis DavydovDenis Davydov1784–1839 · 19th century · Writers0.24
  70. 70Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia1825–1844 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.23
  71. 71Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia1783–1801 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.22
  72. 72Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev1894–1971 · 20th century · Politicians0.22
  73. 73Symeon of PolotskSymeon of Polotsk1629–1680 · 17th century · Writers0.21
  74. 74HyacinthHyacinth1777–1853 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.21
  75. 75Marina TsvetaevaMarina Tsvetaeva1892–1941 · 20th century · Writers0.21
  76. 76Ilya EhrenburgIlya Ehrenburg1891–1967 · 20th century · Writers0.21
  77. 77Mikhail KalininMikhail Kalinin1875–1946 · 20th century · Politicians0.20
  78. 78Yemelyan PugachevYemelyan Pugachev1742–1775 · 18th century · Activists0.19
  79. 79Mikhail SholokhovMikhail Sholokhov1905–1984 · 20th century · Writers0.19
  80. 80Béla KunBéla Kun1886–1938 · 20th century · Activists0.19
  81. 81Mikhail LomonosovMikhail Lomonosov1711–1765 · 18th century · Scientists0.19
  82. 82Nikolai OstrovskyNikolai Ostrovsky1904–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.18
  83. 83Fyodor VolkovFyodor Volkov1729–1763 · 18th century · Actors0.17
  84. 84Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–1728 · 18th century0.17
  85. 85Natalya Alexeevna of RussiaNatalya Alexeevna of Russia1673–1716 · 18th century · Writers0.17
  86. 86Dmitri MendeleevDmitri Mendeleev1834–1907 · 19th century · Scientists0.17
  87. 87Konstantin SimonovKonstantin Simonov1915–1979 · 20th century · Writers0.17
  88. 88Yanka KupalaYanka Kupala1882–1942 · 20th century · Writers0.17
  89. 89Konstantin of UglichKonstantin of Uglich1389–1434 · 15th century0.16
  90. 90Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia1871–1899 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.16
  91. 91Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov1849–1936 · 19th century · Scientists0.16
  92. 92Vasili III of RussiaVasili III of Russia1479–1533 · 16th century · Politicians0.16
  93. 93Sholem AleichemSholem Aleichem1859–1916 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  94. 94Alexander SuvorovAlexander Suvorov1730–1800 · 18th century0.15
  95. 95Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of RussiaGrand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia1863–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.14
  96. 96Fyodor DostoevskyFyodor Dostoevsky1821–1881 · 19th century · Writers0.14
  97. 97Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev1931–2022 · 20th century · Politicians0.14
  98. 98Alexander BestuzhevAlexander Bestuzhev1797–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.14
  99. 99Alexander IvanovAlexander Ivanov1806–1858 · 19th century · Artists0.14
  100. 100Nadezhda KrupskayaNadezhda Krupskaya1869–1939 · 20th century · Politicians0.14

Lived then

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

CountryAll🇺🇸 United States🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇮🇹 Italy🇮🇳 India🇯🇵 Japan🇨🇳 China🇨🇦 Canada🇸🇪 Sweden
FieldAllActorsPoliticiansMusiciansWritersDirectorsHistorical FiguresAcademicsFootballersScientistsArtists
  1. 1Mira NairMira Nairborn 1957 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  2. 2Mahesh BhattMahesh Bhattborn 1948 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  3. 3Sunil ShettySunil Shettyborn 1961 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  4. 4Satyajit RaySatyajit Ray1921–1992 · 🇮🇳 India · Directors6 decades
  5. 5Yash ChopraYash Chopra1932–2012 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  6. 6Mani RatnamMani Ratnamborn 1955 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  7. 7Sanjay Leela BhansaliSanjay Leela Bhansaliborn 1963 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  8. 8Guru DuttGuru Dutt1925–1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  9. 9Shekhar KapurShekhar Kapurborn 1945 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  10. 10Ram Gopal VarmaRam Gopal Varmaborn 1962 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  11. 11Rajkumar HiraniRajkumar Hiraniborn 1962 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  12. 12Rakesh RoshanRakesh Roshanborn 1949 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  13. 13Anu MalikAnu Malikborn 1960 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  14. 14Neena GuptaNeena Guptaborn 1959 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  15. 15Tarsem SinghTarsem Singhborn 1961 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  16. 16Ashutosh GowarikerAshutosh Gowarikerborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  17. 17Subhash GhaiSubhash Ghaiborn 1945 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  18. 18Vidhu Vinod ChopraVidhu Vinod Chopraborn 1952 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  19. 19Aparna SenAparna Senborn 1945 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  20. 20Gulshan KumarGulshan Kumar1956–1997 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  21. 21S. ShankarS. Shankarborn 1963 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  22. 22David DhawanDavid Dhawanborn 1955 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  23. 23Shyam BenegalShyam Benegal1934–2024 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  24. 24K. BalachanderK. Balachander1930–2014 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  25. 25Hrishikesh MukherjeeHrishikesh Mukherjee1922–2006 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  26. 26Mrinal SenMrinal Sen1923–2018 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  27. 27Rituparno GhoshRituparno Ghosh1963–2013 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  28. 28Boney KapoorBoney Kapoorborn 1953 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  29. 29Ritwik GhatakRitwik Ghatak1925–1976 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  30. 30Nitesh TiwariNitesh Tiwariborn 1953 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  31. 31Deepa MehtaDeepa Mehtaborn 1950 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  32. 32Ismail MerchantIsmail Merchant1936–2005 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  33. 33Rajkumar SantoshiRajkumar Santoshiborn 1956 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  34. 34Ramesh SippyRamesh Sippyborn 1947 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  35. 35Khwaja Ahmad AbbasKhwaja Ahmad Abbas1914–1987 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  36. 36Prakash JhaPrakash Jhaborn 1952 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  37. 37V. ShantaramV. Shantaram1901–1990 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  38. 38Baldev Raj ChopraBaldev Raj Chopra1914–2008 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  39. 39Mehboob KhanMehboob Khan1907–1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  40. 40Bimal RoyBimal Roy1909–1966 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  41. 41Ramanand SagarRamanand Sagar1917–2005 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  42. 42Sooraj R. BarjatyaSooraj R. Barjatyaborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  43. 43Yash JoharYash Johar1929–2004 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  44. 44Neeraj VoraNeeraj Vora1963–2017 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  45. 45Adoor GopalakrishnanAdoor Gopalakrishnanborn 1941 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  46. 46Chetan AnandChetan Anand1915–1997 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  47. 47Balu MahendraBalu Mahendra1939–2014 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  48. 48Rakeysh Omprakash MehraRakeysh Omprakash Mehraborn 1963 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  49. 49Santosh SivanSantosh Sivanborn 1964 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  50. 50Nasir HussainNasir Hussain1931–2002 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  51. 51SumalataSumalataborn 1963 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  52. 52Basu ChatterjeeBasu Chatterjee1930–2020 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  53. 53Sai ParanjpyeSai Paranjpyeborn 1938 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  54. 54Muzaffar AliMuzaffar Aliborn 1944 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  55. 55Kasinathuni ViswanathKasinathuni Viswanath1930–2023 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  56. 56Mansoor KhanMansoor Khanborn 1953 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  57. 57Govind NihalaniGovind Nihalaniborn 1940 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  58. 58Arundathi NagArundathi Nagborn 1956 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  59. 59Shobha KapoorShobha Kapoorborn 1949 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  60. 60BharathirajaBharathiraja1941–2026 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  61. 61J. P. DuttaJ. P. Duttaborn 1949 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  62. 62Ayesha DuttAyesha Duttborn 1960 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  63. 63Ketan MehtaKetan Mehtaborn 1952 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  64. 64Karan KapoorKaran Kapoorborn 1962 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  65. 65PriyadarshanPriyadarshanborn 1957 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  66. 66Fatma BegumFatma Begum1892–1983 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  67. 67Ronnie ScrewvalaRonnie Screwvalaborn 1962 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  68. 68Shakti SamantaShakti Samanta1926–2009 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  69. 69Pamela ChopraPamela Chopra1948–2023 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  70. 70K. S. RavikumarK. S. Ravikumarborn 1958 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  71. 71Sohrab ModiSohrab Modi1897–1984 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  72. 72Vijay AnandVijay Anand1934–2004 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  73. 73Sriram RaghavanSriram Raghavanborn 1963 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  74. 74Dasari Narayana RaoDasari Narayana Rao1947–2017 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  75. 75Vijaya MehtaVijaya Mehtaborn 1934 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  76. 76Goutam GhoseGoutam Ghoseborn 1950 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  77. 77Latha RajinikanthLatha Rajinikanthborn 1958 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  78. 78Uday ShankarUday Shankar1900–1977 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  79. 79Indra KumarIndra Kumarborn 1953 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  80. 80S. A. ChandrasekharS. A. Chandrasekharborn 1945 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  81. 81Mani KaulMani Kaul1944–2011 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  82. 82Kalpana SarojKalpana Sarojborn 1961 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  83. 83Babu AntonyBabu Antonyborn 1956 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  84. 84K. Raghavendra RaoK. Raghavendra Raoborn 1942 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  85. 85Prakash MehraPrakash Mehra1939–2009 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  86. 86Kundan ShahKundan Shah1947–2017 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  87. 87Chandrashekhara KambaraChandrashekhara Kambaraborn 1937 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  88. 88I. V. SasiI. V. Sasi1948–2017 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  89. 89Ravi ChopraRavi Chopra1946–2014 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  90. 90C. V. SridharC. V. Sridhar1933–2008 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  91. 91Joy MukherjeeJoy Mukherjee1939–2012 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  92. 92Ardeshir IraniArdeshir Irani1886–1969 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  93. 93Padma KhannaPadma Khannaborn 1949 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  94. 94Saeed Akhtar MirzaSaeed Akhtar Mirzaborn 1943 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  95. 95R. ParthiepanR. Parthiepanborn 1957 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  96. 96Kamal AmrohiKamal Amrohi1918–1993 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  97. 97Mukul S. AnandMukul S. Anand1951–1997 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  98. 98Pradeep SarkarPradeep Sarkar1955–2023 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  99. 99Buddhadeb DasguptaBuddhadeb Dasgupta1944–2021 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot measured—
  100. 100K. AsifK. Asif1922–1971 · 🇮🇳 India · Directorsnot 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.