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

  1. 1Jesus5 BC-30 · 1st century · Religious Figures102
  2. 2Aristotle384 BC-322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics13
  3. 3Plato428 BC-348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics11
  4. 4Socrates470 BC-399 BC · 1st millennium BC · Brazil · Academics6.5
  5. 5Homer900 BC-800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers5.4
  6. 6Cicero106 BC-43 BC · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Politicians4.2
  7. 7Augustus63 BC-14 · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Politicians4.1
  8. 8Johns Hopkins1795-1873 · 19th century · United States · Founders4.0
  9. 9Virgil70 BC-19 BC · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Writers3.3
  10. 10George Washington1732-1799 · 18th century · United States · Politicians3.0
  11. 11George W. Bushborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians2.2
  12. 12Ovid43 BC-17 · 1st millennium BC · Italy · Writers2.2
  13. 13Plutarch40-120 · 1st century · Academics1.9
  14. 14Thomas Jefferson1743-1826 · 18th century · United States · Politicians1.9
  15. 15Cleopatra69 BC-30 BC · 1st millennium BC · Egypt · Historical Figures1.9
  16. 16Abraham Lincoln1809-1865 · 19th century · United States · Politicians1.9
  17. 17Galen129-300 · 2nd century · Turkey · Doctors1.8
  18. 18Saddam Hussein1937-2006 · 20th century · Iraq · Politicians1.7
  19. 19Ronald Reagan1911-2004 · 20th century · United States · Politicians1.7
  20. 20Herodotus484 BC-425 BC · 1st millennium BC · Turkey · Writers1.6
  21. 21Origen185-254 · 3rd century · Egypt · Academics1.5
  22. 22John the Baptist6 BC-30 · 1st century · Israel · Religious Figures1.5
  23. 23Bill Clintonborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians1.5
  24. 24Adam Smith1723-1790 · 18th century · United Kingdom · Academics1.4
  25. 25Mark Twain1835-1910 · 19th century · United States · 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. 1Ange Postecoglouborn 1965 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  2. 2Tim Cahillborn 1979 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  3. 3Harry Kewellborn 1978 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  4. 4Mark Schwarzerborn 1972 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  5. 5Mark Vidukaborn 1975 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  6. 6Sam Kerrborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  7. 7Jackson Irvineborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  8. 8Nestor Irankundaborn 2006 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  9. 9Aaron Mooyborn 1990 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  10. 10Mathew Ryanborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  11. 11Daniel Arzaniborn 1999 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  12. 12Lucas Herringtonborn 2007 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  13. 13Steve Coricaborn 1973 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  14. 14Cristian Volpatoborn 2003 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  15. 15Mark Bosnichborn 1972 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  16. 16Aziz Behichborn 1990 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  17. 17Kevin Muscatborn 1973 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  18. 18Lucas Neillborn 1978 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  19. 19Ellie Carpenterborn 2000 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  20. 20Tony Popovicborn 1973 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  21. 21Mitchell Langerakborn 1988 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  22. 22Cameron Devlinborn 1998 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  23. 23Awer Mabilborn 1995 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  24. 24Massimo Luongoborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  25. 25Jordan Bosborn 2002 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  26. 26Alessandro Circatiborn 2003 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  27. 27Jamie Maclarenborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  28. 28Mathew Leckieborn 1991 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  29. 29Miloš Degenekborn 1994 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  30. 30Adam Taggartborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  31. 31Mile Jedinakborn 1984 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  32. 32Mitchell Dukeborn 1991 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  33. 33Tete Yengiborn 2000 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  34. 34Mark Milliganborn 1985 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  35. 35Ajdin Hrusticborn 1996 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  36. 36Archie Thompsonborn 1978 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  37. 37Jason Geriaborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  38. 38Josip Šimunićborn 1978 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  39. 39John Aloisiborn 1976 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  40. 40Joshua Cavalloborn 1999 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  41. 41Brett Emertonborn 1979 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  42. 42Caitlin Foordborn 1994 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  43. 43Zeljko Kalacborn 1972 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  44. 44Connor Metcalfeborn 1999 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  45. 45Paul Okon-Engstlerborn 2005 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  46. 46Patrick Beachborn 2003 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  47. 47Riley McGreeborn 1998 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  48. 48Mark Brescianoborn 1980 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  49. 49Aiden O'Neillborn 1998 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  50. 50Dimitri Petratosborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  51. 51Tony Dorigoborn 1965 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  52. 52Peter Cklamovskiborn 1978 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  53. 53Brad Jonesborn 1982 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  54. 54Kusini Yengiborn 1999 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  55. 55Craig Goodwinborn 1991 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  56. 56Garang Kuolborn 2004 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  57. 57Nishan Velupillayborn 2001 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  58. 58Dylan Tombides1994-2014 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  59. 59Chris Ikonomidisborn 1995 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  60. 60Tom Rogicborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  61. 61Mary Fowlerborn 2003 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  62. 62Dario Vidošićborn 1987 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  63. 63Aurelio Vidmarborn 1967 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  64. 64Stephanie Catleyborn 1994 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  65. 65Marco Tilioborn 2001 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  66. 66Bailey Wrightborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  67. 67Vince Grellaborn 1979 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  68. 68Jason Culinaborn 1980 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  69. 69Joshua Kennedyborn 1982 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  70. 70James Hollandborn 1989 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  71. 71Scott McDonaldborn 1983 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  72. 72Paul Okonborn 1972 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  73. 73Craig Mooreborn 1975 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  74. 74Saša Ognenovskiborn 1979 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  75. 75Luke Wilkshireborn 1981 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  76. 76Trent Sainsburyborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  77. 77Nikita Rukavytsyaborn 1987 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  78. 78Tommy Oarborn 1991 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  79. 79Joe Gauciborn 2000 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  80. 80Ned Zelicborn 1971 · Australia · Footballers0 decades
  81. 81Ryan McGowanborn 1989 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  82. 82Scott Chipperfieldborn 1975 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  83. 83Danny Vukovicborn 1985 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  84. 84Jacob Italianoborn 2001 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  85. 85Brad Smithborn 1994 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  86. 86Robbie Kruseborn 1988 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  87. 87Curtis Goodborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  88. 88Tomi Juricborn 1991 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  89. 89Patrick Kisnorboborn 1981 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  90. 90Alanna Kennedyborn 1995 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  91. 91Mustafa Aminiborn 1993 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  92. 92Hayley Rasoborn 1994 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  93. 93Stan Lazaridisborn 1972 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  94. 94Jason Davidsonborn 1991 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  95. 95Mile Sterjovskiborn 1979 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  96. 96James Troisiborn 1988 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  97. 97Brett Holmanborn 1984 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  98. 98Josip Skokoborn 1975 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  99. 99Andrew Nabboutborn 1992 · Australia · Footballersnot measured-
  100. 100Joey Didulicaborn 1977 · Australia · 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.