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. 40Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaOlga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.43
  41. 41Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th 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. 1Steven SpielbergSteven Spielbergborn 1946 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  2. 2Quentin TarantinoQuentin Tarantinoborn 1963 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  3. 3Woody AllenWoody Allenborn 1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  4. 4Stanley KubrickStanley Kubrick1928–1999 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  5. 5Walt DisneyWalt Disney1901–1966 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors10 decades
  6. 6David LynchDavid Lynch1946–2025 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors4 decades
  7. 7Martin ScorseseMartin Scorseseborn 1942 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  8. 8George LucasGeorge Lucasborn 1944 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  9. 9Orson WellesOrson Welles1915–1985 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors9 decades
  10. 10Tim BurtonTim Burtonborn 1958 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  11. 11Francis Ford CoppolaFrancis Ford Coppolaborn 1939 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  12. 12Buster KeatonBuster Keaton1895–1966 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors10 decades
  13. 13Oliver StoneOliver Stoneborn 1946 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors4 decades
  14. 14Rob ReinerRob Reiner1947–2025 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  15. 15David FincherDavid Fincherborn 1962 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  16. 16Steven SoderberghSteven Soderberghborn 1963 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  17. 17Ron HowardRon Howardborn 1954 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  18. 18Brian De PalmaBrian De Palmaborn 1940 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors4 decades
  19. 19Ted TurnerTed Turner1938–2026 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  20. 20Caitlyn JennerCaitlyn Jennerborn 1949 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors1 decades
  21. 21Billy WilderBilly Wilder1906–2002 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors8 decades
  22. 22Bob SagetBob Saget1956–2022 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  23. 23Spike LeeSpike Leeborn 1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors4 decades
  24. 24Sam RaimiSam Raimiborn 1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  25. 25Elia KazanElia Kazan1909–2003 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors8 decades
  26. 26John FordJohn Ford1894–1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors13 decades
  27. 27Sydney PollackSydney Pollack1934–2008 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  28. 28Matt GroeningMatt Groeningborn 1954 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  29. 29Kathryn BigelowKathryn Bigelowborn 1951 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  30. 30Harvey WeinsteinHarvey Weinsteinborn 1952 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  31. 31John HustonJohn Huston1906–1987 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors12 decades
  32. 32Andrei KonchalovskyAndrei Konchalovskyborn 1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  33. 33Sidney LumetSidney Lumet1924–2011 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  34. 34John CarpenterJohn Carpenterborn 1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors8 decades
  35. 35Nora EphronNora Ephron1941–2012 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  36. 36Joss WhedonJoss Whedonborn 1964 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  37. 37Bob FosseBob Fosse1927–1987 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  38. 38Jim JarmuschJim Jarmuschborn 1953 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  39. 39Michael MooreMichael Mooreborn 1954 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  40. 40Jim HensonJim Henson1936–1990 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors4 decades
  41. 41Gus Van SantGus Van Santborn 1952 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  42. 42Miloš FormanMiloš Forman1932–2018 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  43. 43Kris JennerKris Jennerborn 1955 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  44. 44Chris ColumbusChris Columbusborn 1958 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  45. 45Robert AltmanRobert Altman1925–2006 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  46. 46Michael MannMichael Mannborn 1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  47. 47John CassavetesJohn Cassavetes1929–1989 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  48. 48Terrence MalickTerrence Malickborn 1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  49. 49Mike NicholsMike Nichols1931–2014 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  50. 50Wes CravenWes Craven1939–2015 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  51. 51Aaron SorkinAaron Sorkinborn 1961 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  52. 52Steve BannonSteve Bannonborn 1953 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors1 decades
  53. 53George A. RomeroGeorge A. Romero1940–2017 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  54. 54Richard LinklaterRichard Linklaterborn 1960 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors2 decades
  55. 55Jonathan DemmeJonathan Demme1944–2017 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors4 decades
  56. 56Cecil B. DeMilleCecil B. DeMille1881–1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors10 decades
  57. 57Blake EdwardsBlake Edwards1922–2010 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  58. 58Harold RamisHarold Ramis1944–2014 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  59. 59Peter BogdanovichPeter Bogdanovich1939–2022 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  60. 60Vincente MinnelliVincente Minnelli1903–1986 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  61. 61Joel SchumacherJoel Schumacher1939–2020 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors3 decades
  62. 62D. W. GriffithD. W. Griffith1875–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors11 decades
  63. 63William FriedkinWilliam Friedkin1935–2023 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  64. 64John WatersJohn Watersborn 1946 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  65. 65John LandisJohn Landisborn 1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  66. 66John LasseterJohn Lasseterborn 1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  67. 67Ray ManzarekRay Manzarek1939–2013 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  68. 68Jerry BruckheimerJerry Bruckheimerborn 1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  69. 69William WylerWilliam Wyler1902–1981 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors8 decades
  70. 70Lee StrasbergLee Strasberg1901–1982 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  71. 71Sam PeckinpahSam Peckinpah1925–1984 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  72. 72Frank DarabontFrank Darabontborn 1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  73. 73John HughesJohn Hughes1950–2009 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  74. 74Gore VerbinskiGore Verbinskiborn 1964 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  75. 75William HannaWilliam Hanna1910–2001 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors5 decades
  76. 76Black DahliaBlack Dahlia1924–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  77. 77Vincent GalloVincent Galloborn 1961 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  78. 78Howard HawksHoward Hawks1896–1977 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors7 decades
  79. 79Joseph BarberaJoseph Barbera1911–2006 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  80. 80Charlie KaufmanCharlie Kaufmanborn 1958 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  81. 81Roger CormanRoger Corman1926–2024 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  82. 82Heather O'RourkeHeather O'Rourke1975–1988 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  83. 83James MangoldJames Mangoldborn 1963 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  84. 84James L. BrooksJames L. Brooksborn 1940 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  85. 85Alexander PayneAlexander Payneborn 1961 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  86. 86Ken BurnsKen Burnsborn 1953 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  87. 87Mike JudgeMike Judgeborn 1962 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  88. 88Brad BirdBrad Birdborn 1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  89. 89Richard DonnerRichard Donner1930–2021 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  90. 90George CukorGeorge Cukor1899–1983 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors9 decades
  91. 91David O. RussellDavid O. Russellborn 1958 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  92. 92Ray HarryhausenRay Harryhausen1920–2013 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  93. 93Chuck LorreChuck Lorreborn 1952 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  94. 94Joseph L. MankiewiczJoseph L. Mankiewicz1909–1993 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors6 decades
  95. 95Kathleen KennedyKathleen Kennedyborn 1953 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  96. 96Cameron CroweCameron Croweborn 1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  97. 97Don BluthDon Bluthborn 1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  98. 98Aaron SpellingAaron Spelling1923–2006 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  99. 99Nick CassavetesNick Cassavetesborn 1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directorsnot measured—
  100. 100Louis B. MayerLouis B. Mayer1884–1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · 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.