← 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 English books during the 20th century, whenever they lived.
- 1
Jesus30 - 2
Aristotle7.1 - 3
Plato7.1 - 4
Homer7.1 - 5
Augustus4.9 - 6
Johns Hopkins4.4 - 7
Cicero4.0 - 8
George Washington3.8 - 9
Socrates3.4 - 10
Virgil3.3 - 11
Abraham Lincoln2.0 - 12
Euclid1.9 - 13
Thomas Jefferson1.6 - 14
Ovid1.6 - 15
Mark Twain1.5 - 16
Plutarch1.5 - 17
Cleopatra1.4 - 18
Theodore Roosevelt1.4 - 19
Woodrow Wilson1.4 - 20
William Henry1.3 - 21
Benjamin Franklin1.3 - 22
Herodotus1.3 - 23
Charlemagne1.3 - 24
Rembrandt1.3 - 25
Euripides1.2
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 20th century, ranked where coverage and readership agree.
- 1
James Cameron7 decades - 2
David Cronenberg4 decades - 3
Ivan Reitmannot measured- - 4
Norman Jewisonnot measured- - 5
Atom Egoyannot measured- - 6
David Furnishnot measured- - 7
Jean-Marc Valléenot measured- - 8
Mary Harronnot measured- - 9Ted Kotcheffnot measured-
- 10
Arthur Hillernot measured- - 11
Roger Spottiswoodenot measured- - 12
Helen Shavernot measured- - 13
Denys Arcandnot measured- - 14Albert S. Ruddynot measured-
- 15
Mark Robsonnot measured- - 16
Richard Williamsnot measured- - 17
Guy Maddinnot measured- - 18
Danny Antonuccinot measured- - 19
Norman McLarennot measured- - 20
Bruce LaBrucenot measured- - 21
Brad Wrightnot measured- - 22
Sidney J. Furienot measured- - 23
Robert Lepagenot measured- - 24
Jan Rubešnot measured- - 25
Sydney Newmannot measured- - 26Glenn McQueennot measured-
- 27
Alanis Obomsawinnot measured- - 28
Christian Duguaynot measured- - 29
Robert Herjavecnot measured- - 30Daniel Petrienot measured-
- 31
Bruce McDonaldnot measured- - 32
Patricia Rozemanot measured- - 33
François Girardnot measured- - 34
Frédéric Backnot measured- - 35
Michael Snownot measured- - 36
Roman Kroitornot measured- - 37
Jeremiah S. Chechiknot measured- - 38
David Steinbergnot measured- - 39
Sidney Olcottnot measured- - 40
Adam Brooksnot measured- - 41
Gerald Pottertonnot measured- - 42
William Dearnot measured- - 43
Michel Braultnot measured- - 44
Allan Moylenot measured- - 45
Claude Jutranot measured- - 46
Jon Cassarnot measured- - 47
George Dunningnot measured- - 48
Doug Rogersnot measured- - 49
Stuart Gillardnot measured- - 50
Yves Simoneaunot measured- - 51
David Hacklnot measured- - 52
Zacharias Kunuknot measured- - 53
J. Miles Dalenot measured- - 54
Daniel Petrienot measured- - 55
Jake Ebertsnot measured- - 56
Simcha Jacobovicinot measured- - 57
Janet Cardiffnot measured- - 58
Tom McGillisnot measured- - 59Jean-Claude Lauzonnot measured-
- 60
Paul Almondnot measured- - 61
J. Gordon Edwardsnot measured- - 62
John Greysonnot measured- - 63
Paule Baillargeonnot measured- - 64
Ryan Larkinnot measured- - 65
Silvio Narizzanonot measured- - 66
Steven Hilliard Sternnot measured- - 67
Jacques Godboutnot measured- - 68
Marie Chouinardnot measured- - 69Robert Carsennot measured-
- 70Jennifer Pertschnot measured-
- 71
Gratien Gélinasnot measured- - 72
Robert Lantosnot measured- - 73
Sturla Gunnarssonnot measured- - 74
Bill Masonnot measured- - 75
Stephen Surjiknot measured- - 76
Bob Dolmannot measured- - 77
Don S. Williamsnot measured- - 78
Michelle Latimernot measured- - 79
Earle Rodneynot measured- - 80
Wallace MacDonaldnot measured- - 81
Alan Gibsonnot measured- - 82
Denis Hérouxnot measured- - 83
Robert F. Hillnot measured- - 84
Rodney Grahamnot measured- - 85
Heather Reismannot measured- - 86
David Winningnot measured- - 87
Martyn Burkenot measured- - 88
Del Lordnot measured- - 89
Harmon Jonesnot measured- - 90
Torill Kovenot measured- - 91
George Mendeluknot measured- - 92
Pierre Cossettenot measured- - 93
Rock Demersnot measured- - 94
Érik Canuelnot measured- - 95
Joe De Grassenot measured- - 96
John N. Smithnot measured- - 97
Jack Chambersnot measured- - 98
Daniel MacIvornot measured- - 99
Paul Sarossynot measured- - 100Dan Irelandnot measured-
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.