← 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
John van 't Schipnot measured- - 2
Frank Yallopnot measured- - 3Fio Maravilhanot measured-
- 4
Bob Lenarduzzinot measured- - 5
Carl Valentinenot measured- - 6
Colin Millernot measured- - 7
Dale Mitchellnot measured- - 8Randy Samuelnot measured-
- 9Mike Sweeneynot measured-
- 10Bruce Wilsonnot measured-
- 11Paul Jamesnot measured-
- 12Tino Lettierinot measured-
- 13
George Ortonnot measured- - 14Ian Bridgenot measured-
- 15
Gerry Graynot measured-
- 16David Normannot measured-
- 17Terry Moorenot measured-
- 18
Jack Brandnot measured- - 19
John Gourlaynot measured- - 20George Pakosnot measured-
- 21
Pierre Bourgaultnot measured- - 22Brian Buddnot measured-
- 23
Glen Ennisnot measured- - 24Pasquale de Lucanot measured-
- 25
Mike Stojanovićnot measured- - 26Gordon McDonaldnot measured-
- 27Randy Ragannot measured-
- 28
Joe Kennawaynot measured- - 29Sven Habermannnot measured-
- 30Jamie Lowerynot measured-
- 31
Robert Iaruscinot measured- - 32
Carmine Marcantonionot measured-
- 33Greg Ionnot measured-
- 34
Norm Hadleynot measured- - 35John Frasernot measured-
- 36
George Duckernot measured- - 37Robert Lanenot measured-
- 38Wes McLeodnot measured-
- 39Ernest Lintonnot measured-
- 40Otto Christmannot measured-
- 41Tony Churskynot measured-
- 42Nick Papadakisnot measured-
- 43Albert Hendersonnot measured-
- 44
Frederick Steepnot measured- - 45
Dick Howardnot measured- - 46Garry Ayrenot measured-
- 47Jimmy Douglasnot measured-
- 48Carl Rosenot measured-
- 49Walter Bowmannot measured-
- 50Kevin Grantnot measured-
- 51William Twaitsnot measured-
- 52Albert Johnsonnot measured-
- 53Peter Roenot measured-
- 54
Vasyl Ishchaknot measured- - 55
Tommy Clarenot measured- - 56Errol Crossannot measured-
- 57
Jack Cowannot measured- - 58
Mike Bakićnot measured- - 59
Tony Lawrencenot measured- - 60Tony Evangelistanot measured-
- 61Tibor Vighnot measured-
- 62Gary Thompsonnot measured-
- 63
John McGranenot measured- - 64Alan Harveynot measured-
- 65
Andy Stevensnot measured- - 66Chris Horrocksnot measured-
- 67Bob Harleynot measured-
- 68Oscar Albuquerquenot measured-
- 69Ike MacKaynot measured-
- 70Hans de Goedenot measured-
- 71Doug McMahonnot measured-
- 72Norm Odinganot measured-
- 73Geordie Campbellnot measured-
- 74Darryl Samsonnot measured-
- 75Ray Telfordnot 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.