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 Chinese books during the 21st century, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Mao Zedong1893-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians114
  2. 2Deng Xiaoping1904-1997 · 20th century · China · Politicians61
  3. 3Lu Xun1881-1936 · 20th century · China · Writers36
  4. 4Jiang Zemin1926-2022 · 20th century · China · Politicians36
  5. 5Hu Jintaoborn 1942 · 20th century · China · Politicians30
  6. 6Zhou Enlai1898-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians26
  7. 7Confucius551 BC-479 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Academics19
  8. 8Sun Yat-sen1866-1925 · 20th century · China · Politicians18
  9. 9Chen Shui-bianborn 1950 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians13
  10. 10Liu Shaoqi1898-1969 · 20th century · China · Politicians13
  11. 11Xi Jinpingborn 1953 · 20th century · China · Politicians12
  12. 12Laozi579 BC-500 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics11
  13. 13Lee Teng-hui1923-2020 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians10.0
  14. 14Lee Kuan Yew1923-2015 · 20th century · Singapore · Politicians8.8
  15. 15Ma Ying-jeouborn 1950 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians8.5
  16. 16Wen Jiabaoborn 1942 · 20th century · China · Politicians8.1
  17. 17Lin Biao1907-1971 · 20th century · China · Politicians5.7
  18. 18Zhu De1886-1976 · 20th century · China · Politicians4.9
  19. 19Yuan Shikai1859-1916 · 19th century · China · Politicians4.6
  20. 20Jiang Qing1914-1991 · 20th century · China · Actors4.0
  21. 21Zhuang Zhou369 BC-288 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Academics3.9
  22. 22Gao Ming1305-1370 · 14th century · Writers3.6
  23. 23Kang Youwei1858-1927 · 19th century · China · Politicians3.6
  24. 24Chiang Ching-kuo1910-1988 · 20th century · China · Politicians2.9
  25. 25Yan Fu1854-1921 · 19th century · Writers2.8
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. 1Neymarborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  2. 2Ronaldinhoborn 1980 · Brazil · Footballers3 decades
  3. 3Vinícius Júniorborn 2000 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  4. 4Gisele Bündchenborn 1980 · Brazil · Models0 decades
  5. 5Kakáborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  6. 6Raphinhaborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  7. 7Morena Baccarinborn 1979 · Brazil · Actors0 decades
  8. 8Casemiroborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  9. 9Philippe Coutinhoborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  10. 10Roberto Carlosborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  11. 11Ronaldoborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  12. 12Romárioborn 1966 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  13. 13Alisson Beckerborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  14. 14Thiago Silvaborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  15. 15Adriana Limaborn 1981 · Brazil · Models0 decades
  16. 16Rivaldoborn 1972 · Brazil · Footballers2 decades
  17. 17Rodrygoborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  18. 18Daniel Alvesborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  19. 19Gabriel Jesusborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  20. 20Robinhoborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  21. 21Diego Costaborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  22. 22David Luizborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  23. 23Marcelo Vieiraborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  24. 24Roberto Firminoborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  25. 25Richarlisonborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  26. 26Antony dos Santosborn 2000 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  27. 27Melanie Martinezborn 1995 · Brazil · Musiciansnot measured-
  28. 28Thiago Mottaborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  29. 29Cafuborn 1970 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  30. 30Marquinhosborn 1994 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  31. 31Hulkborn 1986 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  32. 32Gabriel Martinelliborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  33. 33Eduardo Saverinborn 1982 · Brazil · Founders0 decades
  34. 34Oscarborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  35. 35Ederson Santana de Moraesborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  36. 36Endrickborn 2006 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  37. 37Willianborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  38. 38Filipe Luísborn 1985 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  39. 39Alexandre Patoborn 1989 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  40. 40Adrianoborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  41. 41Rubens Barrichelloborn 1972 · Brazil · Athletes0 decades
  42. 42Martaborn 1986 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  43. 43Flávio Bolsonaroborn 1981 · Brazil · Politiciansnot measured-
  44. 44Alessandra Ambrosioborn 1981 · Brazil · Models0 decades
  45. 45Lucas Paquetáborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  46. 46Bruno Guimarãesborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  47. 47Felipe Massaborn 1981 · Brazil · Athletes0 decades
  48. 48Juninho Pernambucanoborn 1975 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  49. 49João Pedroborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  50. 50Daniloborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  51. 51Rodrigo Santoroborn 1975 · Brazil · Actors0 decades
  52. 52Gabriel Magalhãesborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  53. 53Gustavo Kuertenborn 1976 · Brazil · Tennis Players0 decades
  54. 54Douglas Costaborn 1990 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  55. 55Douglas Luizborn 1998 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  56. 56Rafinhaborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  57. 57Éder Militãoborn 1998 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  58. 58Alice Bragaborn 1983 · Brazil · Actorsnot measured-
  59. 59Anittaborn 1993 · Brazil · Musiciansnot measured-
  60. 60Paulinhoborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  61. 61Wagner Mouraborn 1976 · Brazil · Actorsnot measured-
  62. 62Lúcioborn 1978 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  63. 63Júlio Césarborn 1979 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  64. 64Arthur Meloborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  65. 65Fernandinhoborn 1985 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  66. 66Lucas Mouraborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  67. 67Didaborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  68. 68Igor Thiagoborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  69. 69Zé Robertoborn 1974 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  70. 70David Neresborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  71. 71Vágner Loveborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  72. 72Alex Sandroborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  73. 73Rogério Ceniborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  74. 74Gilberto Silvaborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  75. 75Maiconborn 1981 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  76. 76Felipe Meloborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  77. 77Fabinhoborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  78. 78Marcelinho Cariocaborn 1971 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  79. 79Luís Fabianoborn 1980 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  80. 80Leonardo Araújoborn 1969 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  81. 81Marjorie Estianoborn 1982 · Brazil · Actorsnot measured-
  82. 82Fredborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  83. 83Malcomborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  84. 84Emerson Palmieriborn 1994 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  85. 85Anderson Silvaborn 1975 · Brazil · Athletesnot measured-
  86. 86Juliano Bellettiborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  87. 87Estevãoborn 2007 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  88. 88Matheus Nunesborn 1998 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  89. 89Denílson de Oliveiraborn 1977 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  90. 90Cláudio Taffarelborn 1966 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  91. 91Jôborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  92. 92Gabriel Bortoletoborn 2004 · Brazil · Athletesnot measured-
  93. 93Max Cavaleraborn 1969 · Brazil · Musiciansnot measured-
  94. 94Diego Ribas da Cunhaborn 1985 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  95. 95Nelson Piquet Jr.born 1985 · Brazil · Athletes0 decades
  96. 96Edmundoborn 1971 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  97. 97Raíborn 1965 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  98. 98Charles Oliveira Da Silvaborn 1989 · Brazil · Athletesnot measured-
  99. 99Luiz Gustavoborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  100. 100Alex Pereiraborn 1987 · Brazil · Actorsnot 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.