215,950 profiles ranked

← 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. 1Jesus5 BC-30 · 1st century · Religious Figures30
  2. 2Aristotle384 BC-322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.1
  3. 3Plato428 BC-348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics7.1
  4. 4Homer900 BC-800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers7.1
  5. 5Augustus63 BC-14 · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Politicians4.9
  6. 6Johns Hopkins1795-1873 · 19th century · United States · Founders4.4
  7. 7Cicero106 BC-43 BC · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Politicians4.0
  8. 8George Washington1732-1799 · 18th century · United States · Politicians3.8
  9. 9Socrates470 BC-399 BC · 1st millennium BC · Brazil · Academics3.4
  10. 10Virgil70 BC-19 BC · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Writers3.3
  11. 11Abraham Lincoln1809-1865 · 19th century · United States · Politicians2.0
  12. 12Euclid333 BC-285 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics1.9
  13. 13Thomas Jefferson1743-1826 · 18th century · United States · Politicians1.6
  14. 14Ovid43 BC-17 · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Writers1.6
  15. 15Mark Twain1835-1910 · 19th century · United States · Writers1.5
  16. 16Plutarch40-120 · 1st century · Academics1.5
  17. 17Cleopatra69 BC-30 BC · 1st millennium BC · Egypt · Historical Figures1.4
  18. 18Theodore Roosevelt1858-1919 · 19th century · United States · Politicians1.4
  19. 19Woodrow Wilson1856-1924 · 19th century · United States · Politicians1.4
  20. 20William Henry1774-1836 · 19th century · Scientists1.3
  21. 21Benjamin Franklin1706-1790 · 18th century · United States · Politicians1.3
  22. 22Herodotus484 BC-425 BC · 1st millennium BC · Turkey · Writers1.3
  23. 23Charlemagne748-814 · 8th century · Historical Figures1.3
  24. 24Rembrandt1606-1669 · 17th century · Netherlands · Artists1.3
  25. 25Euripides480 BC-406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.2
Show 75 more

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 20th century, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Kunishige Kamamoto1944-2025 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  2. 2Kenji Honnamiborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  3. 3Takeshi Okadaborn 1956 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  4. 4Ruy Ramosborn 1957 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  5. 5Akira Nishinoborn 1955 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  6. 6Yasutaro Matsukiborn 1957 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  7. 7Kazuaki Nagasawaborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  8. 8Hiroshi Jofukuborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  9. 9Koji Tanaka1955-2026 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  10. 10Yasuhiko Okuderaborn 1952 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  11. 11Saburo Kawabuchiborn 1936 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  12. 12Tetsuji Hashirataniborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  13. 13Yukio Shimomuraborn 1932 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  14. 14Kozo Tashimaborn 1957 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  15. 15Takashi Mizunumaborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  16. 16Akihiro Nagashimaborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  17. 17Yahiro Kazamaborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  18. 18Yasuharu Sorimachiborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  19. 19Kazushi Kimuraborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  20. 20Masakuni Yamamotoborn 1958 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  21. 21Satoshi Tsunamiborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  22. 22Yutaka Ikeuchiborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  23. 23Koichi Hashirataniborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  24. 24Shu Kamoborn 1939 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  25. 25Dido Havenaarborn 1957 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  26. 26Kazuo Imanishi1941-2026 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  27. 27Hiromi Haraborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  28. 28Norio Sasakiborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  29. 29Musashi Mizushimaborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  30. 30Takayuki Fujikawa1962-2018 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  31. 31Shigetatsu Matsunagaborn 1962 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  32. 32Hisashi Katoborn 1956 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  33. 33Toshiya Miuraborn 1963 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  34. 34Ken Naganuma1930-2008 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  35. 35Nobuhiro Ishizakiborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  36. 36Ikuo Matsumotoborn 1941 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  37. 37Shunichiro Okano1931-2017 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  38. 38Takeshi Okiborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  39. 39Tetsuya Totsukaborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  40. 40Shinji Kobayashiborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  41. 41Nobutoshi Kanedaborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  42. 42Atsushi Uchiyamaborn 1959 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  43. 43George Yonashiroborn 1950 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  44. 44Takaji Mori1943-2011 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  45. 45Kenzo Yokoyamaborn 1943 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  46. 46Takashi Sekizukaborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  47. 47Toshinobu Katsuyaborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  48. 48Michel Miyazawaborn 1963 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  49. 49Keiichiro Nunoborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  50. 50Ryuichi Sugiyamaborn 1941 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  51. 51Jun Suzukiborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  52. 52Kiyoshi Okumaborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  53. 53Satoru Mochizukiborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  54. 54Kazuo Ozakiborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  55. 55Mitsuhisa Taguchi1955-2019 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  56. 56Eijun Kiyokumoborn 1950 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  57. 57Hiroshi Matsudaborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  58. 58Toru Kamikawaborn 1963 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  59. 59Toshiaki Imaiborn 1954 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  60. 60Takeshi Koshidaborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  61. 61Masakatsu Miyamoto1938-2002 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  62. 62Mitsunori Yoshidaborn 1962 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  63. 63Yasuhiro Higuchiborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  64. 64Toyoji Takahashi1915-1940 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  65. 65Yoshiyuki Katoborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  66. 66Teruki Miyamoto1940-2000 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  67. 67Masaaki Yanagishitaborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  68. 68Yoshikazu Nagaiborn 1952 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  69. 69Hidehiko Shimizuborn 1954 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  70. 70Taizo Kawamoto1914-1985 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  71. 71Ryoichi Kawakatsuborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  72. 72Masakazu Suzukiborn 1955 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  73. 73Tatsuya Mochizukiborn 1963 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  74. 74Kuniya Dainiborn 1944 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  75. 75Goro Yamada1894-1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  76. 76Masashi Watanabe1936-1995 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  77. 77Aritatsu Ogiborn 1942 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  78. 78Akira Matsunaga1914-1943 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  79. 79Hiroshi Ninomiyaborn 1937 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  80. 80Hiroshi Hayanoborn 1955 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  81. 81Takashi Kuwaharaborn 1948 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  82. 82Shigeo Yaegashi1933-2011 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  83. 83Midori Hondaborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  84. 84Hideki Maedaborn 1954 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  85. 85Kazuhiko Takemotoborn 1955 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  86. 86Ryuzo Hiraki1931-2009 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  87. 87Hiroshi Ochiaiborn 1946 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  88. 88Atsushi Natoriborn 1961 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  89. 89Hideki Matsunagaborn 1963 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  90. 90Teizo Takeuchi1908-1946 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  91. 91Shinichi Morishitaborn 1960 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  92. 92Akihiro Nishimuraborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  93. 93Shigeyoshi Suzuki1902-1971 · Japan · Footballers0 decades
  94. 94Naoki Kusunoseborn 1964 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  95. 95Hiroshi Yoshidaborn 1958 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  96. 96Shigemaru Takenokoshi1906-1980 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  97. 97Shigeharu Ueki1954-2024 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  98. 98Yoshinobu Ishii1939-2018 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  99. 99Mutsuhiko Nomuraborn 1940 · Japan · Footballersnot measured-
  100. 100Hiroshi Sowaborn 1956 · Japan · Footballersnot 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.