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 English books during the 20th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish28,219German4,127French3,913Italian2,072Spanish1,601Russian838Chinese282Hebrew149
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
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Jesus5 BC–30 · 1st century · Religious Figures30 - 2
Aristotle384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.1 - 3
Plato428 BC–348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.1 - 4
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Homer900 BC–800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers7.1 - 5
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Augustus63 BC–14 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4.9 - 6
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Sealborn 1963 · 20th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians4.5 - 7
RMborn 1994 · 21st century · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Musicians4.5 - 8
Johns Hopkins1795–1873 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders4.4 - 9
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Cicero106 BC–43 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4.0 - 10
George Washington1732–1799 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians3.8 - 11
Socrates470 BC–399 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Academics3.4 - 12
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Virgil70 BC–19 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3.3 - 13
Abraham Lincoln1809–1865 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians2.0 - 14
Euclid333 BC–285 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics1.9 - 15
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Pinkborn 1979 · 21st century · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians1.6 - 16AAcmedied 5 BC · 1st millennium BC1.6
- 17
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Thomas Jefferson1743–1826 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.6 - 18
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IUborn 1993 · 21st century · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Musicians1.6 - 19
Ovid43 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.6 - 20
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Madonnaborn 1958 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians1.5 - 21
Charles II, Duke of Savoy1489–1496 · 15th century · Historical Figures1.5 - 22
Charles II, Lord of Monaco1555–1589 · 16th century · Politicians1.5 - 23
Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1545–1617 · 16th century · Historical Figures1.5 - 24
Mark Twain1835–1910 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1.5 - 25
Plutarch40–120 · 1st century · Academics1.5 - 26
Cleopatra69 BC–30 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figures1.4 - 27
Theodore Roosevelt1858–1919 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.4 - 28
Woodrow Wilson1856–1924 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.4 - 29
William Henry1774–1836 · 19th century · Scientists1.3 - 30
Benjamin Franklin1706–1790 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.3 - 31
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Herodotus484 BC–425 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers1.3 - 32
Charlemagne748–814 · 8th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 33
Rembrandt1606–1669 · 17th century · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists1.3 - 34
Euripides480 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.2 - 35
Pocahontas1596–1617 · 17th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1.1
- 36
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John Brown1800–1859 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders1.1 - 37
John Smith1580–1631 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures1.0 - 38
Adam Smith1723–1790 · 18th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics1.0 - 39
Henry IV, Duke of Brabant1251–1272 · 13th century1.0 - 40HIHenry IV, Count of Waldeck1300–1348 · 14th century1.0
- 41
Henry IV, Duke of Limburg1195–1247 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.0 - 42HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1463–1514 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.0
- 43
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor1050–1106 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 44
Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg1113–1196 · 12th century · Politicians1.0 - 45
John Adams1735–1826 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians1.0 - 46
Sophocles496 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.0 - 47
Henry James1843–1916 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0.99 - 48
Galen129–300 · 2nd century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors0.97 - 49
Walter Scott1771–1832 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.95 - 50
Livy59 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.95 - 51
Bede672–735 · 8th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.94 - 52
John the Baptist6 BC–30 · 1st century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures0.93 - 53
Solon630 BC–560 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.93 - 54
Prince George, Duke of Cumberland1653–1708 · 17th century0.90 - 55
Pericles494 BC–429 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.89 - 56
John Henry1322–1375 · 14th century0.87 - 57
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Julius Caesar100 BC–44 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.86 - 58
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Winston Churchill1874–1965 · 20th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians0.86 - 59
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William James1842–1910 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.86 - 60
Hadrian76–138 · 2nd century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.83 - 61
Andrew Jackson1767–1845 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.83 - 62
Thucydides460 BC–395 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.83 - 63
Henry Ford1863–1947 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0.81 - 64
Aristophanes445 BC–385 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.79 - 65
Charles I, Duke of Savoy1468–1490 · 15th century0.79 - 66
Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal1682–1770 · 18th century0.79 - 67
Charles I, Count of Flanders1084–1127 · 12th century · Politicians0.79 - 68CICharles I1516–1576 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.79
- 69
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Charles I, Count of Nevers1414–1464 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.79 - 70AAbababorn 200 · 3rd century0.78
- 71
Origen185–254 · 3rd century · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academics0.76 - 72
George Eliot1819–1880 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0.75 - 73
Demosthenes384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.75 - 74
John F. Kennedy1917–1963 · 20th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.75 - 75
Brigham Young1801–1877 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics0.75 - 76
Xenophon430 BC–354 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.73 - 77
Henry VI, Count of Luxembourg1240–1288 · 13th century · Politicians0.72 - 78HVHenry VI, Count of Waldeck1340–1397 · 14th century0.72
- 79
Henry VI1376–1454 · 15th century0.72 - 80
William Penn1644–1718 · 17th century · Founders0.71 - 81
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Alexander Hamilton1757–1804 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.71 - 82
Henry II1207–1248 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.70 - 83
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor973–1024 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.70 - 84
Henry II , Duke of Lower Lorraine1059–1119 · 11th century0.70 - 85
Henry II, Duke of Ziębice1396–1420 · 15th century0.70 - 86
Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1317–1390 · 14th century0.70 - 87
Henry II, Count of Champagne1166–1197 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.70 - 88
Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1507–1548 · 16th century0.70 - 89HIHenry II, Margrave of the Nordmark1102–1128 · 12th century0.70
- 90
Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1289–1351 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.70 - 91
Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1215–1266 · 13th century · Historical Figures0.70 - 92
Henry II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal1308–1320 · 14th century · Models0.70 - 93
Henry II, Duke of Świdnica1312–1345 · 14th century0.70 - 94
Richard II963–1026 · 10th century · 🇫🇷 France0.69 - 95
John Marshall1755–1835 · 18th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67 - 96
Henry Clay1777–1852 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67 - 97
Jefferson Davis1808–1889 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67 - 98
James I, Count of Urgell1321–1347 · 14th century0.67 - 99
Osceola1804–1838 · 19th century · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians0.67
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 20th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Leonard Cohen1934–2016 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians5 decades - 2
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Bryan Adamsborn 1959 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians3 decades - 3
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Neil Youngborn 1945 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians5 decades - 4
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Joni Mitchellborn 1943 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians5 decades - 5
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Mylène Farmerborn 1961 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians3 decades - 6
David Fosterborn 1949 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 7
Gordon Lightfoot1938–2023 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 8
Glenn Gould1932–1982 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians7 decades - 9
Howard Shoreborn 1946 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians1 decades - 10
Diana Krallborn 1964 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 11
Neil Peart1952–2020 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 12
k.d. langborn 1961 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 13
Oscar Peterson1925–2007 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musicians7 decades - 14
Robbie Robertson1943–2023 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 15
Geddy Leeborn 1953 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 16
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Loreena McKennittborn 1957 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 17
Alex Lifesonborn 1953 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 18
Anne Murrayborn 1945 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 19
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Denny Doherty1940–2007 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 20
Deanna Durbin1921–2013 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 21
Alannah Mylesborn 1958 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 22
René Angélil1942–2016 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 23
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Bob Rockborn 1954 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 24
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James LaBrieborn 1963 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 25CBCindy Breakspeareborn 1954 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured—
- 26
Daniel Lanoisborn 1951 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 27
Garth Hudson1937–2025 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 28
Vanity1959–2016 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 29
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Corey Hartborn 1962 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 30
Rick Danko1943–1999 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 31
Bob Ezrinborn 1949 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 32
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Paul Shafferborn 1949 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 33
Guy Lalibertéborn 1959 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 34
Maynard Ferguson1928–2006 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 35
Sally Yehborn 1961 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 36
Gil Evans1912–1988 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 37
Richard Manuel1943–1986 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 38
Hugh Dillonborn 1963 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 39
Terry Jacksborn 1944 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 40
Randy Bachmanborn 1943 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 41
John Rutsey1952–2008 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 42
Kate McGarrigle1946–2010 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 43
Marc-André Hamelinborn 1961 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 44
Hank Snow1914–1999 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 45
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Gino Vannelliborn 1952 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 46
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Percy Faith1908–1976 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 47
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Mychael Dannaborn 1958 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 48
Guy Lombardo1902–1977 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 49
Stan Rogers1949–1983 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 50
Bruno Pelletierborn 1962 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 51
Daniel Lavoieborn 1949 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 52
Bruce Cockburnborn 1945 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 53
Burton Cummingsborn 1947 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 54
Lee Aaronborn 1962 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 55
Robert Charleboisborn 1944 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 56
Roch Voisineborn 1963 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 57
Paul Bley1932–2016 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 58
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Tom Cochraneborn 1953 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 59
Frank Marinoborn 1954 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 60
Luc Plamondonborn 1942 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 61
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Michel Tremblayborn 1942 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 62DHDan Hillborn 1954 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured—
- 63
Félix Leclerc1914–1988 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 64
Bernie Shawborn 1957 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 65
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Angela Hewittborn 1958 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 66
Dang Thai Sonborn 1958 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 67
Ron Sexsmithborn 1964 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 68
David Clayton-Thomasborn 1941 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 69
Leon Redbone1949–2019 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 70
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Aldo Novaborn 1956 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 71
Jann Ardenborn 1962 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 72
Bruce Fairbairn1949–1999 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 73
Galt MacDermot1928–2018 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 74
Tom Jacksonborn 1948 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 75
Michael Brookborn 1952 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 76
Jesse Cookborn 1964 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 77
Hulda Regehr Clark1928–2009 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 78
Nivek Ogreborn 1962 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 79
Jon Vickers1926–2015 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 80
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Ian Tyson1933–2022 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 81
Kenny Wheeler1930–2014 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 82
Lawrence Gowanborn 1956 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 83
R. Murray Schafer1933–2021 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 84
Maud Allan1873–1956 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 85
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Teresa Stratasborn 1938 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 86
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Oliver Jones1934–2026 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 87
Ivan Doroschukborn 1957 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 88JVJim Vallanceborn 1952 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured—
- 89
Claude Vivier1948–1983 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 90
Colin Jamesborn 1964 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 91
Darwyn Cooke1962–2016 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 92
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Keith Scottborn 1954 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 93
Holly Coleborn 1963 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 94
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Bruce Palmer1946–2004 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 95
George London1920–1985 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 96
Maureen Forrester1930–2010 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 97
Les Stroudborn 1961 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 98
Jeff Dannaborn 1964 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 99
Jane Siberryborn 1955 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot measured— - 100
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Pat Traversborn 1954 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Musiciansnot 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.