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. 1Ted BundyTed Bundy1946–1989 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures4 decades
  2. 2Bhumibol AdulyadejBhumibol Adulyadej1927–2016 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures5 decades
  3. 3Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur1880–1964 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures10 decades
  4. 4Jeffrey DahmerJeffrey Dahmer1960–1994 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures3 decades
  5. 5Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey Oswald1939–1963 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures6 decades
  6. 6Wallis SimpsonWallis Simpson1896–1986 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures4 decades
  7. 7Chester W. NimitzChester W. Nimitz1885–1966 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures8 decades
  8. 8Ed GeinEd Gein1906–1984 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  9. 9Albert FishAlbert Fish1870–1936 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  10. 10Desmond DossDesmond Doss1919–2006 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  11. 11Christopher McCandlessChristopher McCandless1968–1992 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  12. 12Peter II of YugoslaviaPeter II of Yugoslavia1923–1970 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures0 decades
  13. 13Richard E. ByrdRichard E. Byrd1888–1957 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures10 decades
  14. 14Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.1934–2012 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  15. 15Yonatan NetanyahuYonatan Netanyahu1946–1976 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  16. 16Leon CzolgoszLeon Czolgosz1873–1901 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  17. 17William Halsey Jr.William Halsey Jr.1882–1959 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  18. 18Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.1915–1944 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  19. 19Sylvia A. EarleSylvia A. Earleborn 1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  20. 20Steve FossettSteve Fossett1944–2007 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  21. 21Kathleen CavendishKathleen Cavendish1920–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  22. 22Wiley PostWiley Post1898–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  23. 23Ada BlackjackAda Blackjack1898–1983 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  24. 24Frederick CookFrederick Cook1865–1940 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  25. 25Matthew HensonMatthew Henson1866–1955 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  26. 26Lincoln EllsworthLincoln Ellsworth1880–1951 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  27. 27Roy Chapman AndrewsRoy Chapman Andrews1884–1960 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  28. 28Don WalshDon Walsh1931–2023 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  29. 29Scott FischerScott Fischer1955–1996 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  30. 30Conrad AnkerConrad Ankerborn 1962 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  31. 31James Crawford AngelJames Crawford Angel1899–1956 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  32. 32Princess Anne of DenmarkPrincess Anne of Denmark1917–1980 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  33. 33Princess Anastasia of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Anastasia of Greece and Denmark1878–1923 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  34. 34Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of KedlestonMary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston1870–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  35. 35Floyd BennettFloyd Bennett1890–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  36. 36BWBradford Washburn1910–2007 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  37. 37IBIsaiah Bowman1878–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  38. 38Carl Ben EielsonCarl Ben Eielson1897–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  39. 39Robert Sterling ClarkRobert Sterling Clark1877–1956 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  40. 40Harriet Chalmers AdamsHarriet Chalmers Adams1875–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  41. 41Langdon WarnerLangdon Warner1881–1955 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  42. 42Delia AkeleyDelia Akeley1869–1970 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  43. 43Edward L. Beach, Jr.Edward L. Beach, Jr.1918–2002 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  44. 44William Lincoln BakewellWilliam Lincoln Bakewell1888–1969 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  45. 45Eleanor Margaret GreenEleanor Margaret Green1895–1966 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  46. 46Vanessa O'BrienVanessa O'Brienborn 1964 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  47. 47Floyd CollinsFloyd Collins1887–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  48. 48Victor Wolfgang von HagenVictor Wolfgang von Hagen1908–1985 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  49. 49Anthony FialaAnthony Fiala1869–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  50. 50BHBarbara Hillary1931–2019 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  51. 51RLRobin Lee Grahamborn 1949 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52Jackie RonneJackie Ronne1919–2009 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53Rollo BeckRollo Beck1870–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  54. 54Paul SiplePaul Siple1908–1968 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  55. 55George J. DufekGeorge J. Dufek1903–1977 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Donald Baxter MacMillanDonald Baxter MacMillan1874–1970 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  57. 57Johan ReinhardJohan Reinhardborn 1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  58. 58Will StegerWill Stegerborn 1944 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  59. 59Gene SavoyGene Savoy1927–2007 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  60. 60Mary Jobe AkeleyMary Jobe Akeley1878–1966 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  61. 61John GoddardJohn Goddard1924–2013 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  62. 62Arthur Donaldson SmithArthur Donaldson Smith1866–1939 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  63. 63Anthony LlewellynAnthony Llewellyn1933–2013 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  64. 64Charles R. BentleyCharles R. Bentley1929–2017 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  65. 65Alexander Hamilton RiceAlexander Hamilton Rice1875–1956 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  66. 66NDNorman D. Vaughan1905–2005 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  67. 67Gerald KetchumGerald Ketchum1908–1992 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  68. 68Barry CliffordBarry Cliffordborn 1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  69. 69John P. AllenJohn P. Allenborn 1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  70. 70ALAmelia Laskey1885–1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  71. 71Carol BeckwithCarol Beckwithborn 1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  72. 72Hiram M. Hiller, Jr.Hiram M. Hiller, Jr.1867–1921 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  73. 73Joseph Otis FletcherJoseph Otis Fletcher1920–2008 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  74. 74Harold JuneHarold June1895–1962 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  75. 75EGEleanor Guggenheim Stuart1896–1992 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot 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.