215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time2000-2099

The 21st century

Whose names filled the books of the 21st 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 German books during the 21st century, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Thomas Mann1875-1955 · 20th century · United States · Writers8.5
  2. 2Max Weber1864-1920 · 19th century · Germany · Academics4.4
  3. 3Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers3.9
  4. 4Karl Marx1818-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Academics3.2
  5. 5Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers2.9
  6. 6Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures2.7
  7. 7Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians2.6
  8. 8Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians2.1
  9. 9Sigmund Freud1856-1939 · 19th century · Austria · Doctors2.0
  10. 10Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers1.9
  11. 11Willy Brandt1913-1992 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.9
  12. 12Walter Benjamin1892-1940 · 20th century · Academics1.9
  13. 13Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors1.9
  14. 14Friedrich Nietzsche1844-1900 · 19th century · Germany · Academics1.9
  15. 15Helmut Kohl1930-2017 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.8
  16. 16Gerhard Schröderborn 1944 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.8
  17. 17Hannah Arendt1906-1975 · 20th century · United States · Academics1.7
  18. 18Immanuel Kant1724-1804 · 18th century · Academics1.7
  19. 19Jürgen Habermas1929-2026 · 20th century · Germany · Academics1.7
  20. 20Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures1.6
  21. 21Heinrich Mann1871-1950 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  22. 22Carl Schmitt1888-1985 · 20th century · Germany · Academics1.5
  23. 23Bertolt Brecht1898-1956 · 20th century · Austria · Writers1.5
  24. 24Angela Merkelborn 1954 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.5
  25. 25Franz Kafka1883-1924 · 20th century · Czechia · Writers1.4
Show 75 more

Most read

Who people actually looked up in the 21st century, across every language edition we measure (2015-2026 only - readership is measured from July 2015).

  1. 1Donald Trumpborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians336.3M
  2. 2Elizabeth II1926-2022 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figures223.3M
  3. 3Cristiano Ronaldoborn 1985 · 21st century · Portugal · Footballers211.6M
  4. 4Elon Muskborn 1971 · 21st century · South Africa · Founders207.7M
  5. 5Lionel Messiborn 1987 · 21st century · Argentina · Footballers178.6M
  6. 6Vladimir Putinborn 1952 · 20th century · Russia · Politicians136.2M
  7. 7Joe Bidenborn 1942 · 20th century · United States · Politicians124M
  8. 8Freddie Mercury1946-1991 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Musicians122.9M
  9. 9Jeffrey Dahmer1960-1994 · 20th century · United States · Historical Figures120.3M
  10. 10Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians118.7M
  11. 11Taylor Swiftborn 1989 · 21st century · United States · Musicians117.8M
  12. 12Barack Obamaborn 1961 · 20th century · United States · Politicians115.9M
  13. 13Michael Jackson1958-2009 · 20th century · United States · Musicians114.4M
  14. 14Pablo Escobar1949-1993 · 20th century · Colombia · Politicians114.4M
  15. 15Kamala Harrisborn 1964 · 20th century · United States · Politicians113.6M
  16. 16Dwayne Johnsonborn 1972 · 21st century · Canada · Actors111M
  17. 17Queen Victoria1819-1901 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured105.6M
  18. 18Keanu Reevesborn 1964 · 20th century · Canada · Actors103.4M
  19. 19Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh1921-2021 · 20th century · United Kingdom102.1M
  20. 20Elvis Presley1935-1977 · 20th century · United States · Musicians99.6M
  21. 21Tom Cruiseborn 1962 · 20th century · United States · Actors99.4M
  22. 22LeBron Jamesborn 1984 · 21st century · United States · Basketball Players99.2M
  23. 23Jeffrey Epstein1953-2019 · 20th century · United States98.7M
  24. 24Michael Jordanborn 1963 · 20th century · United States · Basketball Players98.4M
  25. 25Ariana Grandeborn 1993 · 21st century · United States · Musicians98M
Show 75 more

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 21st century, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Michael Schumacherborn 1969 · Germany · Athletes3 decades
  2. 2Jürgen Kloppborn 1967 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  3. 3Thomas Müllerborn 1989 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  4. 4Diane Krugerborn 1976 · Germany · Actors0 decades
  5. 5Heidi Klumborn 1973 · Germany · Models2 decades
  6. 6Steffi Grafborn 1969 · Germany · Tennis Players4 decades
  7. 7Manuel Neuerborn 1986 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  8. 8Alice Weidelborn 1979 · Germany · Politicians1 decades
  9. 9Mesut Özilborn 1988 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  10. 10Miroslav Kloseborn 1978 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  11. 11Boris Beckerborn 1967 · Germany · Tennis Players4 decades
  12. 12Sebastian Vettelborn 1987 · Germany · Athletes1 decades
  13. 13Annalena Baerbockborn 1980 · Germany · Politicians0 decades
  14. 14Thomas Tuchelborn 1973 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  15. 15Kai Havertzborn 1999 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  16. 16Joshua Kimmichborn 1995 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  17. 17Toni Kroosborn 1990 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  18. 18Jamal Musialaborn 2003 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  19. 19Bastian Schweinsteigerborn 1984 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  20. 20Alexander Zverevborn 1997 · Germany · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  21. 21Antonio Rüdigerborn 1993 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  22. 22Lukas Podolskiborn 1985 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  23. 23Leroy Sanéborn 1996 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  24. 24Marc-André ter Stegenborn 1992 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  25. 25Julian Nagelsmannborn 1987 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  26. 26Florian Wirtzborn 2003 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  27. 27Dirk Nowitzkiborn 1978 · Germany · Basketball Players2 decades
  28. 28Michael Ballackborn 1976 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  29. 29Oliver Kahnborn 1969 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  30. 30Sahra Wagenknechtborn 1969 · Germany · Politicians3 decades
  31. 31Claudia Schifferborn 1970 · Germany · Models3 decades
  32. 32Nico Hülkenbergborn 1987 · Germany · Athletesnot measured-
  33. 33Deniz Undavborn 1996 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  34. 34Nico Rosbergborn 1985 · Germany · Athletes0 decades
  35. 35Daniel Brühlborn 1978 · Germany · Actors2 decades
  36. 36Mario Götzeborn 1992 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  37. 37Lena Meyer-Landrutborn 1991 · Germany · Musicians1 decades
  38. 38Mats Hummelsborn 1988 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  39. 39Laura Dahlmeier1993-2025 · Germany · Athletesnot measured-
  40. 40Franka Potenteborn 1974 · Germany · Actors2 decades
  41. 41Marco Reusborn 1989 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  42. 42İlkay Gündoğanborn 1990 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  43. 43Timo Wernerborn 1996 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  44. 44Jérôme Boatengborn 1988 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  45. 45Ralf Schumacherborn 1975 · Germany · Athletes1 decades
  46. 46Leon Goretzkaborn 1995 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  47. 47Helene Fischerborn 1984 · Germany · Musicians1 decades
  48. 48Sami Khediraborn 1987 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  49. 49Philipp Lahmborn 1983 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  50. 50Robert Habeckborn 1969 · Germany · Politicians0 decades
  51. 51Sibel Kekilliborn 1980 · Germany · Actors1 decades
  52. 52Serge Gnabryborn 1995 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  53. 53Kevin-Prince Boatengborn 1987 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  54. 54Per Mertesackerborn 1984 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  55. 55Sandra Hüllerborn 1978 · Germany · Actors1 decades
  56. 56Julian Draxlerborn 1993 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  57. 57Mick Schumacherborn 1999 · Germany · Athletesnot measured-
  58. 58Hakan Çalhanoğluborn 1994 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  59. 59Loris Kariusborn 1993 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  60. 60Christoph Kramerborn 1991 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  61. 61Jonathan Tahborn 1996 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  62. 62Mario Gómezborn 1985 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  63. 63Niclas Füllkrugborn 1993 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  64. 64Angelique Kerberborn 1988 · Germany · Tennis Players0 decades
  65. 65Markus Söderborn 1967 · Germany · Politicians2 decades
  66. 66Katarina Wittborn 1965 · Germany · Athletes4 decades
  67. 67Jens Lehmannborn 1969 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  68. 68Emre Canborn 1994 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  69. 69Hans-Dieter Flickborn 1965 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  70. 70André Schürrleborn 1990 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  71. 71Karl-Theodor zu Guttenbergborn 1971 · Germany · Politicians1 decades
  72. 72Nick Woltemadëborn 2002 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  73. 73Robert Enke1977-2009 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  74. 74Sead Kolašinacborn 1993 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  75. 75Niklas Süleborn 1995 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  76. 76Jan Ullrichborn 1973 · Germany · Athletes3 decades
  77. 77Nuri Şahinborn 1988 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  78. 78Kevin Trappborn 1990 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  79. 79Matthias Sammerborn 1967 · Germany · Footballers3 decades
  80. 80Zeddborn 1989 · Germany · Musicians1 decades
  81. 81Sarah Connorborn 1980 · Germany · Musiciansnot measured-
  82. 82Ramin Djawadiborn 1974 · Germany · Musiciansnot measured-
  83. 83Mehmet Schollborn 1970 · Germany · Footballers2 decades
  84. 84Felix Nmechaborn 2000 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  85. 85Dennis Schröderborn 1993 · Germany · Basketball Playersnot measured-
  86. 86Nico Schlotterbeckborn 1999 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  87. 87Bill Kaulitzborn 1989 · Germany · Musiciansnot measured-
  88. 88Julian Brandtborn 1996 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  89. 89Frauke Petryborn 1975 · Germany · Politicians1 decades
  90. 90Alexandra Maria Laraborn 1978 · Germany · Actors1 decades
  91. 91Thomas Hitzlspergerborn 1982 · Germany · Footballers1 decades
  92. 92Uwe Bollborn 1965 · Germany · Directorsnot measured-
  93. 93Robin Gosensborn 1994 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  94. 94Nadiem Amiriborn 1996 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  95. 95Julia Klöcknerborn 1972 · Germany · Politiciansnot measured-
  96. 96Pascal Großborn 1991 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  97. 97Anna Sorokinborn 1991 · Germany · Actorsnot measured-
  98. 98Éric Maxim Choupo-Motingborn 1989 · Germany · Footballersnot measured-
  99. 99Shkodran Mustafiborn 1992 · Germany · Footballers0 decades
  100. 100Nina Hossborn 1975 · Germany · Actors1 decades

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.