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. 1Neymarborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  2. 2Ronaldinhoborn 1980 · Brazil · Footballers3 decades
  3. 3Vinícius Júniorborn 2000 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  4. 4Kakáborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  5. 5Raphinhaborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  6. 6Casemiroborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  7. 7Philippe Coutinhoborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  8. 8Roberto Carlosborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  9. 9Ronaldoborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  10. 10Romárioborn 1966 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  11. 11Alisson Beckerborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  12. 12Thiago Silvaborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  13. 13Rivaldoborn 1972 · Brazil · Footballers2 decades
  14. 14Rodrygoborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  15. 15Daniel Alvesborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  16. 16Gabriel Jesusborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  17. 17Robinhoborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  18. 18Diego Costaborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  19. 19David Luizborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  20. 20Marcelo Vieiraborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  21. 21Roberto Firminoborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  22. 22Richarlisonborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  23. 23Antony dos Santosborn 2000 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  24. 24Thiago Mottaborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  25. 25Cafuborn 1970 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  26. 26Marquinhosborn 1994 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  27. 27Hulkborn 1986 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  28. 28Gabriel Martinelliborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  29. 29Oscarborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  30. 30Ederson Santana de Moraesborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  31. 31Endrickborn 2006 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  32. 32Willianborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  33. 33Filipe Luísborn 1985 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  34. 34Alexandre Patoborn 1989 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  35. 35Adrianoborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  36. 36Martaborn 1986 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  37. 37Lucas Paquetáborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  38. 38Bruno Guimarãesborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  39. 39Juninho Pernambucanoborn 1975 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  40. 40João Pedroborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  41. 41Daniloborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  42. 42Gabriel Magalhãesborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  43. 43Douglas Costaborn 1990 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  44. 44Douglas Luizborn 1998 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  45. 45Rafinhaborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  46. 46Éder Militãoborn 1998 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  47. 47Paulinhoborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  48. 48Lúcioborn 1978 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  49. 49Júlio Césarborn 1979 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  50. 50Arthur Meloborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  51. 51Fernandinhoborn 1985 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  52. 52Lucas Mouraborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  53. 53Didaborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  54. 54Igor Thiagoborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  55. 55Zé Robertoborn 1974 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  56. 56David Neresborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  57. 57Vágner Loveborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  58. 58Alex Sandroborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  59. 59Rogério Ceniborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  60. 60Gilberto Silvaborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  61. 61Maiconborn 1981 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  62. 62Felipe Meloborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  63. 63Fabinhoborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  64. 64Marcelinho Cariocaborn 1971 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  65. 65Luís Fabianoborn 1980 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  66. 66Leonardo Araújoborn 1969 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  67. 67Fredborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  68. 68Malcomborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  69. 69Emerson Palmieriborn 1994 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  70. 70Juliano Bellettiborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  71. 71Estevãoborn 2007 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  72. 72Matheus Nunesborn 1998 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  73. 73Denílson de Oliveiraborn 1977 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  74. 74Cláudio Taffarelborn 1966 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  75. 75Jôborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  76. 76Diego Ribas da Cunhaborn 1985 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  77. 77Edmundoborn 1971 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  78. 78Raíborn 1965 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  79. 79Luiz Gustavoborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  80. 80Juan Jesusborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  81. 81Aldairborn 1965 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  82. 82Matheus Cunhaborn 1999 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  83. 83Vitor Roqueborn 2005 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  84. 84Alex Tellesborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  85. 85Gabriel Barbosaborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  86. 86Lucas Leivaborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  87. 87Bremerborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  88. 88Gabriel Paulistaborn 1990 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  89. 89Douglas Santosborn 1994 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  90. 90Andrey Santosborn 2004 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  91. 91Savinhoborn 2004 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  92. 92Éderson José dos Santos Lourenço da Silvaborn 1999 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  93. 93Juninho Paulistaborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  94. 94Felipe Andersonborn 1993 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  95. 95Taliscaborn 1994 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  96. 96Alex de Souzaborn 1977 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  97. 97Emerson Sheikborn 1978 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  98. 98Mazinhoborn 1966 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  99. 99Everton Sousa Soaresborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  100. 100Renan Lodiborn 1998 · Brazil · 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.