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
  26. 26Helmut Schmidt1918-2015 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.4
  27. 27Friedrich Schiller1759-1805 · 18th century · Germany · Writers1.4
  28. 28Günter Grass1927-2015 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.4
  29. 29Karl Kraus1874-1936 · 20th century · Austria · Writers1.4
  30. 30George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models1.3
  31. 31Friedrich Engels1820-1895 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Academics1.3
  32. 32Martin Heidegger1889-1976 · 20th century · Germany · Academics1.3
  33. 33Hermann Hesse1877-1962 · 20th century · Switzerland · Writers1.3
  34. 34Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.3
  35. 35Theodor W. Adorno1903-1969 · 20th century · United States · Academics1.3
  36. 36Konrad Adenauer1876-1967 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians1.2
  37. 37Christa Wolf1929-2011 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  38. 38Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.2
  39. 39Karl May1842-1912 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  40. 40Theodor Fontane1819-1898 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  41. 41Albert Einstein1879-1955 · 20th century · Switzerland · Scientists1.1
  42. 42Richard Strauss1864-1949 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians1.1
  43. 43Johann Wolfgang von Goethe1749-1832 · 18th century · Writers1.1
  44. 44Anna Seghers1900-1983 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  45. 45Ernst Jünger1895-1998 · 20th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  46. 46Rudolf Steiner1861-1925 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers1.0
  47. 47Karl Barth1886-1968 · 20th century · Switzerland · Academics1.0
  48. 48Thomas Bernhard1931-1989 · 20th century · Austria · Writers1.0
  49. 49Georg Simmel1858-1918 · 19th century · Academics1.0
  50. 50Walter Ulbricht1893-1973 · 20th century · Politicians1.0
  51. 51Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers0.99
  52. 52William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists0.96
  53. 53Rosa Luxemburg1871-1919 · 20th century · Germany · Activists0.95
  54. 54Stefan George1868-1933 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.95
  55. 55Erich Honecker1912-1994 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.93
  56. 56Ingeborg Bachmann1926-1973 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.92
  57. 57Hugo von Hofmannsthal1874-1929 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.90
  58. 58Heinrich von Kleist1777-1811 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.90
  59. 59Stefan Zweig1881-1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.89
  60. 60Martin Buber1878-1965 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.88
  61. 61Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.88
  62. 62Johann Sebastian Bach1685-1750 · 18th century · Germany · Musicians0.87
  63. 63Rainer Maria Rilke1875-1926 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.86
  64. 64Robert Musil1880-1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.83
  65. 65Ernst Bloch1885-1977 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.83
  66. 66Klaus Mann1906-1949 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.83
  67. 67Gottfried Benn1886-1956 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.82
  68. 68Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.80
  69. 69Robert Schumann1810-1856 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.80
  70. 70Arnold Schoenberg1874-1951 · 20th century · Austria · Musicians0.80
  71. 71Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians0.79
  72. 72Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.79
  73. 73Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.78
  74. 74Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.77
  75. 75Theodor Heuss1884-1963 · 20th century · Germany · Journalists0.77
  76. 76Gerhart Hauptmann1862-1946 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.76
  77. 77Karl Jaspers1883-1969 · 20th century · Germany · Doctors0.76
  78. 78Joseph Goebbels1897-1945 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.75
  79. 79Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians0.74
  80. 80Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers0.73
  81. 81Max Frisch1911-1991 · 20th century · Switzerland · Writers0.69
  82. 82Johann Gottfried Herder1744-1803 · 18th century · Academics0.68
  83. 83Moses Mendelssohn1729-1786 · 18th century · Germany · Academics0.68
  84. 84Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.68
  85. 85Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.67
  86. 86Robert Koch1843-1910 · 19th century · Germany · Doctors0.67
  87. 87Ludwig Erhard1897-1977 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.66
  88. 88Peter Handkeborn 1942 · 20th century · Austria · Writers0.66
  89. 89Gottfried Keller1819-1890 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.65
  90. 90Georg Büchner1813-1837 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.65
  91. 91Arthur Schnitzler1862-1931 · 19th century · Austria · Writers0.65
  92. 92Joschka Fischerborn 1948 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.64
  93. 93Gustav Mahler1860-1911 · 19th century · Musicians0.64
  94. 94Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.64
  95. 95Erich Kästner1899-1974 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.63
  96. 96Pope Benedict XVI1927-2022 · 20th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.62
  97. 97Alfred Döblin1878-1957 · 20th century · Germany · Writers0.62
  98. 98Paul Klee1879-1940 · 20th century · Switzerland · Artists0.61
  99. 99Ernst Cassirer1874-1945 · 20th century · Germany · Academics0.61
  100. 100Hermann Göring1893-1946 · 20th century · Germany · Politicians0.61

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. 1Novak Djokovicborn 1987 · Serbia · Tennis Players1 decades
  2. 2Serena Williamsborn 1981 · United States · Tennis Players2 decades
  3. 3Rafael Nadalborn 1986 · Spain · Tennis Players2 decades
  4. 4Roger Federerborn 1981 · Switzerland · Tennis Players2 decades
  5. 5Jannik Sinnerborn 2001 · Italy · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  6. 6Naomi Osakaborn 1997 · Japan · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  7. 7Carlos Alcarazborn 2003 · Spain · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  8. 8Andre Agassiborn 1970 · United States · Tennis Players3 decades
  9. 9Venus Williamsborn 1980 · United States · Tennis Players2 decades
  10. 10Steffi Grafborn 1969 · Germany · Tennis Players4 decades
  11. 11Maria Sharapovaborn 1987 · Russia · Tennis Players2 decades
  12. 12Andy Murrayborn 1987 · United Kingdom · Tennis Players1 decades
  13. 13Anna Kournikovaborn 1981 · Russia · Tennis Players1 decades
  14. 14Aryna Sabalenkaborn 1998 · Belarus · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  15. 15Iga Świątekborn 2001 · Poland · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  16. 16Boris Beckerborn 1967 · Germany · Tennis Players4 decades
  17. 17Emma Raducanuborn 2002 · United Kingdom · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  18. 18Monica Selesborn 1973 · United States · Tennis Players2 decades
  19. 19Elena Rybakinaborn 1999 · Kazakhstan · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  20. 20Stan Wawrinkaborn 1985 · Switzerland · Tennis Players0 decades
  21. 21Pete Samprasborn 1971 · United States · Tennis Players3 decades
  22. 22Alexander Zverevborn 1997 · Germany · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  23. 23Coco Gauffborn 2004 · United States · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  24. 24Daniil Medvedevborn 1996 · Russia · Tennis Playersnot measured-
  25. 25Andy Roddickborn 1982 · United States · Tennis Players0 decades
Show 75 more

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.