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
  26. 26Li Keqiang1955-2023 · 20th century · China · Politicians2.7
  27. 27Zhao Ziyang1919-2005 · 20th century · China · Politicians2.2
  28. 28Tsai Ing-wenborn 1956 · 20th century · Taiwan · Politicians1.8
  29. 29Li Peng1928-2019 · 20th century · China · Politicians1.8
  30. 30Sima Qian145 BC-86 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Writers1.7
  31. 31Jack Maborn 1964 · 20th century · China · Founders1.7
  32. 32Zhang Yimouborn 1950 · 20th century · China · Directors1.6
  33. 33Soong Ching-ling1893-1981 · 20th century · China · Politicians1.5
  34. 34Li Hongzhang1823-1901 · 19th century · China · Politicians1.5
  35. 35Zhu Xi1130-1200 · 12th century · China · Writers1.4
  36. 36Chen-ning Yang1922-2025 · 20th century · China · Scientists1.3
  37. 37Zhu Rongji1928-2026 · 20th century · China · Politicians1.3
  38. 38Cao Xueqin1724-1760 · 18th century · China · Writers1.2
  39. 39Qu Yuan343 BC-278 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Writers1.2
  40. 40Li Bai701-762 · 8th century · Writers1.2
  41. 41Dong Zhongshu179 BC-104 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians1.0
  42. 42Mozi470 BC-391 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics1.0
  43. 43Xun Kuang313 BC-230 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.99
  44. 44Koxinga1624-1662 · 17th century · Japan · Politicians0.99
  45. 45Zhuge Liang181-234 · 3rd century · China · Politicians0.98
  46. 46Mo Yanborn 1955 · 20th century · China · Writers0.93
  47. 47Li Si280 BC-208 BC · 1st millennium BC · China · Politicians0.90
  48. 48Hong Xiuquan1814-1864 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.90
  49. 49Bruce Lee1940-1973 · 20th century · United States · Actors0.88
  50. 50Zheng He1371-1433 · 15th century · China · Historical Figures0.87
  51. 51Tao Yuanming365-427 · 5th century · China · Writers0.87
  52. 52Wang Anshi1021-1086 · 11th century · China · Politicians0.87
  53. 53Hai Rui1514-1587 · 16th century0.86
  54. 54Du Fu712-770 · 8th century · China · Writers0.78
  55. 55Cao Cao155-220 · 2nd century · China · Politicians0.72
  56. 56Han Yu768-824 · 9th century · China · Writers0.69
  57. 57Wang Yiborn 1953 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.69
  58. 58Wang Yangming1472-1529 · 16th century · China · Academics0.65
  59. 59Lin Yutang1895-1976 · 20th century · China · Writers0.61
  60. 60Li Qiangborn 1959 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.59
  61. 61Ouyang Xiu1007-1072 · 11th century · China · Writers0.58
  62. 62Gu Yanwu1613-1682 · 17th century · Writers0.55
  63. 63Zeng Guofan1811-1872 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.54
  64. 64Su Shi1037-1101 · 11th century · China · Writers0.54
  65. 65Liu Zongyuan773-819 · 9th century · Writers0.52
  66. 66Emperor Wu of Han156 BC-87 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.51
  67. 67Wang Fuzhi1619-1692 · 17th century · China · Writers0.51
  68. 68Liu Bei161-223 · 2nd century0.49
  69. 69Huang Zongxi1610-1695 · 17th century · Academics0.49
  70. 70Wu Zetian624-705 · 7th century · China · Writers0.48
  71. 71Lin Tse-hsu1785-1850 · 19th century · Politicians0.48
  72. 72Li Zicheng1606-1645 · 17th century · China · Politicians0.47
  73. 73Wang Xizhi321-361 · 4th century · China · Artists0.45
  74. 74Liu Xiangborn 1983 · 21st century · China · Athletes0.45
  75. 75Yao Mingborn 1980 · 21st century · China · Basketball Players0.44
  76. 76Hongwu Emperor1328-1398 · 14th century · China · Historical Figures0.43
  77. 77Jia Yi200 BC-168 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.43
  78. 78Hua Guofeng1921-2008 · 20th century · China · Politicians0.43
  79. 79Pu Songling1640-1715 · 17th century · China · Writers0.42
  80. 80Tan Sitong1865-1898 · 19th century · China · Academics0.39
  81. 81Xu Xiake1587-1641 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.39
  82. 82Gui Youguang1506-1571 · 16th century · Politicians0.39
  83. 83Zhang Zhidong1837-1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.38
  84. 84Emperor Taizong of Tang598-649 · 7th century · China · Historical Figures0.35
  85. 85Pang De170-219 · 3rd century0.35
  86. 86Ma Huatengborn 1971 · 21st century · China · Founders0.34
  87. 87Kim Il-sung1912-1994 · 20th century · North Korea · Politicians0.33
  88. 88Wen Tianxiang1236-1283 · 13th century · Politicians0.31
  89. 89Li Naborn 1982 · 21st century · China · Tennis Players0.29
  90. 90Gao Xingjianborn 1940 · 20th century · China · Writers0.29
  91. 91Zengzi504 BC-435 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics0.29
  92. 92Liu Xiaobo1955-2017 · 20th century · China · Writers0.28
  93. 93Teresa Teng1953-1995 · 20th century · Taiwan · Musicians0.27
  94. 94Wang Chong27-97 · 1st century · Scientists0.27
  95. 95Zuo Zongtang1812-1885 · 19th century · China · Politicians0.26
  96. 96Bai Juyi772-846 · 9th century · China · Writers0.25
  97. 97Park Chung-hee1917-1979 · 20th century · South Korea · Politicians0.24
  98. 98Guan Zhong720 BC-645 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians0.24
  99. 99Xu Guangqi1562-1633 · 16th century · Politicians0.24
  100. 100Liu Jiang25-58 · 1st century0.23

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. 1Scarlett Johanssonborn 1984 · United States · Actors2 decades
  2. 2Leonardo DiCaprioborn 1974 · United States · Actors3 decades
  3. 3Tom Hollandborn 1996 · United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured-
  4. 4Angelina Jolieborn 1975 · United States · Actors2 decades
  5. 5Nicole Kidmanborn 1967 · Australia · Actors3 decades
  6. 6Charlize Theronborn 1975 · South Africa · Actors2 decades
  7. 7Zendayaborn 1996 · United States · Actors0 decades
  8. 8Jennifer Lawrenceborn 1990 · United States · Actors1 decades
  9. 9Matt Damonborn 1970 · United States · Actors3 decades
  10. 10Natalie Portmanborn 1981 · United States · Actors2 decades
  11. 11Dwayne Johnsonborn 1972 · Canada · Actors1 decades
  12. 12Chris Prattborn 1979 · United States · Actors0 decades
  13. 13Emma Watsonborn 1990 · United Kingdom · Actors1 decades
  14. 14Jennifer Anistonborn 1969 · United States · Actors2 decades
  15. 15Heath Ledger1979-2008 · Australia · Actors2 decades
  16. 16Pamela Andersonborn 1967 · Canada · Actors3 decades
  17. 17Ben Affleckborn 1972 · United States · Actors2 decades
  18. 18Bradley Cooperborn 1975 · United States · Actors1 decades
  19. 19Julia Robertsborn 1967 · United States · Actors3 decades
  20. 20Emma Stoneborn 1988 · United States · Actors1 decades
  21. 21Kim Kardashianborn 1980 · United States · Actors1 decades
  22. 22Cameron Diazborn 1972 · United States · Actors3 decades
  23. 23John Cenaborn 1977 · United States · Actors1 decades
  24. 24Kate Winsletborn 1975 · United Kingdom · Actors3 decades
  25. 25Andrew Garfieldborn 1983 · United Kingdom · Actors0 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.