Here are the 50 most represented quotation authors here at WIST.
Aristotle
Bacon, Francis
Bierce, Ambrose
Billings, Josh
Butcher, Jim
Byron, George Gordon, Lord
Carlyle, Thomas
Chesterton, Gilbert Keith
Churchill, Winston
Cicero, Marcus Tullius
Dante Alighieri
Einstein, Albert
Eisenhower, Dwight David
Emerson, Ralph Waldo
Euripides
Franklin, Benjamin
Fuller, Thomas (1654)
Gaiman, Neil
Galbraith, John Kenneth
Goethe, Johann von
Heinlein, Robert A.
Hoffer, Eric
Huxley, Aldous
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Jefferson, Thomas
Johnson, Lyndon
Johnson, Samuel
Kennedy, John F.
King, Martin Luther
La Rochefoucauld, Francois
Lewis, C.S.
Lincoln, Abraham
Martial
McLaughlin, Mignon
Mencken, H. L.
Orwell, George
Pratchett, Terry
Rogers, Will
Roosevelt, Eleanor
Roosevelt, Theodore
Russell, Bertrand
Shakespeare, William
Shaw, George Bernard
Tolkien, J.R.R.
Twain, Mark
Virgil
Wilde, Oscar
~Sig
~~Admin
Here are the Top Ten authors, by quotation count.
- ~Other (515)
- Shakespeare, William (268)
- Emerson, Ralph Waldo (235)
- Franklin, Benjamin (185)
- Twain, Mark (184)
- Jefferson, Thomas (182)
- ~Sig (178)
- Johnson, Samuel (176)
- Lewis, C.S. (175)
- Roosevelt, Theodore (163)
The following are all of the authors currently quoted in WIST, with full descriptions. Click on the link at the end of each to go to the author’s page in WIST.
- Administrivia (~~Admin)
- (Other Authors and Sources) (~Other)
- Sig Lines (~Sig)
- Jacob Aagaard (b. 1973) Danish-Scottish chess grandmaster, author (Aagaard, Jacob)
- Ben Aaronovitch (b. 1964) British author (Aaronovitch, Ben)
- Chris Abani (b. 1966) Nigerian author. (Abani, Chris)
- Edward Abbey (1927-1989) American anarchist, writer, environmentalist (Abbey, Edward)
- George Abbott (1887-1995) American director, producer, dramatist (Abbott, George)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (b. 1947) American athlete [b. Lew Alcindor] (Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem)
- Peter Abelard (1079-1142) French philosopher, theologian, logician [Pierre Abélard] (Abelard, Peter)
- Hal Abelson (b. 1947) American mathematician, computer scientist, academic (Abelson, Hal)
- Abu Said ibn Abi 'I-Khayr (AD 967-1049) Persian Sufi mystic and poet [a.k.a., Abusa'id Abolkhayr, Abū-Sa'īd Abul-Khayr, Sheikh Abusaeid or Abu Sa'eed] (Abi 'I-Khayr, Abu Said)
- 'Ali ibn Abi-Talib (602-661) Fourth Caliph (Abi-Talib, Ali ibn)
- Daniel Abraham (b. 1969) American writer [pseud. James S. A. Corey (with Ty Franck), M. L. N. Hanover] (Abraham, Daniel)
- Morris B. Abram (1918-2000) American diplomat, civil rights lawyer (Abram, Morris B.)
- M. H. Abrams (1912-2015) American literary critic [Meyer (Mike) Howard Abrams] (Abrams, M. H.)
- Stacey Abrams (b. 1973) American politician, lawyer, activist (Abrams, Stacey)
- Daniel "Dannie" Abse (1923-2014) Welsh poet (Abse, Dannie)
- Bella Abzug (1920-1998) American politician (Abzug, Bella)
- Goodman Ace (1899-1982) American humorist [b. Goodman Aiskowitz] (Ace, Goodman)
- Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, critic [Albert Chinualumogu Achebe] (Achebe, Chinua)
- Dean Acheson (1893-1971) American statesman (Acheson, Dean)
- Diane Ackerman (b. 1948) American poet, author, naturalist (Ackerman, Diane)
- Russell L. Ackoff (1919-2009) American organizational theorist, consultant, management scientist (Ackoff, Russell)
- Peter Ackroyd (b. 1949) English biographer, novelist, critic (Ackroyd, Peter)
- John Dalberg, Lord Acton (1834-1902) British historian, politician, writer (Acton, John Dalberg (Lord))
- Thomas Adam (1701-1784) English clergyman and religious writer (Adam, Thomas)
- Abigail Adams (1744-1818) American correspondent, First Lady (1797-1801) (Adams, Abigail)
- Ansel Adams (1902-1984) American photographer and environmentalist (Adams, Ansel)
- Douglas Adams (1952-2001) English writer (Adams, Douglas)
- Franklin Pierce Adams (1881-1960) American journalist and humorist (Adams, Franklin P.)
- George Matthew Adams (1878-1962) American newspaper columnist, publisher (Adams, George Matthew)
- Gerry Adams (b. 1948) Northern Irish politician, statesman [Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh] (Adams, Gerry)
- Henry Adams (1838-1918) American journalist, historian, academic, novelist (Adams, Henry)
- James Luther Adams (1901-1994) American theologian (Adams, James Luther)
- John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801) (Adams, John)
- John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) US President (1825-29) (Adams, John Quincy)
- Phelps Adams (1902-1991) American journalist, executive (Adams, Phelps)
- Samuel Adams (1722-1803) American revolutionary, statesman (Adams, Samuel)
- Sarah Fuller Adams (1805-1848) English poet (nee Flower) (Adams, Sarah)
- Scott Adams (b. 1957) American cartoonist (Adams, Scott)
- Thomas Adams (1583–1653) English Calvinist clergyman and preacher (Adams, Thomas)
- Jane Addams (1860-1935) American reformer, suffragist, philosopher, author (Addams, Jane)
- Joseph Addison (1672-1719) English essayist, poet, statesman (Addison, Joseph)
- George Ade (1866-1944) American writer, newspaper columnist, playwright (Ade, George)
- Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) German politician (Adenauer, Konrad)
- Alfred Adler (1870-1937) Austrian psychologist (Adler, Alfred)
- Felix Adler (1851-1933) German-American educator (Adler, Felix)
- Kurt Herbert Adler (1905-1988) Austrian-American conductor, opera director (Adler, Kurt Herbert)
- Mortimer J. Adler (1902-2001) American philosopher, educator, author (Adler, Mortimer J.)
- Stella Adler (1901-1992) American actor and acting teacher (Adler, Stella)
- Aeschylus (525-456 BC) Greek dramatist (Æschylus) (Aeschylus)
- Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller (Aesop)
- Herbert Agar (1897-1980) American journalist and historian (Agar, Herbert)
- Agesilaus II (444-360 BC) King of Sparta [Agesilaos II] (Agesilaus II)
- Eden Ahbez (1909–1995) American songwriter (Ahbez, Eden)
- Howard Aiken (1900-1973) American mathematician (Aiken, Howard)
- Leo Aikman (1908-1978) American writer, newspaper editor, humorist (Aikman, Leo)
- Akhenaten (d. 1336 BC) King of Egypt (1353-36 BC), religious reformer [Akhenaton, Akhnaten, Amenhotep IV, Ikhn-aton] (Akhenaten)
- Akiva ben Joseph (AD c. 40 - c. 137) Jewish Rabbi, sage (Akiva)
- Alain (1868-1951) French philosopher, journalist, pacifist [pseud. for Émile-Auguste Chartier] (Alain)
- Edward Albee (1928-2016) American playwright (Albee, Edward)
- Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) Genoan Renaissance Man [also "Leone"] (Alberti, Leon Battista)
- Mitch Albom (b. 1958) American author, journalist, broadcaster, musician (Albom, Mitch)
- Martha Albrand (1914-1981) German-American author. [b. Heidi Huberta Freybe Loewengard; also wrote as Katrin Holland, Christine Lambert] (Albrand, Martha)
- Herm Albright (1876-1944) German-American artist (Albright, Herm)
- Amos Bronson Alcott (1799-1888) American transcendentalist, teacher, writer (Alcott, Amos Bronson)
- Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) American writer (Alcott, Louisa May)
- Alan Alda (b. 1936) American actor [b. Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo] (Alda, Alan)
- Richard Aldington (1892-1962) English writer and poet [b. Edward Godfree Aldington] (Aldington, Richard)
- Brian Aldiss (1925-2017) English writer, editor (Aldiss, Brian)
- Henry Aldrich (1647-1710) English theologian and philosopher (Aldrich, Henry)
- James Aldrich (1810-1856) American editor, poet (Aldrich, James)
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907) American writer, poet, critic, editor (Aldrich, Thomas Bailey)
- Sholem Aleichem (1859-1916) Russian-Jewish humorist [pseud. for Sholem Rabinowitz] (Aleichem, Sholem)
- Alexander II (1818-1881) Russian Czar (1867-81) (Alexander II)
- Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) Irish hymn-writer and poet [nee Humphreys] (Alexander, Cecil Frances)
- Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) American author (Alexander, Lloyd)
- Shana Alexander (1925-2005) American journalist (Alexander, Shana)
- Alfonso X (1221–1284) Spanish King of Castile and Leon (Alfonso X)
- Henry Alford (1810-1871) English churchman, scholar, poet, hymnodist (Alford, Henry)
- William Rounseville Alger (1822-1905) American writer, minister, translator (Alger, William)
- Nelson Algren (1909–1981) American writer [b. Nelson Ahlgren Abraham] (Algren, Nelson)
- Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) American boxer, activist [b. Cassius Clay] (Ali, Muhammad)
- Saul Alinsky (1909-1972) American community organizer, writer. (Alinsky, Saul)
- Elizabeth Chase Akers Allen (1832-1911) American author, journalist, poet (Allen, Elizabeth Chase)
- Ethan Allen (1738-1789) American businessman, land speculator, revolutionary, writer (Allen, Ethan)
- Fred Allen (1894-1956) American humorist [b. John Florence Sullivan] (Allen, Fred)
- Gracie Allen (1906-1964) American comedian (Allen, Gracie)
- Jay Presson Allen (1922-2006) American screenwriter, playwright (Allen, Jay Presson)
- Steve Allen (1922-2000) American composer, entertainer, and wit. (Allen, Steve)
- Woody Allen (b. 1935) American comedian, writer, director [b. Allan Steward Konigsberg] (Allen, Woody)
- Isabel Allende (b. 1942) Chilean-American writer (Allende, Isabel)
- Margery Allingham (1904-1966) English writer (Allingham, Margery)
- William Allingham (1824–1889) Irish poet, diarist (Allingham, William)
- Dorothy Allison (b. 1949) American writer and lesbian feminist (Allison, Dorothy)
- Gordon Allport (1897-1967) American psychology professor (Allport, Gordon)
- Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) Dutch-British painter (Alma-Tadema, Lawrence)
- Joseph R. Alsop, Jr. (1910-1989) American journalist (Alsop, Joseph R., Jr.,)
- Stewart Alsop (1914-1974) American newspaper columnist and political analyst (Alsop, Stewart)
- Eric Alterman (b. 1960) American historian, journalist, author (Alterman, Eric)
- Lisa Alther (b. 1944) American novelist (Alther, Lisa)
- Dennis Altman (b. 1943) Australian sociologist, activist (Altman, Dennis)
- Ambrose of Milan (339-397) Roman theologian, statesman, Christian prelate, saint, Doctor of the Church [Aurelius Ambrosius] (Ambrose of Milan)
- Bill Amend (b. 1962) American cartoonist (Amend, Bill)
- Oscar Ameringer (1870-1943) German-American political activist, Socialist organizer, author, politican (Ameringer, Oscar)
- Fisher Ames (1758-1808) American politician, orator (Ames, Fisher)
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881) Swiss philosopher, poet, critic (Amiel, Henri-Frédéric)
- Kingsley Amis (1922-1995) English poet, novelist, critic, lecturer (Amis, Kingsley)
- Tori Amos (b. 1963) American singer/songwriter [b. Myra Ellen Amos] (Amos, Tori)
- Anacharsis (fl. 6th C BC) Scythian traveler and philosopher (Anacharsis)
- Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875) Danish author (Anderson, Hans Christian)
- Margaret C. Anderson (1886-1973) American editor, memoirist (Anderson, Margaret)
- Maxwell Anderson (1888-1959) American playwright, author, poet, reporter, lyricist (Anderson, Maxwell)
- Poul Anderson (1926-2001) American writer (Anderson, Poul)
- Robert Anderson (1917-2009) American playwright, screenwriter, theater producer (Anderson, Robert)
- Walter Anderson (b. 1944) American journalist, editor, publisher (Anderson, Walter)
- Brian Andreas (b. 1956) American writer, artist, publisher [birth and pen name of Kai Andreas Skye](Andreas, Brian)
- Marc Andreessen (b. 1971) American software engineer, entrepreneur (Andreessen, Marc)
- Mario Andretti (b. 1940) Italian-American auto racer (Andretti, Mario)
- John A. Andrew (1818-1867) American lawyer, politician, abolitionist (Andrew, John A.)
- Lynn V. Andrews (b. 1940) American author, spiritualist, counselor (Andrews, Lynn V.)
- Maya Angelou (1928-2014) American poet, memoirist, activist [b. Marguerite Ann Johnson] (Angelou, Maya)
- Paul Anka (b. 1941) Canadian-American singer, songwriter, actor (Anka, Paul)
- Jean-Jacques Annaud (b. 1943) French film director, screenwriter, producer (Annaud, Jean-Jacques)
- Anne (b. 1950) British Princess Royal (Anne, Princess)
- Jean Anouilh (1910-1987) French dramatist (Anouilh, Jean)
- Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) British monk, theologian, archbishop, saint. (Anselm of Canterbury)
- F. Anstey (1856-1934) English novelist and journalist (pseud. of Thomas Anstey Guthrie) (Anstey, F.)
- Robert Anthony (contemp.) American psychologist, author (Anthony, Robert)
- Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) American reformer, aboltionist, sufferagist (Anthony, Susan B.)
- Antiphanes (c. 408-334 BC) Greek comic poet (Antiphanes)
- Antisthenes (c. 445 - c. 365 BC) Greek Cynic philosopher (Antisthenes)
- Minna Antrim (1861-1950) American epigrammatist, writer (Antrim, Minna)
- Apollonius of Tyana (c. AD 15-100) Greek philosopher and religious leader [Ἀπολλώνιος] (Apollonius of Tyana)
- Michael Apostolius (c. 1420 - c. 1480) Greek teacher, writer, copyist [Apostolius Paroemiographus, i.e., Apostolius the proverb-writer] (Apostolius, Michael)
- Joyce Appleby (1929-2016) American historian (Appleby, Joyce)
- Terri Apter (b. 1967) British psychologist, author (Apter, Terri)
- Apuleius (AD c. 124 - c. 170) Numidian Roman writer, philosopher, rhetorician [Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis] (Apuleius)
- Corazon Aquino (1933-2009) Filipino political leader [María Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino] (Aquino, Corazon)
- François Arago (1786-1853) French Catalan mathematician, physicist, astronomer, politician (Arago, Francois)
- Louis Aragon (1897–1982) French poet, novelist, publisher (Aragon, Louis)
- János Arany (1817-1882) Hungarian poet, writer, translator, journalist [John Arany] (Arany, Janos)
- Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (1887-1933) American silent film actor, comedian, director, screenwriter (Arbuckle, Fatty)
- John Arbuthnot (1667-1735) English physician (Arbuthnot, John)
- Glenn L. Archer, Jr. (1929-2011) American jurist (Archer, Glenn L.)
- Archilochus (c. 680-645 BC) Greek lyric poet and mercenary [Ἀρχίλοχος, Archilochos, Arkhilokhus] (Archilochus)
- Robert Ardrey (1908-1980) American playwright, screenwriter and science writer (Ardrey, Robert)
- Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist (Arendt, Hannah)
- Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533) Italian poet (Ariosto, Ludovico)
- Aristippus of Cyrene (c. 435 – c. 356 BC) Cyrenaic philosopher, Hedonist (Aristippus of Cyrene)
- Aristophanes (c. 450-c. 388 BC) Athenian comedic playwright (Aristophanes)
- Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher (Aristotle)
- Dick Armey (b. 1940) American politician, economist (Armey, Dick)
- Robert Armin (c.1568-1615) English comic actor, playwright (Armin, Robert)
- Richard Armour (1906-1989) American poet and author (Armour, Richard)
- Billie Joe Armstrong (b. 1972) American singer, songwriter, musician (Armstrong, Billie Joe)
- Charlotte Armstrong (1905-1969) American author [pseud. for Charlotte Armstrong Lewi, a.k.a. Jo Valentine] (Armstrong, Charlotte)
- James Armstrong (1924-2018) American Methodist bishop, educator, author [Arthur James Armstrong] (Armstrong, James)
- Karen Armstrong (b. 1944) British author, comparative religion scholar (Armstrong, Karen)
- Lance Armstrong (b. 1971) American road racing cyclist (Armstrong, Lance)
- Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong (1900-1971) American musician (Armstrong, Louis)
- Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) American astronaut, aviator, educator (Armstrong, Neil)
- Antoine Arnauld (1612-1694) French theologian, philosopher, mathematician (Arnauld, Antoine)
- Bettina Arndt (b. 1949) Australian sex therapist, journalist, clinical psychologist (Arndt, Bettina)
- Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) English poet and critic (Arnold, Matthew)
- William Arnot (1808-1875) Scottish minister and theological writer (Arnot, William)
- Antonin Artaud (1896-1948) French playwright, actor, director (Artaud, Antonin)
- Chester Alan Arthur (1829-1886) American attorney, politician, US President (1881-85) (Arthur, Chester A.)
- George Asaf (1880-1951) British songwriter (pseud. for George Henry Powell) (Asaf, George)
- Roger Ascham (1515-1568) English author and scholar (Ascham, Roger)
- Neal Ascherson (b. 1932) Scottish journalist and writer (Ascherson, Neal)
- Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001) American entrepreneur (Ash, Mary Kay)
- Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) American athlete (Ashe, Arthur)
- Colonel G. O. Ashley (d. 1997) American military pilot, instructor, journalist (Ashley, G. O.)
- Ashoka (c. 269-232 BC) Indian Buddhist emperor [Asoka, Piyadasi] (Ashoka)
- Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist (Asimov, Isaac)
- Margot Asquith (1864-1945) British socialite, author, wit [Emma Margaret Asquith, Countess Oxford and Asquith; Margot Oxford; née Tennant] (Asquith, Margot)
- Nancy Astor (1879-1964) American socialite and English politician [Nancy Witcher Langhorne; Viscountess Astor; Lady Astor] (Astor, Nancy)
- Athanasius (293-373) Bishop of Alexandria, theologian, saint (Athanasius)
- Gertrude Atherton (1857-1948) American author, essayist (Atherton, Gertrude)
- Diana Athill (1917-2019) British literary editor, novelist, memoirist (Athill, Diana)
- Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984) American drama critic and journalist (Atkinson, Brooks)
- Gordon Atkinson (contemp.) American minister, writer [a.k.a. Real Live Preacher] (Atkinson, Gordon)
- Rowan Atkinson (b. 1955) English actor, comedian, and screenwriter (Atkinson, Rowan)
- Scott Atran (b. 1952) American-French cultural anthropologist (Atran, Scott)
- A. A. Attanasio (b. 1951) American writer [Alfred Angelo Attanasio, a.k.a Adam Lee] (Attanasio, A. A.)
- Clement Attlee (1883-1967) English politician and Prime Minister (1945-51) (Attlee, Clement)
- Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) Canadian writer, literary critic, environmental activist (Atwood, Margaret)
- W. H. Auden (1907-1973) Anglo-American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden] (Auden, W. H.)
- Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882) German author (Auerbach, Berthold)
- Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus] (Augustine of Hippo)
- Augustus (63 BC - AD 14) Roman Emperor, statesman [Imperator Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus; b. Gaius Octavius] (Augustus)
- Chief Aupumut (fl. 18th C.) Mohican leader (also "Aupaumut"). (Aupumut, Chief)
- Jane Austen (1775-1817) English author (Austen, Jane)
- Alfred Austin (1835-1913) English poet, UK Poet Laureate (1896-1913) (Austin, Alfred)
- Bernard Avishai (b. 1949) Canadian-American writer, management consultant, political economist (Avishai, Bernard)
- Dan Aykroyd (b. 1952) Canadian comedian (Aykroyd, Dan)
- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) English mathematician, computer pioneer, philosopher (Babbage, Charles)
- Lauren Bacall (1924-2014) American actress, model [b. Betty Joan Perske] (Bacall, Lauren)
- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) German composer (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
- Richard Bach (b. 1936) American writer (Bach, Richard)
- Burt Bacharach (b. 1929) American songwriter (Bacharach, Burt)
- Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962) French philosopher. (Bachelard, Gaston)
- Isaac Backus (1724-1806) American clergyman and historian (Backus, Isaac)
- Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman (Bacon, Francis)
- Roger Bacon (c.1220-1292) English philosopher and scientist (Bacon, Roger)
- Joan Baez (b. 1941) American singer, political activist (Baez, Joan)
- Walter Bagehot (1826-1877) British businessman, essayist, journalist (Bagehot, Walter)
- Enid Bagnold (1889-1981) English writer (Bagnold, Enid)
- Joseph Bahya ibn Pakuda (fl. early 11th Century) Spanish Jewish jurist, rabbi, writer [also Bachya, Bach Ya, Bchya; Paquda, Bakuda] (Bahya ibn Pakuda, Joseph)
- Frederick Bailes (1889-1970) New Zealand-American author, religious leader, lecturer (Bailes, Frederick)
- F. Lee Bailey (1933-2021) American criminal lawyer, writer [Francis Lee Bailey, Jr.] (Bailey, F. Lee)
- James Ralph (J. R.) Bailey (1932-1980) American R&B singer and songwriter (Bailey, J. R.)
- Philip James Bailey (1816-1902) English poet, lawyer (Bailey, Philip James)
- Beryl Bainbridge (1932-2010) English novelist (Bainbridge, Beryl)
- James Baker III (b. 1930) American attorney, politician, political advisor (Baker, James)
- Russell Baker (1925-2019) American journalist, author, humorist (Baker, Russell)
- William J. Baker (contemp.) American historian, academic, writer (Baker, William J.)
- Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) Russian anarchist, political theorist (Bakunin, Mikhail)
- James Baldwin (1924-1987) American novelist, playwright, activist (Baldwin, James)
- Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947) British Conservative politician, Prime Minister (Baldwin, Stanley)
- Clara Lucas Balfour (1808-1878) English novelist, lecturer, temperance campaigner (Balfour, Clara)
- George W. Ball (1909-1994) American diplomat and banker (Ball, George W.)
- Ivern Ball (1926-1992) American writer, aphorist (Ball, Ivern)
- Lucille Ball (1911-1989) American actress, comedian, producer (Ball, Lucille)
- Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) French novelist, playwright (Balzac, Honoré de)
- Maria Bamford (b. 1970) American actress and stand-up comedian (Bamford, Maria)
- George Bancroft (1800-1891) American historian, statesman, education reformer (Bancroft, George)
- Malcolm Bane (contemp.) American Baptist minister (Bane, Malcolm)
- Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968) American actress (Bankhead, Tallulah)
- Iain Banks (1954-2013) Scottish author (Banks, Iaian)
- Russell Banks (b. 1940) American writer (Banks, Russell)
- Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) American naturalist, surveyor, almanac author, mathematician (Banneker, Benjamin)
- Anna Laetitia Barbauld (1743-1825) English woman of letters, educator, editor [née Aikin] (Barbauld, Anna)
- W. N. P. Barbellion (1889-1919) English diarist [William Nero Pilate Barbellion, pen name of Bruce Frederick Cummings] (Barbellion, W. N. P.)
- Henri Barbusse (1873-1935) French novelist, poet, journalist, activist (Barbusse, Henri)
- William Barclay (1907-1978) Scottish author, minister, academic (Barclay, William)
- Daniel Barenboim (b. 1942) Argentine-Israeli pianist and conductor (Barenboim, Daniel)
- Giuseppe Baretti (1719-1789) Italian-English literary critic and translator [a.k.a. Joseph Baretti] (Baretti, Giuseppe)
- Maurice Baring (1874-1945) English man of letters, writer, essayist, translator (Baring, Maurice)
- Charles Barkley (b. 1963) American basketball player (Barkley, Charles)
- Susan Barnes-Gelt (contemp.) American civic activist and poltician (Barnes-Gelt, Susan)
- Clive Barnes (1927-2008) Anglo-American journalist, critic, writer (Barnes, Clive)
- Richard J. Barnet (1929-2004) American scholar, writer, activist (Barnet, Richard)
- P.T. Barnum (1810-1891) American showman [Phineas Taylor Barnum] (Barnum, P.T.)
- Amelia E. Barr (1831-1919) British novelist and teacher. (Barr, Amelia E.)
- James Lee Barrett (1929-1989) American author, producer, screenwriter (Barrett, James Lee)
- J. M. Barrie (1860-1937) Scottish novelist and dramatist [James Matthew Barrie] (Barrie, James)
- Clarence Barron (1855-1928) American editor and publisher (Barron, Clarence)
- Frank X. Barron (1922-2002) American psychologist, philosopher, researcher (Barron, Frank X.)
- Sydney Biddle Barrows (b. 1952) American prostitute, writer [The Mayflower Madam, alias Sheila Devin] (Barrows, Sydney Biddle)
- Dave Barry (b. 1947) American humorist (Barry, Dave)
- Lynda Barry (b. 1956) American cartoonist, author, teacher (Barry, Lynda)
- Marion Barry (1936-2014) American politician (Barry, Marion S.)
- John Barrymore (1882-1942) American actor (Barrymore, John)
- Alan Barth (1906-1979) American journalist (Barth, Alan)
- John Barth (b. 1930) American writer (Barth, John)
- Joseph Nicholas Barth (1906-1988) Unitarian preacher, theologian (Barth, Joseph)
- Bruce Barton (1886-1967) American author, advertising executive, politician (Barton, Bruce)
- Bernard Baruch (1870-1965) American businessman and statesman (Baruch, Bernard)
- Mikhail Baryshnikov (b. 1948) Latvian-American dancer, choreographer, actor (Baryshnikov, Mikhail)
- Jacques Barzun (1907-2012) French-American historian, educator, polymath (Barzun, Jacques)
- John Bascom (1827-1911) American academic, rhetorician, writer (Bascom, John)
- Basil of Caesarea (AD 330-378) Christian bishop, theologian, monasticist, Doctor of the Church [Saint Basil the Great, Ἅγιος Βασίλειος ὁ Μέγας] (Basil of Caesarea)
- Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850) French philosopher, economist, politician (Bastiat, Frederic)
- Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929) American writer and poet (Bates, Katharine Lee)
- Tom Batiuk (b. 1947) American cartoonist (Batiuk, Tom)
- Orlando A. Battista (1917-1995) Canadian-American chemist, aphorist (Battista, Orlando A.)
- Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) French poet, essayist, art critic (Baudelaire, Charles)
- Bruce Baugh (b. 1965) American writer, game developer (Baugh, Bruce)
- L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) American author [Lyman Frank Baum] (Baum, L. Frank)
- Richard Baxter (1615-1691) English Puritan clergyman and writer (Baxter, Richard)
- Thomas Owen (T. O.) Beachcroft (1902-1988) English writer (Beachcroft, T. O.)
- Elias Root Beadle (1812-1879) American cleric, philosopher (Beadle, Elias Root)
- Elizabeth Bear (b. 1971) American author [pseud. for Sarah Bear Elizabeth Wishnevsky] (Bear, Elizabeth)
- Charles Beard (1874-1948) American historian (Beard, Charles)
- Henry N. Beard (b. 1945) American writer and humorist (Beard, Henry N.)
- James Beard (1903-1985) American gastronome and writer (Beard, James)
- Pakenham Beatty (1855-1930) English poet (Beatty, Pakenham)
- Warren Beatty (b. 1937) American actor (Beatty, Warren)
- Pierre Beaumarchais (1732-1799) French playwright, polymath [Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais] (Beaumarchais, Pierre)
- Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) French author, existentialist philosopher, feminist theorist (Beauvoir, Simone de)
- Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook (1879-1964) Anglo-Canadian business tycoon, publisher, politician, writer (Beaverbrook (Lord))
- Charlotte Joko Beck (1917-2011) American Zen teacher (Beck, Charlotte Joko)
- Carl L. Becker (1873-1945) American historian (Becker, Carl)
- Marty Beckerman (b. 1983) American alternative journalist, humorist, author (Beckerman, Marty)
- Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) American playwright (Beckett, Samuel)
- Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961) British conductor (Beecham, Thomas)
- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American clergyman and orator (Beecher, Henry Ward)
- Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) English parodist, caricaturist, wit, writer [Sir Henry Maximilian Beerbohm] (Beerbohm, Max)
- Brendan Behan (1923-1974) Irish poet, author, playwright (Behan, Brendan)
- S. N. Behrman (1893-1973) American playwright, screenwriter, biographer, writer [Samuel Nathaniel Behrman] (Behrman, S. N.)
- Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) Scottish-American scientist, inventor, engineer (Bell, Alexander Graham)
- Bernard Iddings Bell (1886-1958) American author, Episcopal priest, chaplain, academic, lecturer (Bell, Bernard Iddings)
- Clive Bell (1881-1964) English art critic (Bell, Clive)
- Daniel Bell (1919-2011) American sociologist, writer, editor, academic (Bell, Daniel)
- Melvin Belli (1907-1996) American lawyer (Belli, Melvin)
- Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953) Franco-British writer, historian [Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc] (Belloc, Hilaire)
- Saul Bellow (1915-2005) Canadian-American writer (Bellow, Saul)
- Edmund Beloin (1910-1992) American screenwriter, producer (Beloin, Edmund)
- Robert Benchley (1889-1945) American humorist (Benchley, Robert)
- Texas Bix Bender (contemp.) American cowboy philosopher, announcer, actor, writer [stage name for Steve Arwood] (Bender, Texas Bix)
- Ruth Benedict (1887-1947) American anthropologist (Benedict, Ruth)
- Ingrid Bengis (1944-2017) American writer, business person (Bengis, Ingrid)
- Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) German Jewish philosopher, cultural critic, essayist. (Benjamin, Walter)
- Tony Benn (1925-2014) British politician, writer, diarist (Benn, Tony)
- Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) English writer, novelist, journalist (Bennett, Arnold)
- James Gordon Bennett, Jr. (1841-1918) American editor, newspaper publisher (Bennett, James Gordon, Jr.)
- William J. Bennett (b. 1943) American politician, moralist (Bennett, William J.)
- Warren Bennis (1925-2014) American scholar, business consultant, author (Bennis, Warren)
- Jack Benny (1894-1974) American comedian [b. Benjamin Kubelsky] (Benny, Jack)
- Connie Bensley (b. 1929) British poet (Bensley, Connie)
- A. C. Benson (1862-1925) English writer [Arthur Christopher Benson] (Benson, A. C.)
- E. F. Benson (1867-1940) English novelist, biographer, memoirist and short story writer [Edward Frederic Benson] (Benson, E. F.)
- Herbert Benson (b. 1935) American doctor, cardiologist, mind-body researcher (Benson, Herbert)
- Margaret Benson (1865-1916) English author and Egyptologist (Benson, Margaret)
- Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) English jurist and philosopher (Bentham, Jeremy)
- Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev (1874-1948) Russian religious and political philosopher (Berdyaev, Nicholas)
- Bernard Berenson (1865-1959) Lithuanian-American art critic and historian (Berenson, Bernard)
- Candice Bergen (b. 1946) American actress (Bergen, Candice)
- Edgar Bergen (1903-1978) American actor, radio performer, ventriloquist (Bergen, Edgar)
- Henri-Louis Bergson (1859-1941) French philosopher (Bergson, Henri-Louis)
- George Berkeley (1685-1753) Irish philosopher, Anglican bishop (Berkeley, George)
- Milton Berle (1908-2002) American comic (Berle, Milton)
- Irving Berlin (1888-1989) American songwriter [b. Isidore Beilin] (Berlin, Irving)
- Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) French composer (Berlioz, Hector)
- Rick Berman (b. 1945) American screenwriter, producer (Berman, Rick)
- Bernard of Chartres (d. after 1124) French philosopher, scholar, administrator. [a.k.a. Bernardus Carnotensis] (Bernard of Chartres)
- Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) French religious, Doctor of the Church, saint (Bernard of Clairvaux)
- Claude Bernard (1813-1878) French physiologist, scientist (Bernard, Claude)
- Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) French actress (Bernhardt, Sarah)
- Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer, pianist (Bernstein, Leonard)
- Yogi Berra (1925-2015) American baseball player, coach, manager [b. Lawrence Peter Berra] (Berra, Yogi)
- Wendell Berry (b. 1934) American farmer, educator, poet, conservationist (Berry, Wendell)
- Annie Besant (1847-1933) English theosophist, Indian political leader [pseud. Ajax] (Besant, Annie)
- Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) English engineer and inventor (Bessemer, Henry)
- Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990) Austrian-American child psychologist, writer. (Bettelheim, Bruno)
- Ian Betteridge (contemp.) British technology journalist (Betteridge, Ian)
- Aneurin "Nye" Bevan (1897-1960) Welsh politician (Bevan, Nye)
- Jeff Bezos (b. 1964) American business magnate, entrepreneur, investor (Bezos, Jeff)
- Bias of Priene (fl. c. 650) Greek philosopher (Bias of Priene)
- Elizabeth Bibesco (1897-1945) Romanian-English writer (Bibesco, Elizabeth)
- The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals) (Bible, vol. 1, Old Testament)
- The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture (Bible, vol. 2, New Testament)
- Alexander M. Bickel (1924-1974) Romanian-American law professor, constitutional scholar (Bickel, Alexander)
- Georges Bidault (1899-1983) French politician, diplomat (Bidault, Georges)
- Joe Biden (b. 1942) American politician, US President (2021- ) [Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.] (Biden, Joe)
- Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist (Bierce, Ambrose)
- Stephen Biko (1946-1977) South African civil rights activist (Biko, Steve)
- Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw] (Billings, Josh)
- Arthur M. Binstead (1861-1914) English author, editor (Binstead, Arthur)
- Bion of Borysthenes (c. 325-c. 250 BC) Greek philosopher, cynic, wit (Bion)
- Brad Bird (b. 1957) American director, animator and screenwriter [Phillip Bradley Bird] (Bird, Brad)
- William Norman Birkett (1883-1962) British barrister, judge, politician, preacher [Lord Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett] (Birkett, Lord)
- Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) Prussian statesman (Bismarck, Otto von)
- Claude T. Bissell (1916-2000) Canadian author and educator (Bissell, Claude)
- Jacqueline Bisset (b. 1944) English actress. (Bisset, Jacqueline)
- Hugo Black (1886-1971) American politician and jurist, US Supreme Court Justice (1937-71) (Black, Hugo)
- Jeremiah S. Black (1810-1883) American statesman, jurist, lawyer (Black, Jeremiah S.)
- Lewis Black (b. 1948) American comedian (Black, Lewis)
- Thomas Blackburn (1916-1977) British poet. (Blackburn, Thomas)
- Harry Blackmun (1908-1999) US Supreme Court Associate Justice (1970-1994) [Harold Andrew Blackmun] (Blackmun, Harry)
- William Blackstone (1723-1780) British jurist, judge, politician (Blackstone, William)
- William Blake (1757-1827) English poet, mystic, artist (Blake, William)
- Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849) Irish novelist [Lady Blessington, b. Margaret Power] (Blessington, Marguerite)
- Anthony Bloom (1914-2003) English writer, Orthodox cleric [a.k.a. Anthony of Sourozh] (Bloom, Anthony)
- Roy Blount, Jr. (b. 1941) American writer, speaker, journalist, humorist (Blount, Roy Jr)
- Judy Blume (b. 1938) American writer (Blume, Judy)
- Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (1840-1922) English poet, critic, horse breeder (Blunt, Wilfred)
- Robert Bly (b. 1926) American poet, story teller, lecturer (Bly, Robert)
- Hart Bochner (b. 1956) Canadian actor, film director, screenwriter, producer (Bochner, Hart)
- Ivan Boesky (b. 1937) American investment banker, inside trader (Boesky, Ivan)
- William J. H. Boetcker (1873-1962) German-American religious leader, author, public speaker [William John Henry Boetcker](Boetcker, William J. H.)
- Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) American actor (Bogart, Humphrey)
- Niels Bohr (1885-1962) Danish physicist (Bohr, Niels)
- Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636-1711) French poet and critic (Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas)
- Derek Bok (b. 1930) American lawyer, educator (Bok, Derek)
- Laurence G. Boldt (b. 1954) American writer, philospher (Boldt, Laurence G.)
- Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678-1751) English politician, government official, political philosopher [Lord Bolingbroke] (Bolingbroke, Henry (Lord))
- Robert Bolt (1924-1995) English dramatist (Bolt, Robert)
- Sarah Knowles Bolton (1841-1916) American writer, poet, journalist, activist (Bolton, Sarah Knowles)
- Sarah T. Bolton (1814-1893) American poet, women's activist (née Sarah Tittle Barrett) (Bolton, Sarah T.)
- Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) American humorist (Bombeck, Erma)
- Margaret Wander Bonanno (1950-2021) American writer (Bonanno, Margaret Wander)
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) German Lutheran pastor, theologian, martyr (Bonhoeffer, Dietrich)
- Bono (b. 1960) Irish musician, philanthropist [b. Paul David Hewson] (Bono)
- Daniel Boone (c.1734-1820) American pioneer (Boone, Daniel)
- Louis E. Boone (1941-2005) American business writer (Boone, Louis E.)
- Andrew Boorde (c.1490-1549) English physician and writer (Boorde, Andrew)
- John Boorman (b. 1933) English film director, writer (Boorman, John)
- Daniel J. Boorstin (1914-2004) American historian, professor, attorney, writer (Boorstin, Daniel J.)
- William Booth (1829–1912), British evangelist, founder of the Salvation Army (Booth, William)
- William Edgar Borah (1865-1940) American attorney and politician (Borah, William Edgar)
- Wolfgang Borchert (1921-1947) German writer (Borchert, Wolfgang)
- Frank W. Boreham (1871-1959) Anglo-Australian preacher (Boreham, Frank W.)
- James H. Boren (1925-2010) American bureaucrat, humorist, speaker (Boren, James H.)
- Nathaniel Borenstein (b. 1957) American research scientist, programmer, writer (Borenstein, Nathaniel)
- Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) Argentine writer (Borges, Jorge Luis)
- Harold "Hal" Borland (1900-1978) American writer, journalist, naturalist (Borland, Hal)
- Max Born (1882-1970) German physicist (Born, Max)
- Ludwig Börne (1786-1837) German-Jewish political writer and satirist. [b. Loeb Baruch] (Börne, Ludwig)
- Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704) French bishop, theologian (Bossuet, Jacques-Benigne)
- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish clergyman (Boston, Thomas)
- James Boswell (1740-1795) Scottish biographer, diarist, lawyer (Boswell, James)
- Phyllis Bottome (1884-1963) British novelist and short story writer [mar. Phyllis Forbes Dennis] (Bottome, Phyliis)
- Alain Boublil (b. 1941) French musical theatre lyricist and librettist (Boublil, Alain)
- Chris Boucher (b. 1943) British TV screenwriter, script editor (Boucher, Chris)
- Dion Boucicault (1822-1890) Anglo-Irish dramatist, actor [Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot] (Boucicault, Dion)
- Alfred Bougeard (1815-1882) French writer (Bougeard, Alfred)
- Kenneth Ewart Boulding (1910-1993) American economist, educator, poet, philosopher (Boulding, Kenneth Ewart)
- Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018) American chef, author, travel documentarian (Bourdain, Anthony)
- Louis Bourdaloue (1632-1704) French Jesuit priest, preacher (Bourdaloue, Louis)
- Francis William Bourdillon (1852-1921) English poet (Bourdillon, Francis William)
- Paul Bourget (1852-1935) French critic, poet, novelist (Bourget, Paul)
- Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1922-2016) Egyptian politician, diplomat, UN Secretary-General (1992-1996) (Boutros-Ghali, Boutros)
- Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904) American epigrammatist, writer, publisher (Bovee, Christian Nestell)
- Marjorie Bowen (1885-1952) British writer [pseud. of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V[ere] Long née Campbell; a/k/a Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye, Margaret Campbell] (Bowan, Marjorie)
- Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) Irish author (Bowen, Elizabeth)
- Claude G. Bowers (1878-1958) American journalist, historian, diplomat (Bowers, Claude G.)
- John Bowlby 1907-1990) British psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst (Bowlby, John)
- George E. P. Box (1919-2013) Anglo-American statistician, quality scientist [George Edward Pelham Box] (Box, George E. P.)
- Gregory A. "Greg" Boyd (b. 1957) American evangelical pastor, Christian theologian, author. (Boyd, Greg)
- Kay Boyle (1902-1992) American author, educator, political activist (Boyle, Kay)
- Leigh Brackett (1915-1978) American writer (Brackett, Leigh)
- Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) American writer, futurist, fabulist (Bradbury, Ray)
- F. H. Bradley (1846-1924) British idealist philosopher [Francis Herbert Bradley] (Bradley, F. H.)
- Omar Bradley (1893-1981) American general (Bradley, Omar)
- Pat Brady (b. 1947) American cartoonist (Brady, Pat)
- Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) German composer and pianist (Brahms, Johannes)
- Harriet Braiker (1948-2004) Psychologist, consultant, author (Braiker, Harriet)
- Ernest Bramah (1868-1942) English author [Ernest Brammah Smith] (Bramah, Ernest)
- Louis Brandeis (1856-1941) American lawyer, activist, Supreme Court Justice (1916-39) (Brandeis, Louis)
- Nathaniel Branden (1930-2014) Canadian-American psychotherapist, writer (b. Nathan Blumenthal) (Branden, Nathaniel)
- Dick Brandon (contemp.) American computer scientist and writer (Brandon, Dick)
- Richard Branson (b. 1950) English business magnate, investor, philanthropist (Branson, Richard)
- Jacob M. Braude (1896-1970) American humorist, writer, jurist (Braude, Jacob M.)
- Robert Brault (b. c. 1945) American aphorist, programmer (Brault, Robert)
- Martha Elizabeth "Libba" Bray (b. 1964) American writer (Bray, Libba)
- Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist (Brecht, Bertholt)
- Robert "Bobbo" Bredt (contemp.) American physician (Bredt, Robert "Bobbo")
- Jacques Brel (1929-1978) Belgian singer, songwriter, actor (Brel, Jacques)
- Gerald Brenan (1894-1987) British writer and Hispanist [Edward FitzGerald Brenan] (Brenan, Gerald)
- Kingman Brewster, Jr. (1919-1988) American educator, diplomat (Brewster, Kingman)
- Fanny Brice (1891-1951) American singer, comedian (Brice, Fanny)
- Leslie Bricusse (b. 1931) English songwriter (Bricusse, Leslie)
- Susie Bright (b. 1958) American writer, performer, feminist [aka Susie Sexpert, Sue Daniels] (Bright, Susie)
- Marcus Brigstocke (b. 1973) English comedian, actor, satirist (Brigstocke, Marcus)
- Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) French lawyer, politician, epicure and gastronome (Brillat-Savarin, Anthelme)
- Ashleigh Brilliant (b. 1933) Anglo-American epigramist, aphorist, cartoonist (Brilliant, Ashleigh)
- David Brin (b. 1950) American scientist and author (Brin, David)
- David Brinkley (1920-2003) American broadcast journalist (Brinkley, David)
- Crane Brinton (1898-1968) (Brinton, Crane)
- Paul Broca (1824-1880) French pathologist, neurosurgeon, anthropologist (Broca, Paul)
- Martha Brockenbrough (b. 1970) American writer (Brockenbrough, Martha)
- Oscar Brodney (1905-2008) American screenwriter, lawyer (Brodney, Oscar)
- Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996) Russian-American poet, essayist, Nobel laureate, US Poet Laureate [Iosif Aleksandrovič Brodskij] (Brodsky, Joseph)
- Jacob Bronowski (1908-1974) Polish-English humanist and mathematician (Bronowski, Jacob)
- Anne Brontë (1820-1849) British novelist, poet [pseud. Acton Bell] (Bronte, Anne)
- Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) British novelist [pseud. Currer Bell] (Bronte, Charlotte)
- Emily Brontë (1818-1848) British novelist, poet [pseud. Ellis Bell] (Bronte, Emily)
- David Brooks (b. 1961) Canadian-American political and cultural commentator, writer (Brooks, David)
- Frederick P. Brooks, Jr. (b. 1931) American computer scientist, academician (Brooks, Frederick P.)
- Louise "Lulu" Brooks (1906-1985) American film actress, dancer, writer (Brooks, Louise)
- Mel Brooks (b. 1926) American comedic actor, writer, producer [b. Melvyn Kaminsky] (Brooks, Mel)
- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) American clergyman, hymnist (Brooks, Phillips)
- Richard Brooks (1912-1992) American screenwriter, film director, novelist (Brooks, Richard)
- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) English Puritan divine, writer (Brooks, Thomas)
- Brigid Brophy (1929-1995) Anglo-Irish writer, novelist, playwright (Brophy, Brigid)
- Joyce Brothers (1927-2013) American psychologist, television personality, advice columnist (Brothers, Joyce)
- Heywood Broun (1888-1939) American journalist, author (Broun, Heywood)
- Heywood Hale Broun (1918-2001) American author, sportswriter, actor (Broun, Heywood Hale)
- A. Whitney Brown (b. 1952) American comic actor, writer (Brown, A. Whitney)
- H. Jackson "Jack" Brown, Jr. (b. 1940) American writer (Brown, H. Jackson "Jack")
- James A. C. Brown (1911-1964) Scottish psychiatrist, author [James Alexander Campbell Brown] (Brown, James A. C.)
- Leslie Calvin "Les" Brown (b. 1945) American motivational speaker, author, politician (Brown, Les)
- Pamela Brown (1924-1989) British writer, actress, television producer (Brown, Pamela)
- Rita Mae Brown (b. 1944) American author, playwright (Brown, Rita Mae)
- Rosellen Brown (b. 1939) American author and teacher (Brown, Rosellen)
- Sam W. Brown, Jr. (b. 1943) American activist, academic, diplomat (Brown, Sam W.)
- Jackson Browne (b. 1948) American musician, songwriter, political activist (Browne, Jackson)
- Thomas Browne (1605-1682) English physician and author (Browne, Thomas)
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) English poet (Browning, Elizabeth Barrett)
- Robert Browning (1812-1889) English poet (Browning, Robert)
- Lenny Bruce (1925-1966) American comic (Bruce, Lenny)
- Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) Italian philosopher (Bruno, Giordano)
- Stephanie Brush (b. 1954) American humorist, columnist (Brush, Stephanie)
- Steven Brust (b. 1955) American writer, systems programmer (Brust, Steven)
- William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925) American lawyer, statesman, politician, orator (Bryan, William Jennings)
- William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) American poet and editor (Bryant, William Cullen)
- James Bryce (1838-1922) British politician, diplomat, jurist, historian (Bryce, James)
- Bill Bryson (b. 1951) American–British journalist and author. [William McGuire Bryson] (Bryson, Bill)
- Lyman L. Bryson (1888-1959) American academic, educator (Bryson, Lyman L.)
- Martin Buber (1878-1965) Austrian-born Jewish philosopher (Buber, Martin)
- John Buchan (1875-1940) Scottish novelist, poet, and politician; Governor-General of Canada (1935 -1940) (Buchan, John)
- Robert Williams Buchanan (1841–1901) Scottish writer (Buchanan, Robert)
- Karl Georg Büchner (1813-1837) German dramatist (Büchner, Karl Georg)
- Art Buchwald (1925-2007) American humorist, columnist (Buchwald, Art)
- Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) American writer (Buck, Pearl S.)
- Henry Thomas Buckle (1821-1862) English historian (Buckle, Henry T.)
- William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925-2008) American writer, editor (Buckley, William F.)
- Joseph S. Buckminster (1784-1812) American Unitarian preacher and Bible scholar (Buckminster, Joseph)
- Ronald L. Buckwalter (b. 1936) US District Court Judge (Buckwalter, Ronald L.)
- Buddha (c.563-483 BC) Indian mystic, philosopher [b. Siddharta Gautama] (Buddha)
- Frederick Buechner (b. 1926) American minister, author (Buechner, Frederick)
- Carl W. Buehner (1898-1974) German-American Mormon leader and politician (Buehner, Carl W.)
- Jimmy Buffett (1946-2023) American musician and singer-songwriter [James William Buffett] (Buffett, Jimmy)
- Warren Buffett (b. 1930) American investor and financier (Buffett, Warren)
- Lois McMaster Bujold (b. 1949) American author (Bujold, Lois McMaster)
- Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) German-American author, poet (Bukowski, Charles)
- Emma Bull (b. 1954) American writer (Bull, Emma)
- Christopher Bullock (1690?-1724) English actor and dramatist (Bullock, Christopher)
- Edward George Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) English novelist and politician (Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George)
- John Bumbry (contemp.) systems analyst (Bumbry, John)
- Chris Bunch (1943-2005) American novelist, television writer (Bunch, Chris)
- H. C. Bunner (1855-1896) American novelist and poet [Henry Cuyler Bunner] (Bunner, H. C.)
- John Bunyan (1628–1688) English Christian writer, preacher (Bunyan, John)
- Luther Burbank (1849-1926) American horticulturist (Burbank, Luther)
- Julie Burchill (b. 1959) English novelist, columnist, broadcaster (Burchill, Julie)
- Jacob Christoph Burckhardt (1818-1897) Swiss historian (Burckhardt, Jacob Christoph)
- Robert Jones Burdette (1844-1914) American humorist, lecturer, clergyman (Burdette, Robert J.)
- Warren Burger (1907-1995) American jurist, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1969-86) (Burger, Warren)
- Anthony Burgess (1917-1993) English novelist (Burgess, Anthony)
- Gelett Burgess (1866-1951) American humorist and illustrator (Burgess, Gelett)
- James Burgh (1714-1775) British politician and writer (Burgh, James)
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Anglo-Irish statesman, orator, philosopher (Burke, Edmund)
- Johnny Burke (1908-1964) American lyricist [John Francis Burke] (Burke, Johnny)
- Thomas Burke (1886-1945) British author (Burke, Thomas)
- Rich Burlew (b. 1974) American author, game designer, and graphic designer (Burlew, Rich)
- Frances Burnett (1849-1924) American writer [nee Hodgson] (Burnett, Frances)
- Frances Burney (1752-1840) English novelist, diarist, playwright [Fanny Burney, Madame d’Arblay] (Burney, Fanny)
- David M. Burns (contemp.) American medical professor, researcher (Burns, David M.)
- George Burns (1896-1996) American comedian (Burns, George)
- James MacGregor Burns (1918-2014) American political scientist, biographer (Burns, James MacGregor)
- Ken Burns (b. 1953) American filmmaker (Burns, Ken)
- Robert Burns (1759-1796) Scottish national poet (Burns, Robert)
- Stephen L. Burns (b. 1953) American author (Burns, Stephen L.)
- Augusten Burroughs (b. 1965) American writer (Burroughs, Augusten)
- Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) American writer (Burroughs, Edgar Rice)
- John Burroughs (1837-1921) American naturalist (Burroughs, John)
- Nat Burton (1901-1945) American songwriter (b. Nat Schwartz) (Burton, Nat)
- Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) British explorer and orientalist (Burton, Richard)
- Robert Burton (1577-1640) English scholar (Burton, Robert)
- Leo Buscaglia (1925-1998) American psychologist, writer (Buscaglia, Leo)
- George H. W. Bush (1924-2018) American politician, diplomat, US President (1989-1993) (Bush, George H. W.)
- George W. Bush (b. 1946) US President (2001-2009) (Bush, George W.)
- Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy (1618-1693) French soldier, libertine, writer [a.k.a. Roger Bussy-Rabutin] (Bussy-Rabutin, Roger)
- Jim Butcher (b. 1971) American author (Butcher, Jim)
- David Butler (b. 1924) British social scientist, psephologist (Butler, David)
- Judith Butler (b. 1956) American philosopher and gender theorist (Butler, Judith)
- Octavia Butler (1947-2006) American writer (Butler, Octavia)
- Samuel Butler (1835-1902) English novelist, satirist, scholar (Butler, Samuel)
- Samuel Butler (1612-1680) English poet, satirist, painter, philosopher [Hudibras Butler] (Butler, Samuel "Hudibras")
- William Butler (1838-1910) Irish British Army officer, writer, adventurer (Butler, William)
- Sir Herbert Butterfield (1900-1979) British historian, historiographer (Butterfield, Herbert)
- Stewart Butterfield (b. 1973) Canadian tech entrepreneur and businessman (Butterfield, Stewart)
- Red Buttons (1919-2006) American comic [b. Aaron Chwatt] (Buttons, Red)
- Charles Buxton (1823-1871) English brewer, philanthropist, writer, politician (Buxton, Charles)
- Sir Thomas Buxton (1786-1845) English philanthropist (Buxton, Thomas)
- Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) American aviator (Byrd, Richard E.)
- George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) English poet (Byron, George Gordon, Lord)
- James Branch Caball (1879-1958) American novelist and essayist (Caball, James Branch)
- Henry Joel Cadbury (1883-1974) American biblical scholar, Quaker historian, writer, activist (Cadbury, Henry)
- Cheryl Cain (contemp.) American television screenwriter (Cain, Cheryl)
- James M. Cain (1892-1977) American author and journalist (Cain, James M.)
- John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) American Vice President, politician, statesman (Calhoun, John C.)
- Bertha Calloway (1925-2017) American black historian, civil rights activist (Calloway, Bertha)
- Charles Stuart Calverley (1831-1884) English poet and parodist (Calverley, Charles Stuart)
- John Calvin (1509-1564) French theologian and reformer (Calvin, John)
- Sherri Chasin Calvo (contemp.) American computer scientist (Calvo, Sherri Chasin)
- Hélder Câmara (1909-1999) Brazilian Catholic Archbishop, social and political activist (Camara, Helder)
- James Cameron (b. 1954) Canadian film director, producer, screenwriter (Cameron, James)
- Julia Cameron (b. 1948) American teacher, author, filmmaker, journalist (Cameron, Julia)
- Simon Cameron (1799-1889) American businessman and politician (Cameron, Simon)
- Tommaso Campanella (1568-1639) Italian philosopher and monk (Campanella, Tommaso)
- Beatrice Campbell (1865-1940) English actress [Mrs. Patrick Campbell, née Beatrice Stella Tanner] (Campbell, Beatrice)
- David H. Campbell, Jr. (contemp.) American careers expert (Campbell, David H.)
- John W. Campbell (1910-1971) American writer and editor (Campbell, John W.)
- Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) American writer, professor of literature (Campbell, Joseph)
- Thomas Campbell (1777–1844) Scottish poet (Campbell, Thomas)
- Albert Camus (1913-1960) Algerian-French novelist, essayist, playwright (Camus, Albert)
- Elias Canetti (1905-1994) Bulgarian-British author (Canetti, Elias)
- George Canning (1770-1827) British stateman, politician, Prime Minister (Canning, George)
- Eddie Cantor (1892-1964) American comedian, dancer, singer, actor, songwriter [b. Isidore Itzkowitz] (Cantor, Eddie)
- Alphonse Capone (1899-1957) American gangster (Capone, Alphonse)
- Al Capp (1909-1979) American cartoonist and humorist [Alfred Gerald Caplin] (Capp, Al)
- Frank Capra 1897-1991) Italian-American film director, producer, writer [b. Francesco Rosario Capra] (Capra, Frank)
- Orson Scott Card (b. 1951) American author (Card, Orson Scott)
- Drew Carey (b. 1958) American comedian (Carey, Drew)
- George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian (Carlin, George)
- Marc Carlson (contemp.) American librarian, historian (Carlson, Marc)
- Jane Welsh Carlyle (1801-1866) Scottish letter-writer, wife of Thomas Carlyle [née Jane Baillie Welsh] (Carlyle, Jane)
- Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian (Carlyle, Thomas)
- Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) American industrialist and philanthropist (Carnegie, Andrew)
- Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) American writer, lecturer (Carnegie, Dale)
- Leslie Caron (b. 1931) French dancer and actress (Caron, Leslie)
- E. H. Carr (1892-1982) British historian, journalist, international relations theorist [Edward Hallett "Ted" Carr] (Carr, E. H.)
- Emily Carr (1871-1945) Canadian artist and writer (Carr, Emily)
- Jim Carrey (b. 1962) Canadian American actor, comedian, producer. (Carrey, Jim)
- Gail Carriger (b. 1976) American archaeologist, author [pen name of Tofa Borregaard] (Carriger, Gail)
- Jon Carroll (b. 1943) American journalist (Carroll, Jon)
- Jonathan Carroll (b. 1949) American writer (Carroll, Jonathan)
- Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) English writer and mathematician [pseud. of Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (Carroll, Lewis)
- Jasper Carrott (b. 1945) English comedian [b. Bob Davies] (Carrott, Jasper)
- Johnny Carson (1925-2005) American talk show host (Carson, Johnny)
- Rachel Carson (1907-1964) American marine biologist, author, conservationist (Carson, Rachel)
- Hodding Carter II (1907-1972) American journalist and author [William Hodding Carter II] (Carter, Hodding)
- Hodding Carter III (1935-2023) American journalist and politician [William Hodding Carter III] (Carter, Hodding III)
- Jimmy Carter (b. 1924) American politician, US President (1977-1981), Nobel laureate [James Earl Carter, Jr.] (Carter, Jimmy)
- Rosalynn Carter (b. 1927) American First Lady (1977-1981), and activist (Carter, Rosalynn)
- Andrew Cartmel (b. 1958) British author, journalist, screenwriter, editor (Cartmel, Andrew)
- Matt Cartmill (b. 1943) American biological anthropologist (Cartmill, Matt)
- George Washington Carver (1864?-1943) American chemist, educator (Carver, George Washington)
- James Carville (b. 1944) American political consultant (Carville, James)
- Pablo Casals (1876-1973) Spanish cellist, conductor, composer (Casals, Pablo)
- Giovanni Giacamo Casanova de Seingalt (1725-1798) Italian adventurer, libertine, autobiographer (Casanova, Giovanni)
- M. Kathleen Casey (contemp.) American sociologist (Casey, M. Kathleen)
- Jim Cash (1940-2000) American screenwriter (Cash, Jim)
- John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, author (Cash, Johnny)
- Billy Casper (1931-2015) American professional golfer (Casper, Billy)
- Cassius Longinus (c. 86-42 BC) Roman general and tyrannicide [Gaius Cassius Longinus](Cassius Longinus)
- Sebastian Castellio (1515-1563) Savoyard teacher, theologian, preacher [Sebastien Châtaillon] (Castellio, Sebastian)
- Carlos Casteneda (1931-1999) Peruvian-American writer, mystic, anthropologist (Casteneda, Carlos)
- Julián Castro (b. 1974) American politician and lawyer (Castro, Julian)
- Willa Cather (1873-1947) American author [Wilella Silbert Cather] (Cather, Willa)
- Catherine II (1762-1796) Russian empress [Catherine the Great; b. Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst] (Catherine II (the Great))
- Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Italian Catholic mystic, activist, author (Catherine of Siena)
- Catiline (108-62 BC) Roman politician [Lucius Sergius Catilina] (Catiline)
- Cato the Elder (234-149 BC) Roman politician and orator [Marcus Portius Cato] (Cato the Elder)
- Cato the Younger (95-46 BC) Roman politician, statesman, orator [Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, Cato Minor] (Cato the Younger)
- Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947) American women's suffrage activist (Catt, Carrie Chapman)
- Bruce Catton (1899-1978) American historian and journalist (Catton, Bruce)
- Catullus (c. 84 BC – c. 54 BC) Latin poet [Gaius Valerius Catullus] (Catullus)
- Dick Cavett (b. 1936) American writer and critic (Cavett, Dick)
- Camillo Benso, Conte di Cavour (1810-1861) Italian statesman (Cavour, Camillo Benso)
- William Caxton (c. 1422-c. 1491) English merchant, printer, bookseller, writer (Caxton, William)
- Bennett Cerf (1898-1971) American publisher, humorist (Cerf, Bennett)
- Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) Spanish novelist (Cervantes, Miguel de)
- Michael Chabon (b. 1963) American author (Chabon, MIchael)
- Zechariah Chafee, Jr. (1855-1987) American legal scholar, libertarian (Chafee, Jr., Zechariah)
- Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) Scottish minister, theologian, political economist, church leader (Chalmers, Thomas)
- Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) British politician, Prime Minster (1937-1940) (Chamberlain, Neville)
- Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) Scottish evangelist and teacher (Chambers, Oswald)
- Nicolas Chamfort (1741-1794) French writer, epigrammist (b. Nicolas-Sébastien Roch) (Chamfort, Nicolas)
- Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) American novelist (Chandler, Raymond)
- Coco Chanel (1883-1971) French dress designer [Gabrielle Chanel] (Chanel, Coco)
- Kenneth Chang (contemp.) American journalist (Chang, Kenneth)
- William E. Channing (1780-1842) American moralist, author, cleric, Unitarian theologian (Channing, William E.)
- Maurice Chapelain (1906-1992) French writer (Chapelain, Maurice)
- Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814-1880) American clergyman (Chapin, Edwin Hubbell)
- Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) English comic actor, film director, composer (Chaplin, Charlie)
- Ralph Chaplin (1887-1961) American writer, artist and labor activist (Chaplin, Ralph)
- Maria Weston Chapman (1806-1885) American abolitionist, editor (Chapman, Maria Weston)
- Raymond Chapman (1924-2013) English author, academic [pseud. Simon Nash] (Chapman, Raymond)
- Charles V (1500-1558) Holy Roman Emperor (Charles V)
- Pierre Charron (1541-1603) French Catholic theologian and philosopher (Charron, Pierre)
- Émile-Auguste Chartier (1868-1951) French philosopher, journalist, pacifist (a.k.a. Alain) (Chartier, Emile-August)
- Ilka Chase (1905-1978) American actress, writer (Chase, Ilka)
- Mary Chase (1906-1981) American journalist, playwright and screenwriter (Chase, Mary)
- François-René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848) French writer, politican, diplomat (Chateaubriand, Francois-Rene)
- Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) English poet, philosopher, astronomer, diplomat (Chaucer, Geoffrey)
- Susan Cheever (b. 1943) American writer, memoirist (Cheever, Susan)
- Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) Russian playwright and writer (Chekhov, Anton)
- Charles Chesnutt (1858-1932) American author, essayist, civil rights activist, lawyer (Chesnutt, Charles)
- Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope] (Chesterfield (Lord))
- Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) English journalist and writer (Chesterton, Gilbert Keith)
- Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972) French singer, actor, entertainer (Chevalier, Maurice)
- Francis Chichester (1901-1972) English aviator and sailor (Chichester, Francis)
- Julia Child (1912-2004) American chef and writer (Child, Julia)
- Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) American abolitionist, activist, journalist, suffragist (Child, Lydia Maria)
- William Chillingworth (1602-1644) English churchman and theologian (Chillingworth, William)
- Jacques Chirac (1932-2019) French politician, President of France (1995-2007) (Chirac, Jacques)
- Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) American politician, educator, author (Chisholm, Shirley)
- Joan D. Chittister (b. 1936) American Benedictine nun, author and lecturer (Chittister, Joan)
- Noam Chomsky (b. 1928) American linguist and activist (Chomsky, Noam)
- Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) Polish composer and pianist (Chopin, Frederic)
- Agatha Christie (1890-1976) English writer (Christie, Agatha)
- Theodor Christlieb (1833-1889) German theologian (Christlieb, Theodor)
- Chuang Tzu (369-286 BC) Chinese philosopher, co-founder of Taoism (Chuang Tzu)
- Francis Pharcellus Church (1839-1906) American publisher and editor (Church, Francis)
- Charles Churchill (1732-1764) English poet and satirist (Churchill, Charles)
- Jennie Jerome Spencer-Churchill (1854-1921) American-British socialite [Lady Randolph Churchill] (Churchill, Jennie)
- Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British statesman and author (Churchill, Winston)
- Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944) Italian diplomat [Gian Galeazzo Ciano, 2nd Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari] (Ciano, Galeazzo)
- John Ciardi (1916-1986) American poet, writer, critic (Ciardi, John)
- Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher (Cicero, Marcus Tullius)
- Emile Cioran (1911-1995) Romanian philosopher and essayist [E.M. Cioran] (Cioran, Emile)
- Francis Edward Clark (1851-1927) American clergyman (Clark, Francis Edward)
- Frank A. Clark (1911-1991) American writer (Clark, Frank A.)
- Fred Clark (Contemp.) American author, journalist (Clark, Fred)
- Kenneth Clark (1903-1983) British art historian, museum director, broadcaster (Clark, Kenneth)
- Mark Clark (Contemp.) (Clark, Mark)
- Ramsey Clark (1927-2021) American lawyer, bureaucrat, statesman (Clark, Ramsey)
- Tom C. Clark (1899-1977) American lawyer, US Attorney General, US Supreme Court Justice (1949-1967) (Clark, Tom C.)
- Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) British writer (Clarke, Arthur C.)
- James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888) American theologian and author (Clarke, James F.)
- John Clarke (d. 1658) British educator (Clarke, John)
- Susanna Clarke (b. 1949) British author (Clarke, Susanna)
- Claudian (c. AD 370-404) Greco-Latin poet [Claudius Claudianus; Κλαυδιανός] (Claudian)
- Tracy Clavin (contemp.) American educator (Clavin, Tracy)
- Henry Clay (1777-1853) American politician (Clay, Henry)
- William Clayton (contemp.) (Clayton, William)
- Leroy Eldridge Cleaver (1935-1998) American activist (Cleaver, Eldridge)
- Hervey Cleckley (1903-1984) American psychiatrist, academic (Cleckley, Hervey)
- John Cleese (b. 1939) English comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer (Cleese, John)
- Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929) French statesman, physician, journalist (Clemenceau, Georges)
- Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150 - c. 215 ) Christian theologian, philosopher, Church Father [Κλήμης ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς, Titus Flavius Clemens] (Clement of Alexandria)
- Cleobulus (6th C BC) Greek poet, sage [Kleoboulos] (Cleobulus)
- Grover Cleveland (1837–1908) American President (1885–1889, 1893–1897) (Cleveland, Grover)
- William Kingdon Clifford (1845-1879) English mathematician and philosopher (Clifford, William Kingdon)
- William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (b. 1946) American politician, US President (1993-2001) (Clinton, Bill)
- Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861) English poet (Clough, Arthur Hugh)
- Ronald Coase (1910-2013) British economist, academic, author (Coase, Ronald)
- Ta-Nehisi Coates (b. 1975) American writer, journalist, educator (Coates, Ta-Nehisi)
- Carolyn Coats (contemp.) American writer (Coats, Carolyn)
- William Cobbett (1763-1835) English politician, agriculturist, journalist, pamphleteer (Cobbett, William)
- Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) French writer, filmmaker, artist (Cocteau, Jean)
- Paulo Coelho (b. 1947) Brazilian spiritual writer (Coelho, Paulo)
- William Sloane Coffin, Jr. (1924-2006) American minister, social activist (Coffin, William Sloane)
- John Cogley (1916-1976) American religion journalist, editor (Cogley, John)
- Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, novelist (Cohen, Leonard)
- Edward Coke (1552-1634) English jurist, politician (Coke, Edward)
- Stephen Colbert (b. 1964) American political satirist, writer, comedian (Colbert, Stephen)
- Edwin L. Cole (1922-2002) American minister and writer (Cole, Edwin L.)
- Hartley Coleridge (1796-1849) English poet, biographer, essayist, teacher (Coleridge, Hartley)
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) English poet and critic (Coleridge, Samuel Taylor)
- Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954) French writer (Colette, Sidonie-Gabrielle)
- Jeremy Collier (1650-1726) English clergyman (Collier, Jeremy)
- Joan Collins (b. 1933) English actress, author (Collins, Joan)
- John Churton Collins (1848-1908) American literary academic (Collins, John Churton)
- Judy Collins (b. 1939) American folk singer, film maker (Collins, Judy)
- George Colman (1762-1836) English dramatist, writer [a.k.a. George Colman the Younger] (Colman, George (the Younger))
- Walter Colman (1600-1645) English Franciscan friar (Colman, Walter)
- Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780-1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist (Colton, Charles Caleb)
- Betty Comden (1917-2006) Actress, comedian, screenwriter, lyricist (Comden, Betty)
- David H. Comins (1930-2016) American real estate developer, insurance agent (Comins, David H.)
- Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998) American historian, writer, activist (Commager, Henry Steele)
- Ivy Compton-Burnett (1884-1969) English novelist (Compton-Burnett, Ivy)
- James Bryant Conant (1893-1978) American chemist, academic, diplomat (Conant, James)
- Confucius (c. 551- c. 479 BC) Chinese philosopher, sage, politician [孔夫子 (Kǒng Fūzǐ, K'ung Fu-tzu, K'ung Fu Tse), 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ, Chungni), 孔丘 (Kǒng Qiū, K'ung Ch'iu)] (Confucius)
- William Congreve (1670-1729) English dramatist (Congreve, William)
- Cyril Connolly (1903-1974) English intellectual, literary critic and writer. (Connolly, Cyril)
- Peter Connolly (1935-2012) British archaeologist, military historian (Connolly, Peter)
- Robert Conquest (b. 1917) Anglo-American historian, diplomat, poet (Conquest, Robert)
- Barnaby Conrad III (b. 1952) American author, artist, editor (Conrad, Barnaby III)
- Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) Polish-English novelist [b. Teodor Josef Konrad Korzeniowski] (Conrad, Joseph)
- Eliza Cook (1818-1889) English author and poet (Cook, Eliza)
- Glen Cook (b. 1944) American author (Cook, Glen)
- Alistair Cooke (1908-2004) Anglo-American essayist and journalist (Cooke, Alistair)
- Edmund Vance Cooke (1866-1932) Canadian poet (Cooke, Edmund Vance)
- Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929) American sociologist (Cooley, Charles)
- Mason Cooley (1927-2002) American aphorist, academic (Cooley, Mason)
- Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) American lawyer, politician, US President (1925-29) (Coolidge, Calvin)
- Susan Coolidge (1835-1905) American author [pseud. for Sarah Chauncey Woolsey] (Coolidge, Susan)
- Gene L. Coon (1924-1973) American screenwriter and television producer (Coon, Gene)
- James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) American novelist (Cooper, James Fenimore)
- William Taylor (Bill) Copeland (1797-1868) British politician (Copeland, William "Bill")
- Sophia Coppola (b. 1971) American actress, screenwriter, producer (Coppola, Sophia)
- James Corbett (1866-1933) Irish-American boxer [a.k.a. Gentleman Jim] (Corbett, James)
- Joel C. Corcoran (b. 1968) American technology attorney (Corcoran, Joel C.)
- James S. A. Corey (contemp.) American writer [pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck] (Corey, James S. A.)
- Roger J. Corless (1938–2007) Anglo-American religious academic, Buddhist scholar, ecumenicist (Corless, Roger)
- Pierre Corneille (1606-1684) French tragedian (Corneille, Pierre)
- Anne-Marie Bigot de Cornuel (1605-1694) French wit and aphorist (Cornuel, Anne-Marie)
- Bill Cosby (b. 1937) American comedian (Cosby, Bill)
- Lou Costello (1906-1959) American comedian (Costello, Lou)
- Pierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (1863-1937) French pedagogue, historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee (Coubertin, Pierre de)
- Edward Counsel (fl. 19th C) Australian author, composer (Counsel, Edward)
- Norman Cousins (1915-1990) American editor (Cousins, Norman)
- Stephen R. Covey (1932-2012) American consultant, author (Covey, Stephen R.)
- Alison Leigh Cowan (contemp.) American journalist (Cowan, Alison)
- Noël Coward (1899-1973) English playwright, actor, wit (Coward, Noël)
- Abraham Cowley (1618-1667) English poet and essayist (Cowley, Abraham)
- William Cowper (1731-1800) English poet (Cowper, William)
- Marcelene Cox (1900-1998) American writer, columnist, aphorist (Cox, Marcelene)
- George Crabbe (1754-1832) English poet, writer, surgeon, clergyman (Crabbe, George)
- Dinah Craik (1826-1887) English novelist and poet [b. Dinah Maria Mulock] (Craik, Dinah)
- Frank Crane (1861-1929) American clergyman, journalist (Crane, Frank)
- Stephen Crane (1871-1900) American writer, poet (Crane, Stephen)
- Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914) American poet (Crapsey, Adelaide)
- Joan Crawford (1908-1977) American actress (Crawford, Joan)
- Michael Crichton (1942-2008) American author, producer, director, and screenwriter (Crichton, Michael)
- Robert X. Cringely (contemp.) American technology columnist [pseud. for Mark Stephens and others] (Cringely, Robert X.)
- Quentin Crisp (1908-1999) English writer and raconteur [b. Denis Pratt] (Crisp, Quentin)
- Andrew Crockett (1943-2012) British banker, economist, author, public servant (Crockett, Andrew)
- David "Davy" Crockett (1786-1836) American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, politician (Crockett, Davy)
- Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) English soldier and statesman (Cromwell, Oliver)
- Thomas E. Cronin (b. 1940) American political scientist (Cronin, Thomas E.)
- Grace Noll Crowell (1877-1969) American poet (Crowell, Grace Noll)
- Crowfoot (1821-1890) Blackfoot warrior, statesman [Crow Big Foot] (Crowfoot)
- Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) English occultist, social critic (Crowley, Aleister)
- Richard Cumberland (1632-1718) English philosopher and cleric (Bishop of Peterborough) (Cumberland, Richard (1632))
- Richard Cumberland (1732-1811) English dramatist and civil servant. (Cumberland, Richard (1732))
- e e cummings (1894-1962) American poet and painter [Edward Estlin Cummings] (cummings, e e)
- Jerome Cummings (d. 1997) American Catholic priest (Cummings, Jerome)
- Ed Cunningham (contemp.) (Cunningham, Ed)
- J. V. Cunningham (1911-1985) American poet, literary critic, translator, teacher [James Vincent Cunningham] (Cunningham, J. V.)
- Lowell Cunningham (b. 1959) American writer (Cunningham, Lowell)
- Howard G. "Ward" Cunningham (b. 1949) American computer scientist (Cunningham, Ward)
- Mario Cuomo (1932-2015) American politician (Cuomo, Mario)
- Will Cuppy (1884-1949) American humorist, satirist, literary critic (Cuppy, Will)
- Suzanne Curchod (1739-1794) French-Swiss salonist and writer [a/k/a Madame Necker] (Curchod, Suzanne)
- Marie Curie (1867-1934) Polish-French physicist and chemist [b. Maria Salomea Skłodowska] (Curie, Marie)
- John Philpot Curran (1750-1817) Irish lawyer and politician (Curran, John Philpot)
- Charles P. Curtis (1891-1959) American attorney, legal scholar, author [Charles Pelham Curtis, Jr.] (Curtis, Charles P.)
- Cyrus Curtis (1850-1933) American publisher (Curtis, Cyrus)
- George William Curtis (1824-1892) American essayist, editor, reformer, orator (Curtis, George William)
- Richard Curtis (b. 1956) English screenwriter (Curtis, Richard)
- Astolphe-Louis-Léonor, Marquis de Custine (1790-1857) French aristocrat and writer (Custine (Marquis de))
- Harry Dacre (1857-1922) English songwriter [pseud. of Frank Dean] (Dacre, Harry)
- The Dalai Lama (b. 1935) Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader [The 14th Dalai Lama; a/k/a Lhama Thondup / Lhama Dhondrub; b. Tenzin Gyatso] (Dalai Lama, The)
- Theodore Dalrymple (b. 1949) English writer, journalist, psychiatrist [pen name for Anthony (A.M.) Daniels] (Dalrymple, Theodore)
- Bertha Damon (1881-1975) American humorist, author, lecturer, editor [Bertha Clark Pope Damon] (Damon, Bertha)
- Charles A. Dana (1819-1897) American journalist, publisher, author, government official (Dana, Charles)
- John Cotton Dana (1856-1929) American librarian (Dana, John Cotton)
- Dandamis (fl. 4th C BC) Indian philosopher [Dandi-Svami, Mandanes] (Dandamis)
- Rodney Dangerfield (1922-2004) American comedian, actor [b. Jacob Cohen] (Dangerfield, Rodney)
- Samuel Daniel (1562-1619) English poet, dramatist, historian (Daniel, Samuel)
- Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet (Dante Alighieri)
- Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) American lawyer (Darrow, Clarence)
- Charles Darwin (1809-1882) English naturalist (Darwin, Charles)
- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) English physician and poet (Darwin, Erasmus)
- Ram Dass (1931-2019) American spiritual teacher, psychologist [b. Richard Alpert] (Dass, Ram)
- William Davenant (1606-1668) English poet and playwright [a.k.a. William D'Avenant] (Davenant, William)
- Peter David (b. 1956) American writer (David, Peter)
- Joy Davidman (1915-1960) American poet; wife of C.S. Lewis [Joy Davidman Gresham] (Davidman, Joy)
- Robertson Davies (1913-1995) Canadian author, editor, publisher (Davies, Robertson)
- Bette Davis (1908-1989) American actor (Davis, Bette)
- Elmer Davis (1890-1958) American journalist and radio commentator (Davis, Elmer)
- Evan Davis (b. 1962) British economist and journalist (Davis, Evan)
- Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925-1990) American singer, dancer, actor, comedian (Davis, Jr, Sammy)
- Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) British chemist (Davy, Humphry)
- Richard Dawkins (b. 1941) English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, author (Dawkins, Richard)
- Christopher Dawson (1889-1970) English historian (Dawson, Christopher)
- Clarence Day (1874-1935) American author and cartoonist (Day, Clarence)
- Dorothy Day (1897-1980) American journalist, Catholic social activist (Day, Dorothy)
- Moshe Dayan (1915-1981) Israeli military leader and politician (Dayan, Moshe)
- Barbara De Angelis (b. 1951) American relationship consultant, lecturer, author (De Angelis, Barbara)
- Alain de Botton (b. 1969) Swiss-British author (De Botton, Alain)
- Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) French statesman and soldier (De Gaulle, Charles)
- Pierre-Marc-Gaston de Lévis (1764-1830) French noble, politician, author, aphorist (De Levis, Pierre-Marc-Gaston)
- Charles-Joseph Lamoral, Prince de Ligne (1735-1814) Belgian military leader, noble, writer [Karl Fürst von Ligne, Charles-Joseph de Ligne] (De Ligne, Charles-Joseph)
- Barthelemy de Ligt (1883-1938) Dutch anarcho-pacifist and antimilitarist (De Ligt, Bart)
- Anthony de Mello (1931-1987) Indian psychotherapist, writer, Jesuit priest (De Mello, Anthony)
- Agnes De Mille (1905-1993) American dancer, choreographer (De Mille, Agnes)
- Charles de Morny (1811-1865) French statesman [Charles Auguste Louis Joseph de Morny, 1st Duc de Morny] (De Morny, Charles)
- Alfred De Musset (1810-1857) French Romantic poet, playwright (De Musset, Alfred)
- Max De Pree (1924-2017) American businessman and writer (De Pree, Max)
- Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585) French poet (De Ronsard, Pierre)
- Donatien Alphonse François de Sade (1740-1814) French aristocrat, philosopher, writer, libertine [The Marquis de Sade] (De Sade (Marquis))
- Vittorio De Sica (1901-1974) Italian neorealist director and actor (De Sica, Vittorio)
- Germaine de Staël (1766-1817) Swiss-French writer, woman of letters, critic, salonist [Anne Louise Germaine de Staël-Holstein, Madame de Staël, Madame Necker] (De Stael, Germaine)
- Peter De Vries (1910-1993) American editor, novelist, satirist (De Vries, Peter)
- H. A. de Weerd (1902-1979) American military historian, author [Harvey Arthur de Weerd] (De Weerd, H. A.)
- Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean (1910-1974) American baseball pitcher (Dean, Dizzy)
- Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926) American union leader, activist, socialist, politician (Debs, Eugene V.)
- Daniel Defoe (1660?-1731) English journalist and novelist (Defoe, Daniel)
- Edgar Degas (1834-1917) French Impressionist artist [b. Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas] (Degas, Edgar)
- Ellen DeGeneres (b. 1958) American comedian, actress, writer, producer (DeGeneres, Ellen)
- Thomas Dekker (c. 1572-1632) English dramatist and pamphleteer (Dekker, Thomas)
- Steven S. DeKnight (b. 1964) American television screenwriter, producer (DeKnight, Steven S.)
- Eugène Delacroix (1799-1863) French painter [Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix] (Delacroix, Eugene)
- Bessie Delany (1891-1995) American writer, dentist [Annie Elizabeth Delany] (Delany, Bessie)
- Jose M. R. Delgado (1915-2011) Spanish-American neuropsychiatrist, researcher (Delgado, Jose M. R.)
- Jacques Delille (1738-1813) French poet, translator (Delille, Jacques)
- Giovanni della Casa (1503-1556) Florentine poet, author, diplomat, bishop (Della Casa, Giovanni)
- Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist (Deming, Barbara)
- W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993) American management consultant, educator (Deming, W. Edwards)
- Democritus (c. 460 BC - c. 370 BC) Greek philosopher (Democritus)
- Demosthenes (384-322 BC) Greek orator and statesman (Demosthenes)
- William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (1895-1983) American professional boxer ("Kid Blackie," "The Manassa Mauler") (Dempsey, Jack)
- Steven Den Beste (d. 2016) American essayist, engineer (Den Beste, Steven)
- Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) Chinese revolutionary, politician, statesman [Teng Hsiao-p'ing] (Deng Xiaoping)
- John Denham (1615-1668) English poet and dramatist (Denham, John)
- David Denotaris (contemp.) American motivational speaker (Denotaris, David)
- Alan M. Dershowitz (b. 1938) American lawyer, jurist, political commentator (Dershowitz, Alan)
- René Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher, mathematician (Descartes, René)
- Philippe Destouches (1680-1754) French playwright [b. Philippe Nericault] (Destouches, Philippe)
- Jacques Deval (1895-1972) French playwright and director [pseud. of Jacques Boularan] (Deval, Jacques)
- John Dewey (1859-1952) American teacher and philosopher (Dewey, John)
- Jared Diamond (b. 1937) American geographer, historian, ornithologist, author (Diamond, Jared)
- Robin DiAngelo (b. 1956) American academic, lecturer, author (DiAngelo, Robin)
- Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) American writer (Dick, Philip K.)
- Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic (Dickens, Charles)
- Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet (Dickinson, Emily)
- John Dickinson (1732-1808) American solicitor, politician, writer (Dickinson, John)
- G. Lowes Dickinson (1862-1932) British political scientist and philosopher [Goldsworthy "Goldie" Lowes Dickinson] (Dickinson, Lowes)
- Terrance Dicks (1935-2019) English screenwriter, author [pseud. Robin Bland] (Dicks, Terrance)
- Denis Diderot (1713-1784) French editor, philosopher (Diderot, Denis)
- Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) German-American actress, singer (Dietrich, Marlene)
- Annie Dillard (b. 1945) American author (Dillard, Annie)
- Phyllis Diller (1917-2012) American comedian, actor, author, musician (Diller, Phyllis)
- Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999) American baseball player [b. Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper"] (DiMaggio, Joe)
- Dinarchus (c. 361-291 BC) Greek orator and speech writer [Dinarch, Deinarchus, Δείναρχος] (Dinarchus)
- Isak Dinesen (1885-1962) Danish writer [pseud. of Karen Christence, Countess Blixen] (Dinesen, Isak)
- David N. Dinkins (1927-2020) American politician, lawyer, author (Dinkins, David N.)
- Diogenes of Sinope (412 or 404-323BC) Greek Cynic philosopher (Diogenes)
- E. J. Dionne, Jr. (b. 1952) American journalist and political commentator [Eugene Joseph Dionne, Jr.] (Dionne, E. J.)
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus (c. 60 BC–after 7 BC) Greek historian and rhetoritician (Dionysius of Halicasrnassus)
- Paul Dirac (1902-1984) physicist (Dirac, Paul)
- Michael Dirda (b. 1948) American book critic (Dirda, Michael)
- Everett Dirksen (1896-1969) American politician (Dirksen, Everett)
- Walt Disney (1901-1966) American entrepreneur, animator, film producer, showman (Disney, Walt)
- Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) English politician and author (Disraeli, Benjamin)
- Lawrence G. "Larry" DiTillio (1948-2019) American TV and film screenwriter (DiTillio, Larry)
- Norman F. Dixon (1922-2013) British cognitive psychologist, author, military engineer (Dixon, Norman F.)
- Cory Doctorow (b. 1971) Canadian-British blogger, journalist, activist, author (Doctorow, Cory)
- E. L. Doctorow (1931-2015) American author, editor (Doctorow, E. L.)
- C. Harold Dodd (1884-1973) American religious writer (Dodd, C. Harold)
- Edward Dolnick (b. 1952) American writer (Dolnick, Edward)
- Domitian (51-96) Roman Emperor (Domitian)
- Frederick Lewis Donaldson (1860-1953) English Anglican priest and social activist (Donaldson, Frederick Lewis)
- J. P. Donleavy (1926-2017) Irish-American novelist and playwright. [John Patrick Donleavy] (Donleavy, J. P.)
- John Donne (1572-1631) English poet (Donne, John)
- Leonard W. Doob (1909-2000) American psychologist, academic, author (Doob, Leonard W.)
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) Russian novelist (Dostoyevsky, Fyodor)
- Mark Doty (b. 1953) American poet and memoirist (Doty, Mark)
- Kirk Douglas (1916-2020) American actor (Douglas, Kirk)
- Lloyd Douglas (1877-1951) American Congregationalist clergyman and novelist (Douglas, Lloyd)
- Norman Douglas (1868-1952) Austro-British writer (Douglas, Norman)
- Tommy Douglas (1904-1986) Scottish-Canadian politician [Thomas Clement Douglas] (Douglas, Tommy)
- William O. Douglas (1898-1980) US Supreme Court justice (1939-75) (Douglas, William O.)
- Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) American abolitionist, orator, writer (Douglass, Frederick)
- James W. "Jim" Douglass (b. 1937) American author, activist, Christian theologian (Douglass, James W.)
- Edward Dowling (1898-1960) American Jesuit priest ["Father Ed"] (Dowling, Edward)
- William Scott Downey (fl. 19th C) American baptist missionary, aphorist (Downey, William Scott)
- Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician (Doyle, Arthur Conan)
- Roddy Doyle (b. 1958) Irish novelist, dramatist, screenwriter (Doyle, Roddy)
- Francis Drake (c. 1540-1596) English explorer, sea captain, politician (Drake, Francis)
- Thomas Draxe (d. 1618) English writer [also Thomas Drake] (Draxe, Thomas)
- Rosalyn Drexler (b. 1926) American visual artist, novelist, playwright, screenwriter [pseud. Julia Sorel] (Drexler, Rosalyn)
- Tom Driberg (1905-1976) British journalist and politician (Driberg, Tom)
- John Drinkwater (1882-1937) English poet and dramatist (Drinkwater, John)
- Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005) Austrian-American business consultant (Drucker, Peter F.)
- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish cleric, naturalist (Drummond, Henry)
- Thomas Drummond (1797-1840) Scottish army officer, civil engineer, public official. (Drummond, Thomas)
- Sir William Drummond (1770-1828) Scottish scholar and philosopher (Drummond, William)
- John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic (Dryden, John)
- W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) American writer, historian, social reformer [William Edward Burghardt Du Bois] (Du Bois, W.E.B.)
- Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, Marquise du Deffand (1697-1780) French hostess and patron of the arts [Madame du Deffand]. (Du Deffand, Marie)
- Thomas Dubay (1921-2020) American Catholic priest, author, spiritual director (Dubay, Thomas)
- Jean-Antoine Dubois (1765-1848) French Catholic missionary in India [Abbe J. A. Dubois] (Dubois, Jean-Antoine)
- Willam Archer DuBose (1836-1918) American theologian (DuBose, Willam Archer)
- John Foster Dulles (1888-1959) American politician and diplomat (Dulles, John Foster)
- Alexandre Dumas, fils (1824-1895) French writer and dramatist (Dumas, Alexandre fils)
- Alexandre Dumas, père (1802-1870) French novelist and dramatist (Dumas, Alexandre pere)
- Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) American dancer, choreographer (Duncan, Isadora)
- Sara Jeannette Duncan (1861-1922) Canadian author and journalist (Duncan, Sara Jeannette)
- David Dunham (contemp.) American computer programmer, game designer (Dunham, David)
- Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936) American humorist and journalist (Dunne, Finley Peter)
- Ariel Durant (1898-1981) American writer (Durant, Ariel)
- William C. (Billy) Durant (1861-1947) American industrialist, entrepreneur (Durant, William C. "Billy")
- William James (Will) Durant (1885-1981) American historian, teacher, philosopher (Durant, William James)
- Leo Durocher (1905-1991) American professional baseball player, manager, coach ["Leo the Lip"] (Durocher, Leo)
- John Dyer (1699-1757) British poet (Dyer, John)
- Wayne Dyer (1940-2015) American self-help author, motivational speaker (Dyer, Wayne)
- Bob Dylan (b. 1941) American singer, songwriter (Dylan, Bob)
- Freeman Dyson (1923-2020) English-American theoretical physicist, mathematician, futurist (Dyson, Freeman)
- Terry Eagleton (b. 1943) British literary theorist, critic, intellectual [Terence Francis Eagleton] (Eagleton, Terry)
- Thomas Eakins (1844-1916) American artist, educator (Eakins, Thomas)
- Charles Eames (1907-1978) American architect, industrial designer (Eames, Charles)
- Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) American aviator and author (Earhart, Amelia)
- Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001) American auto racer (Earnhardt, Dale)
- Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) American law officer, gambler, saloon keeper (Earp, Wyatt)
- Gregg Easterbrook (b. 1953) American writer, editor (Easterbrook, Gregg)
- Max Eastman (1883-1969) American writer and editor (Eastman, Max)
- Clint Eastwood (b. 1930) American actor, politician (Eastwood, Clint)
- Abba Eban (1915-2002) Israeli politician and diplomat [b. Aubrey Solomon Eban] (Eban, Abba)
- Isabelle Eberhardt (1877-1904) Swiss-Russian explorer and author [Si Mahmoud Saadi] (Eberhardt, Isabelle)
- Roger Ebert (1942-2013) American film critic, journalist, screenwriter (Ebert, Roger)
- Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer (Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie von)
- Meister Eckhart (c. 1260-1328?) German theologian, philosopher, mystic [a.k.a. Johannes Eckhart von Hochheim; Eckhart; Eckehart] (Eckhart, Meister)
- Umberto Eco (1932-2016) Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, novelist (Eco, Umberto)
- Sir Arthur S. Eddington (1882-1944) British astrophysicist (Eddington, Arthur S.)
- Marian Wright Edelman (b. 1939) American social reformer, lawyer, author (Edelman, Marian Wright)
- Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849) Anglo-Irish writer, novelist (Edgeworth, Maria)
- Thomas Edison (1847-1931) American inventor and businessman (Edison, Thomas Alva)
- Ben Edlund (b. 1968) American cartoonist, writer, producer (Edlund, Ben)
- Edward VIII (1894-1972) King of England [Edward, Duke of Windsor] (Edward VIII)
- Tryon Edwards (1809-1894) American theologian, writer, lexicographer (Edwards, Tryon)
- Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941) American feminist, journalist, political activist (Ehrenreich, Barbara)
- Paul Ehrlich (b. 1932) American conservation biologist and ecologist (Ehrlich, Paul)
- Bart D. Ehrman (b. 1955) American Biblical scholar, author (Ehrman, Bart)
- Max Ehrmann (1872-1945) American writer, poet, attorney (Ehrmann, Max)
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist (Einstein, Albert)
- Leon Eisenberg (1922-2009) American psychiatrist and medical educator (Eisenberg, Leon)
- Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) American general, US President (1953-61) (Eisenhower, Dwight David)
- Elliot Eisner (1933-2014) Academic, researcher, professor of art and education (Eisner, Elliot)
- Joycelyn Elders (b. 1933) American pediatrician, public health administrator, academic (Elders, Joycelyn)
- Paul Eldridge (1888-1982) American educator, novelist, poet (Eldridge, Paul)
- Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) American academic (Eliot, Charles William)
- George Eliot (1819-1880) English novelist [pseud. of Mary Ann Evans] (Eliot, George)
- T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-British poet, critic, playwright [Thomas Stearns Eliot] (Eliot, T. S.)
- Elizabeth II (b. 1926) Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms (Elizabeth II)
- Linda Ellerbee (b. 1944) American broadcast journalist (Ellerbee, Linda)
- Havelock Ellis (1859-1939) British sexologist, physician, social reformer [Henry Havelock Ellis] (Ellis, Havelock)
- Warren Ellis (b. 1968) English writer (Ellis, Warren)
- Harlan Ellison (1934-2018) American writer (Ellison, Harlan)
- Oliver Ellsworth (1745-1807) American lawyer, politician, Founder, Supreme Court chief justice (1796-1800) (Ellsworth, Oliver)
- Jacques Ellul (1912-1994) French philosopher, law professor, sociologist, theologian (Ellul, Jacques)
- Thomas Elyot (c. 1490-1546) English diplomat and scholar. (Elyot, Thomas)
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet (Emerson, Ralph Waldo)
- Nathaniel Emmons (1745-1840) American Calvinist preacher (Emmons, Nathaniel)
- Keppel "Kep" Enderbery (1926-2015) Australian politician and jurist (Enderby, Keppel)
- Douglas Engelbart (1925-2013) American computer scientist, pioneer (Engelbart, Doug)
- Garth Ennis (b. 1970) Irish writer (Ennis, Garth)
- Ennius (239-169 BC) Roman poet, writer [Quintus Ennius] (Ennius)
- Anne Enright (b. 1962) Irish writer (Enright, Anne)
- Nora Ephron (1941-2012) American screenwriter, author, journalist, director (Ephron, Nora)
- Epictetus (c.55-c.135) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher (Epictetus)
- Epicurus (341-270 BC) Greek philosopher (Epicurus)
- Joseph Epstein (b. 1937) American writer (Epstein, Joseph)
- Desiderius Erasmus (1465-1536) Dutch humanist philosopher and scholar (Erasmus, Desiderius)
- Louise Erdrich (b. 1954) American author, poet (Erdrich, Louise)
- Werner Erhard (b. 1935) American self-improvement teacher [b. John (Jack) Paul Rosenberg] (Erhard, Werner)
- Graham Ericsson (b. 1947) American writer, aphorist (Ericsson, Graham)
- Susan Ertz (1887-1985) Anglo-American writer (Ertz, Susan)
- Sam J. Ervin, Jr. (1896-1985) American politician (Ervin, Sam)
- Julius Erving (b. 1950) American basketball player ["Dr. J"] (Erving, Julius)
- Evan Esar (1899-1995) American humorist (Esar, Evan)
- M. C. Escher (1898-1972) Dutch artist [Maurits Cornelius Escher] (Escher, M. C.)
- Jane Espenson (b. 1964) American television writer and producer (Espenson, Jane)
- Robert Estabrook (1918-2011) American journalist, editor, foreign correspondent (Estabrook, Robert)
- Yoel Esteron (b. 1956) Israeli journalist, publisher (Esteron, Yoel)
- Henri Estienne (1528 or 1531-1598) French printer and classical scholar [a.k.a. Henricus Stephanus] (Estienne, Henri)
- Ralph Estling (1930-2007) British essayist and skeptic (Estling, Ralph)
- Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist (Euripides)
- Mark Evanier (b. 1952) American writer (Evanier, Mark)
- Bergen Evans (1904-1978) American educator, writer, lexicographer (Evans, Bergen)
- Harold Evans (1928-2020) Anglo-American journalist, editor, writer (Evans, Harold)
- Richard Louis Evans (1906-1971) American writer and radio commentator (Evans, Richard Louis)
- Gavin Ewart (1916-1995) British poet (Ewart, Gavin)
- Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863) British hymnist, theologian (Faber, Frederick W.)
- Anne Fadiman (b. 1953) American essayist, journalist, literary critic, teacher (Fadiman, Anne)
- Clifton Fadiman (1904-1999) American critic, lecturer, editor (Fadiman, Clifton)
- Henry Fairlie (1924-1990) British journalist and social critic (Fairlie, Henry)
- Percival E. Fansler (1883-1937) American engineer, businessman, entrepreneur (Fansler, Percival)
- Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) English author (Farjeon, Eleanor)
- Joseph Farrell (1841-1885) Irish Jesuit priest, lecturer, preacher (Farrell, Joseph)
- David Fasold (1939-1998) American salvage expert, amateur archaeologist (Fasold, David)
- William Faulkner (1897-1962) American novelist (Faulkner, William)
- William Feather (1889-1981) American publisher, author (Feather, William)
- Jules Feiffer (b. 1929) American cartoonist, authork, satirist (Feiffer, Jules)
- Dianne Feinstein (b. 1933) American politician (Feinstein, Dianne)
- Earl Felton (1909-1972) American screenwriter (Felton, Earl)
- François Fénelon (1651-1715) French theologian, poet, writer [François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon] (Fenelon, Francois)
- Edna Ferber (1886-1968) American author and playwright (Ferber, Edna)
- Benjamin Ferencz (b. 1920) American lawyer, international legal scholar, activist (Ferencz, Benjamin)
- Marilyn Ferguson (1938-2008) American author, editor, public speaker (Ferguson, Marilyn)
- Ransom K. Ferm (contemp.) (Ferm, Ransom K.)
- Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) Italian-American physicist (Fermi, Enrico)
- Fanny Fern (1811-1872) American columnist, humorist, author [b. Sara Willis] (Fern, Fanny)
- Leon Festinger (1919-1989) American social psychologist (Festinger, Leon)
- Richard Feynman (1918-1988) American physicist (Feynman, Richard)
- Immanuel Hermann Fichte (1796-1879) German philosopher (Fichte, Immanuel Hermann)
- Marshall Field (1834-1906) American merchant (Field, Marshall)
- Henry Fielding (1707-1754) English novelist, dramatist, satirist (Fielding, Henry)
- Dorothy Fields (1905-1974) American librettist and lyricist (Fields, Dorothy)
- James T. Fields (1817-1881) American publisher, editor, poet (Fields, James T)
- W. C. Fields (1880-1946) American entertainer [b. William Claude Dukenfield] (Fields, W. C.)
- Dexter Filkins (b. 1961) American journalist (Filkins, Dexter)
- Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) US President (1850-1853) (Fillmore, Millard)
- Janice Fine (contemp.) American political scientist, academic (Fine, Janice)
- Ronald Firbank (1886-1926) British novelist and playwright (Firbank, Ronald)
- Stanley Fish (b. 1938) American literary theorist, legal scholar, author (Fish, Stanley)
- Carrie Fisher (1956-2016) American actress, writer (Fisher, Carrie)
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958) American author and essayist (Fisher, Dorothy Canfield)
- Geoffrey Fisher (1887-1972) English cleric, Archbishop of Canterbury (1945-1961) (Fisher, Geoffrey)
- Edward FitzGerald (1809-1883) English writer, poet, translator (FitzGerald, Edward)
- Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) American jazz singer (Fitzgerald, Ella)
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) American writer [Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald] (Fitzgerald, F. Scott)
- Frances FitzGerald (b. 1940) American journalist and author (FitzGerald, Frances)
- Penelope Fitzgerald (1916-2000) Novelist, poet, essayist, biographer (Fitzgerald, Penelope)
- Zelda Fitzgerald (1900-1948) American novelist (Fitzgerald, Zelda)
- Edward Algernon Fitzroy (1869–1943) British politician (Fitzroy, Edward)
- Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons (1863-1917) British professional boxer (Fitzsimmons, Bob)
- Charles Macomb Flandrau (1871-1938) American author and essayist (Flandrau, Charles Macomb)
- Nancy Flannigan (contemp.) (Flannigan, Nancy)
- Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) French writer, novelist (Flaubert, Gustave)
- Ian Fleming (1908-1964) British writer, journalist, intelligence officer (Fleming, Ian)
- Joseph C. Fletcher (1905-1991) American ethicist (Fletcher, Joseph C.)
- Peter Flom (contemp.) (Flom, Peter)
- John Florio (1553-1625) English linguist and lexicographer (Florio, John)
- Errol Flynn (1909-1959) Australian-American actor (Flynn, Errol)
- Larry Flynt (1942-2021) American publisher and pornographer (Flynt, Larry)
- Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929) French soldier and military theorist (Foch, Ferdinand)
- Phil Foglio (b. 1956) American writer, cartoonist (Foglio, Phil)
- Robert Fontaine (contemp.) (Fontaine, Robert)
- Dorothy Catherine "D. C." Fontana (1939-2019) television screenwriter, story editor (Fontana, D. C.)
- Dame Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991) English dancer [b. Margaret Hookham] (Fonteyn, Margot)
- Bertie Charles (B. C.) Forbes (1880-1954) American publisher (Forbes, Bertie Charles)
- Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) American billionaire (Forbes, Malcolm)
- Betty Ford (1918-2011) American First Lady (1974-77), philanthropist [Elizabeth Bloomer Warren Ford] (Ford, Betty)
- Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006) American politician, US President (1974-77) [b. Leslie Lynch King, Jr.] (Ford, Gerald R.)
- Henry Ford (1863-1947) American industrialist (Ford, Henry)
- Paul F. Ford (b. c. 1957) American theologian, liturgist, literary critic (Ford, Paul F.)
- George Foreman (b. 1949) American boxer (Foreman, George)
- C. S. Forester (1899-1966) English novelist [Cecil Scott Forester, pen name for Cecil Louis Troughton Smith] (Forester, C S)
- Jan Tomáš "Miloš" Forman (1932-2018) Czech-American film director, screenwriter, actor, academic (Forman, Milos)
- Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877) American / Confederate military leader (Forrest, Nathan Bedford)
- E. M. Forster (1879-1970) English novelist, essayist, critic, librettist [Edward Morgan Forster] (Forster, E. M.)
- Abraham Fortas (1910-1982) American Supreme Court Justice, professor, lawyer (Fortas, Abe)
- Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) American clergyman, author, teacher (Fosdick, Harry Emerson)
- Randolph S. Foster (1820-1903) American Methodist Episcopal bishop, preacher, educator (Foster, Randolph S.)
- Gene Fowler (1890-1960) American journalist, author, and dramatist. [b. Eugene Devlan] (Fowler, Gene)
- Janet Frame (1924-2004) New Zealand author [pen name of Nene Janet Paterson Clutha] (Frame, Janet)
- Anatole France (1844-1924) French poet, journalist, novelist, Nobel Laureate [pseud. of Jaques-Anatole-François Thibault] (France, Anatole)
- Francis I (b. 1936) Argentinian Catholic Pope (2013- ) [b. Jorge Mario Bergoglio] (Francis I (Pope))
- Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) Italian Franciscan mystic, reformer, saint [b. Giovanni di Pietro di Bunardone] (Francis of Assisi)
- Clarence Francis (1888-1985) American business executive, food industry consultant (Francis, Clarence)
- François de Sales (1567-1622) French bishop, saint, writer [a.k.a. Francis de Sales, b. François de Boisy] (François de Sales)
- Anne Frank (1929-1945) German-Dutch Jewish diarist (Frank, Anne)
- Melvin Frank (1913-1988) American screenwriter, director (Frank, Melvin)
- Marvin E. Frankel (1920-2002) American lawyer, judge, legal scholar (Frankel, Marvin E.)
- Rose Franken (1925-1966) American novelist and playwright (Franken, Rose)
- Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965) US Supreme Court Justice, jurist and teacher (Frankfurter, Felix)
- Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) German-American psychologist, writer (Frankl, Viktor)
- Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist (Franklin, Benjamin)
- Rose N. Franzblau (1930-1978) Austrian-American psychologist, author, columnist (Franzblau, Rose)
- David Franzoni (b. 1947) American screenwriter (Franzoni, David)
- Charles Frazier (b. 1950) American novelist (Frazier, Charles)
- Ian Frazier (b. 1951) American writer and humorist (Frazier, Ian)
- Frederick II (1712-1786) King of Prussia (a.k.a. Frederick the Great) (Frederick II (the Great))
- Lucy Freeman (1916-2004) American journalist, author (Freeman, Lucy)
- Dawn French (b. 1957) British comedian (French, Dawn)
- Esther Freud (b. 1963) British novelist, actress (Freud, Esther)
- Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Austrian psychoanalyst and neurologist (Freud, Sigmund)
- Nancy Friday (1933-2017) American author and feminist (Friday, Nancy)
- Betty Friedan (1921-2006) American writer, feminist, activist (Friedan, Betty)
- Milton Friedman (1912-2006) American economist, intellectual (Friedman, Milton)
- Thomas Friedman (b. 1953) American journalist, columnist, author (Friedman, Thomas)
- Erich Fromm (1900-1980) American psychoanalyst and social philosopher (Fromm, Erich)
- Robert Frost (1874-1963) American poet (Frost, Robert)
- Roger Fry (1866-1934) English artist and art critic (Fry, Roger)
- Stephen Fry (b. 1957) British actor, writer, comedian (Fry, Stephen)
- Northrop Frye (1912-1991) Canadian literary critic and literary theorist (Frye, Northrop)
- J. William Fulbright (1905-1995) American politician (Fulbright, J. William)
- Robert Fulford (b. 1932) Canadian journalist, magazine editor, essayist (Fulford, Robert)
- Robert Fulghum (b. 1937) American author, minister (Fulghum, Robert)
- Bryan Fuller (b. 1969) American screenwriter, television producer (Fuller, Bryan)
- Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) American architect, engineer (Fuller, Buckminster)
- Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) American journalist, critic, transcendentalist, reformer [Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli] (Fuller, Margaret)
- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English churchman, historian (Fuller, Thomas (1608))
- Thomas Fuller (1654-1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer (Fuller, Thomas (1654))
- Simon Fulleringer (contemp.) Canadian IT professional (Fulleringer, Simon)
- Steven Furtick (b. 1980) American pastor (Furtick, Steven)
- Paul Fussell (1924-2012) American cultural and literary historian, author, academic (Fussell, Paul)
- Dan Fylstra (b. 1952) American computer scientist, libertarian (Fylstra, Dan)
- Solomon ibn Gabirol (fl. 11th Century) Andalusian poet and Jewish philosopher [a.k.a. Solomon ben Judah, Avicebron] (Gabirol, Solomon ibn)
- Clark Gable (1901-1960) American film actor [b. William Clark Goebel] (Gable, Clark)
- Dennis Gabor (1900-1979) Hungarian-British electrical engineer and physicist (Gabor, Dennis)
- Zsa Zsa Gabor (1917-2016) Hungarian-American actress, socialite [b. Sári Gábor] (Gabor, Zsa Zsa)
- William Gaddis (1922-1998) American novelist (Gaddis, William)
- Jim Gaffigan (b. 1966) American comedian, actor, writer, producer. (Gaffigan, Jim)
- Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist (Gaiman, Neil)
- Victor Galaz (b. 1976) Swedish political scientist (Galaz, Victor)
- John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) Canadian-American economist, diplomat, author (Galbraith, John Kenneth)
- Eduardo Galeano (1940-2015) Uruguayan journalist and novelist (Galeano, Eduardo)
- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Italian scientist and mathematician (Galileo Galilei)
- Paul Gallico (1897-1976) American author, sports journalist (Gallico, Paul)
- John Galsworthy (1867-1933) English novelist and playwright (Galsworthy, John)
- Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) Indian politician (Gandhi, Indira)
- Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian philosopher and nationalist [Mahatma Gandhi] (Gandhi, Mohandas)
- Jerry Garcia (1942-1995) American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Garcia, Jerry)
- Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849) English socialite, writer (Gardiner, Marguerite)
- Ed Gardner (1901-1963) American comic actor, writer and director (Gardner, Ed)
- John W. Gardner (1912-2002) American writer, businessman, government official (Gardner, John W.)
- James A. Garfield (1831-1881) US President (1881), lawyer, lay preacher, educator (Garfield, James A.)
- Judy Garland (1922-1969) American singer, actress (Garland, Judy)
- Theodosia Pickering Garrison (1874-1944) American poet (Garrison, Theodosia)
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879) American abolitionist, journalist, suffragist, social reformer (Garrison, William Lloyd)
- Romain Gary (1914-1980) French novelist (Gary, Romain)
- Edward Gascoyne-Cecil (1867-1918) British soldier and colonial administrator (Gascoyne-Cecil, Edward)
- Bill Gates (b. 1955) American software magnate [William Henry Gates III] (Gates, Bill)
- Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) French painter [Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin] (Gauguin, Paul)
- Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) German mathematician, geodesist, physicist [Carolus Fridericus Gauss] (Gauss, Carl Friedrich)
- Théophile Gautier (1811-1872) French poet, writer, critic (Gautier, Theophile)
- John Gay (1685-1732) English poet and playwright (Gay, John)
- Christian Gellert (1715-1769) German poet, moralist (Gellert, Christian)
- Sir Geoffrey de Tourneville (fl. 14th C) Norman knight (Geoffrey de Tourneville)
- Henry George (1839-1897) American economist (George, Henry)
- Peter George (1924-1996) British writer (George, Peter)
- Rosemonde Gérard (1871-1953) French poet and playwright [Louise-Rose-Étiennette Gérard] (Gerard, Rosemonde)
- David Gerrold (b. 1944) American author [b. Jerrold David Friedman] (Gerrold, David)
- Ira Gershwin (1896-1983) American lyricist [b. Israel Gershowitz] (Gershwin, Ira)
- Ricky Gervais (b. 1961) English comedian, actor, director, writer (Gervais, Ricky)
- Masha Gessen (b. 1967) Russian-American journalist, author, translator, activist (Gessen, Masha)
- Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950) Indian philosopher, poet (Ghose, Aurobindo)
- Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) English historian (Gibbon, Edward)
- Lawrence Gibbs (b. 1938) American tax lawyer, IRS Commissioner (Gibbs, Lawrence)
- Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese-American poet, writer, painter [Gibran Khalil Gibran] (Gibran, Kahlil)
- William Gibson (b. 1948) American-Canadian speculative fiction novelist and essayist (Gibson, William)
- André Gide (1869-1951) French author, Nobel laureate (Gide, André)
- William Gifford (1756-1826) English critic, editor, poet, satirist (Gifford, William)
- Gerd Gigerenzer (b. 1947) German research psychologist (Gigerenzer, Gerd)
- Anthony Gilbert (1899-1973) English writer (pseud. of Lucy Beatrice Malleson) (Gilbert, Anthony)
- W. S. Gilbert (1836-1911) English playwright [William Schwenck Gilbert] (Gilbert, W. S.)
- Richard Watson Gilder (1844-1909) American poet and editor (Gilder, R. W.)
- James Gilligan (b. c. 1936) American psychiatrist and author (Gilligan, James)
- Vince Gilligan (b. 1967) American screenwriter, producer (Gilligan, Vince)
- Strickland Gillilan (1869-1954) American poet and humorist (Gillilan, Strickland)
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) American sociologist, writer, reformer, feminist (Gilman, Charlotte)
- John Gilmore (b. 1955) Computer scientist, developer, civil liberties activist (Gilmore, John)
- Ian Gilmour (1926–2007), British politician [Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar] (Gilmour, Ian)
- Bernard Gilpin (1517-1583) English theologian and clergyman (Gilpin, Bernard)
- Newt Gingrich (b. 1943) American politician [Newton Leroy Gingrich] (Gingrich, Newt)
- Haim Ginott (1922-1973) Israeli-American school teacher, child psychologist, psychotherapist [b. Haim Ginzburg] (Ginott, Haim)
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) American lawyer and jurist, Supreme Court Justice (1993-2020) (Ginsburg, Ruth Bader)
- Nikki Giovanni (b. 1943) American poet, commentator, activist, educator [b. Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr.] (Giovanni, Nikki)
- William Gladstone (1809-1898) English Liberal politician, Prime Minister (1868-74, 1880-85, 1886, 1892-94) (Gladstone, William)
- Malcolm Gladwell (b. 1963) Anglo-Canadian journalist, author, public speaker (Gladwell, Malcolm)
- Chris Glaser (contemp.) American writer, activist, minister (Glaser, Chris)
- Ellen Glasgow (1874-1945) American author (Glasgow, Ellen)
- Arnold H. Glasow (1905-1998) American publisher, humorist, aphorist (Glasow, Arnold)
- Ira Glass (b. 1959) American report, radio personality, producer (Glass, Ira)
- James Gleick (b. 1954) American writer, journalist, biographer (Gleick, James)
- John Glenn (1921-2016) American politician and astronaut (Glenn, John)
- Jean-Luc Godard (b. 1930) French-Swiss film director, screenwriter, critic (Godard, Jean-Luc)
- Seth Godin (b. 1960) American entrepreneur, author, public speaker (Godin, Seth)
- Gail Godwin (b. 1937) American writer (Godwin, Gail)
- William Godwin (1756-1836) English journalist, political philosopher, novelist (Godwin, William)
- Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945) German Nazi politician, propagandist, bureaucrat (Goebbels, Joseph)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, statesman, scientist (Goethe, Johann von)
- Roberto Goizueta (1931-1997) Cuban-American CEO of Coca-Cola (Goizueta, Roberto)
- Natalie Goldberg (b. 1948) American author, teacher, speaker (Goldberg, Natalie)
- Whoopi Goldberg (b. 1955) American actress, comedian, activist, writer [b. Caryn Elaine Johnson] (Goldberg, Whoopi)
- Harry Golden (1902-1981) Austrian-American writer and newspaper publisher [b. Herschel Goldhirsch] (Golden, Harry)
- William Golding (1911-1983) British novelist, playwright, poet (Golding, William)
- Emma Goldman (1869-1940) Lithuanian-American anarchist, activist (Goldman, Emma)
- Eric F. Goldman (1915-1989) American historian, writer (Goldman, Eric F.)
- William Goldman (1931-2018) American screenwriter, novelist (Goldman, William)
- Akiva Goldsman (b. 1962) American screenwriter, producer (Goldsman, Akiva)
- Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774) Irish poet, playwright, novelist (Goldsmith, Oliver)
- Barry Goldwater (1909-1998) American politician (Goldwater, Barry)
- Samuel Goldwyn (1882-1974) American film producer (Goldwyn, Samuel)
- Jules de Goncourt (1830-1870) French writer (Goncourt, Jules de)
- The Brothers Goncourt - Edmond (1822-96) & Jules (1830-70), French writers [a.k.a. J.E. de Goncourt] (Goncourt, The Brothers)
- Uki Goñi (b. 1953) Argentine historian, author (Goni, Uki)
- Jane Goodall (b. 1934) English primatologist and anthropologist (Goodall, Jane)
- George Goodman (1930-2014) American author, economics broadcast commentator [pseud. Adam Smith] (Goodman, George)
- Paul Goodman (1911-1972) American author, poet, critic (Goodman, Paul)
- Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793-1860) American author [pseud. Peter Parley] (Goodrich, Samuel)
- Nadine Gordimer (1923-2014) South African writer and political activist (Gordimer, Nadine)
- Annette Gordon-Reed (b. 1958) American historian, law professor, author (Gordon-Reed, Annette)
- Karen Elizabeth Gordon (contemp.) American writer (Gordon, Karen Elizabeth)
- Peter E, Gordon (b. 1966) American intellectual historian (Gordon, Peter E.)
- Ruth Gordon (1896-1985) American actress, screenwriter, playwright (Gordon, Ruth)
- Edward Gorey (1925-2000) American poet and artist (Gorey, Edward)
- Maxim Gorky (1868-1936) Russian writer [b. Alexei Maximovich Peshkov] (Gorky, Maxim)
- Amanda Gorman (b. 1998) American poet and activist (Gorman, Amanda)
- James Gorman (b. 1949) American science writer, journalist (Gorman, James)
- Elena Gorokhova (b. 1955) Russo-American novelist, linguist, educator (Gorokhova, Elena)
- William T. Gossett (1905-1998) American lawyer, reformer (Gossett, William)
- A.J. Gossip (1873-1954) Scottish theologian, preacher (Gossip, A.J.)
- John Bartholomew Gough (1817-1886) Anglo-American social reformer and temperance orator(Gough, John Bartholomew)
- Roger L. Gould (contemp.) American author, psychoanalyst, sociologist (Gould, Roger L.)
- Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002) American paleontologist, geologist, biologist (Gould, Stephen Jay)
- Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915) French poet, novelist, critic (Gourmont, Remy de)
- Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601-1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher (Gracián, Baltasar)
- Richard Grafton (c. 1511-1572) English printer (Grafton, Richard)
- Sue Grafton (1940-2017) American novelist, screenwriter (Grafton, Sue)
- Billy Graham (1918-2018) American evangelist, revivalist, author [William Franklin Graham Jr.] (Graham, Billy)
- Harry Graham (1874-1936) English journalist, poet, stage lyricist (Graham, Harry)
- Janet Graham (1723?-1789) Scottish poet, author (Graham, Janet)
- Katharine Graham (1917-2001) American newspaper publisher (Graham, Katharine)
- Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) Scottish author (Grahame, Kenneth)
- Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) Italian writer, politician, Marxist political theorist (Gramsci, Antonio)
- Ariana Grande (b. 1993) American singer, songwriter, actress (Grande, Ariana)
- Steven Grant (b. 1953) American writer (Grant, Steven)
- Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) American military leader, US President (1869-77) (Grant, Ulysses S.)
- George Granville (1666-1735) English politician, poet, playwright [1st Baron Lansdowne] (Granville, George)
- Günter Grass (1927-2015) German author, playwright, Nobel laureate (Grass, Gunther)
- Robert Graves (1895-1985) English poet, novelist, critic (Graves, Robert)
- Giovanni Vincenzo Gravina (1664-1718) Italian man of letters and jurist (Gravina, Gian Vincenzo)
- Claudia Gray (contemp.) American writer [pseud. of Amy Vincent] (Gray, Claudia)
- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) English poet (Gray, Thomas)
- Horace Greeley (1881-1872) American newspaper editor, reformer, politician (Greeley, Horace)
- John Green (b. 1977) American author (Green, John)
- Rick Green (b. 1953) Canadian comedian (Green, Rick)
- Drew Z. Greenberg (contemp.) TV producer and writer (Greenberg, Drew Z.)
- Gary Greenberg (b. c. 1939) American psychotherapist, author (Greenberg, Gary)
- Irving Yitzchak Greenberg (b. 1933) American rabbi, scholar, author (Greenberg, Irving)
- Dan Greenburg (1936-2023) American writer, humorist, journalist (Greenburg, Dan)
- Felix Greene (1909-1985) British-American journalist (Greene, Felix)
- Graham Greene (1904-1991) English novelist [Henry Graham Greene] (Greene, Graham)
- Peter Greene (contemp.) American teacher, blogger (Greene, Peter)
- Stephen Greenhorn (b. 1964) Scottish playwright and screenwriter (Greenhorn, Stephen)
- Alan Greenspan (b. 1926) American economist, bureaucrat (Greenspan, Alan)
- Kerry Greenwood (b. 1954) Australian author and lawyer (Greenwood, Kerry)
- Germaine Greer (b. 1939) Australian-English feminist, reformer, author, educator (Greer, Germaine)
- Gregory I (c. 540 - 604) Bishop of Rome, liturgist, Latin Father, Doctor of the Church [Gregorius I, Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Gregory the Dialogist] (Gregory I)
- Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) Byzantine prelate, Doctor of the Church, saint, rhetorician [Γρηγόριος ὁ Ναζιανζηνός; Gregory the Theologian] (Gregory of Nazianzus)
- Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory (1932-2017) American activist, social critic, writer, comedian (Gregory, Dick)
- Fulke Greville (1554-1628) 1st Baron Brooke; Elizabethan poet, dramatist, and statesman (Greville, Fulke)
- Angelina Grimké Weld (1805-1879) American abolitionist, women's rights activist (Grimke, Angelina)
- Whitney Griswold (1906–1963) American historian, educator [Alfred Whitney Griswold] (Griswold, Whitney)
- Matt Groening (b. 1954) American cartoonist, writer, producer (Groening, Matt)
- Bertram M. Gross (1912-1997) American social scientist, academic, bureaucrat (Gross, Bertram)
- Martin L. Gross (1925-2013) American writer (Gross, Martin L.)
- Edwin Osgood Grover (1870-1965) American publisher and educator (Grover, Edwin Osgood)
- John Guare (b. 1938) American playwright and screenwriter (Guare, John)
- Philip Guedalla (1889-1944) English barrister, epigrammatist, writer, biographer (Guedalla, Philip)
- Judith Guest (b. 1936) American novelist and screenwriter. (Guest, Judith)
- Che Guevara (1928-1967) Argentine revolutionary [b. Ernesto Guevara da la Serna] (Guevara, Che)
- Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540) Italian historian and statesman (Guicciardini, Francesco)
- Alexis Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest (1805-1851) French diplomat and historian (Guignard, Alexis)
- Terri Guillemets (b.1973) American quotation anthologist (Guillemets, Terri)
- Albert Guinon (1863-1923) French playwright (Guinon, Albert)
- Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943) American poet, humorist (Guiterman, Arthur)
- Julia H. Gulliver (1856-1940) American philosopher, educator, academician (Gulliver, Julia)
- John Gunther (1901-1970) American journalist (Gunther, John)
- Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff (1873-1949) Russian teacher, writer (Gurdjieff, Georges Ivanovitch)
- Adrienne E. Gusoff (contemp.) American humorist, greeting card writer (Gusoff, Adrienne E.)
- Carl G. Gustavson (1915-1999) Swedish author, historian (Gustavson, Carl)
- Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (1912-1967) American singer-songwriter and musician (Guthrie, Woody)
- Doug Gwyn (b. 1959) American minister, theologian, author (Gwyn, Doug)
- Doug A. Gwyn (contemp.) American computer scientist (Gwyn, Doug A.)
- John S. Habgood (1927-2019) British ecclesiastic, Archbishop of York (Habgood , John S.)
- Alexander Haig (1924-2010) American general and bureaucrat (Haig, Alexander)
- Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) Emperor of Ethiopia (1930-1974) [b. Tafari Makonnen] (Haile Selassie)
- Karl Hakkarainen (contemp.) American technical consultant, writer (Hakkarainen, Karl)
- David Halberstam (1934-2997) American journalist and historian (Halberstam, David)
- J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964) English geneticist [John Burden Sanderson Haldane] (Haldane, J.B.S.)
- Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909) American clergyman and author (Hale, Edward Everett)
- Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796-1865) Canadian politician, judge, humorist (Haliburton, Thomas Chandler)
- George Savile, Marquis of Halifax (1633-1695) English politician and essayist (Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of)
- John Hall (1829-1898) Irish-American clergyman, academician (b. John Hall Magowan) (Hall, John)
- Joseph Hall (1574-1656) English clergyman and satirist (Hall, Joseph)
- Robert Hall (1764-1831) English Baptist minister (Hall, Robert)
- Carly Hallam (b. 1987) America screenwriter, producer, actor (Hallam, Carly)
- Margaret Halsey (1910-1997) American writer (Halsey, Margaret)
- Philip Gilbert Hamerton (1834-1894) British artist, art critic and author. (Hamerton, Philip Gilbert)
- Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author (Hamilton, Alexander)
- Edith Hamilton (1867-1963) American educator, author, classicist (Hamilton, Edith)
- Ian Hamilton (1853-1947) British general (Hamilton, Ian)
- Laurell K. Hamilton (b. 1963) American writer [nee Laurell Kaye Klein] (Hamilton, Laurell K.)
- Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961) Swedish diplomat, author, UN Secretary-General (1953-61) (Hammarskjold, Dag)
- Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord (1878-1943) German general (Hammerstein-Equord, Kurt von)
- Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) American librettist, theatrical producer, and director (Hammerstein, Oscar)
- Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) American author, screenwriter, political activist (Hammett, Dashiell)
- Nick Hanauer (b. 1959) American entrepreneur and venture capitalist [Nicolas Joseph Hanauer] (Hanauer, Nick)
- Learned Hand (1872-1961) American jurist (Hand, Learned)
- Lise Hand (contemp.) British journalist (Hand, Lise)
- Jack Handey (b. 1949) American humorist (Handey, Jack)
- Tom Hanks (b. 1956) American actor and filmmaker [Thomas Jeffrey Hanks] (Hanks, Tom)
- Mark Victor Hansen (b. 1948) American writer, motivational speaker (Hansen, Mark Victor)
- Erin Hanson (b. 1996) Australian poet (Hanson, Erin)
- Yuval Noah Harari (b. 1976) Israeli public intellectual, historian, academic, writer [יובל נח הררי] (Harari, Yeval Noah)
- E. Y. "Yip" Harburg (1896-1981) American lyricist [Edgar Yipsel Harburg, b. Isidore Hochberg] (Harburg, E. Y.)
- D. W. Harding (1906-1993) British psychologist and literary critic [Denys Clement Wyatt Harding] (Harding, D.W.)
- Warren G. Harding (1865-1923) American journalist, politician, US President (1921-23) (Harding, Warren)
- G. H. Hardy (1877-1947) British mathematician [Godfrey Harold Hardy] (Hardy, G. H.)
- Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) English novelist, poet (Hardy, Thomas)
- Julius Hare (1795-1855) English cleric, theologian (Hare, Julius)
- John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911) American lawyer, politician, Supreme Court Justice (1877-1911) (Harlan, John Marshall)
- Dan Harmon (b. 1973) American writer, producer, entertainer (Harmon, Dan)
- James Harrington (1611-1677) English political theorist (Harrington, James)
- Sir John Harrington (1561-1612) English courtier, writer, inventor (also "John Harington") (Harrington, John)
- Michael Harrington (1928-1989) American writer, political activist, political scientist [Edward Michael Harrington, Jr.] (Harrington, Michael)
- Andrea Harris (contemp.) American journalist, commentator (Harris, Andrea)
- Corra May Harris (1869-1935) American author [nee White] (Harris, Corra May)
- Joel Chandler Harris (1848-1908) American writer (Harris, Joel Chandler)
- John F. Harris (b. c. 1963) American political journalist, editor (Harris, John F.)
- Sam Harris (b. 1967) American author, philosopher, neuroscientist (Harris, Sam)
- Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986) Anglo-American columnist, journalist, author (Harris, Sydney J.)
- William Torrey Harris (1835-1909) American educator, philosopher (Harris, William Torrey)
- Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1934-2002) American journalist, essayist, memoirist (Harrison, Barbara Grizzuti)
- Edward "Ted" Harrison (1919-2007) Anglo-American cosmologist, astrophysicist (Harrison, Edward)
- Harry Harrison (1925-2012) American author [b. Henry Maxwell Dempsey] (Harrison, Harry)
- William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) American politician, military officer, US President (1841) (Harrison, William Henry)
- Ian Hart (contemp.) Australian media academic, documentary producer (Hart, Ian)
- Josephine Hart (1942-2011) Irish writer, theatrical producer, television presenter (Hart, Josephine)
- Louise Hart (contemp.) American educator, psychologist, author, speaker (Hart, Louise)
- Moss Hart (1904-1961) American playwright, director (Hart, Moss)
- Bret Harte (1836-1902) American author and poet [Francis Bret Harte] (Harte, Bret)
- Thomas "Thom" Hartmann (b. 1951) American broadcaster, psychotherapist, businessman, political commentator (Hartmann, Thom)
- Jan de Hartog (1914-2002) Dutch author and playwright [pseud. F. R. Eckman] (Hartog, Jan de)
- Paul Harvey (1918-2009) American commentator and journalist [b. P. H. Aurandt] (Harvey, Paul)
- Molly Haskell (b. 1939) American feminist film critic and author. (Haskell, Molly)
- Aaron Hass (contemp.) American clinical psychiatrist, academic, author (Hass, Aaron)
- Max Hastings (b. 1945) British journalist and military historian (Hastings, Max)
- Mark Hatfield (1922-2011) American politician (R-Oregon) and educator (Hatfield, Mark)
- Václav Havel (1936-2011) Czech playwright, essayist, dissident, politician (Havel, Vaclav)
- Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) English physicist, author (Hawking, Stephen)
- Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) American writer (Hawthorne, Nathaniel)
- Ian Hay (1876-1952) Scottish novelist, playwright, schoolmaster, soldier (pseud. of John Hay Beith) (Hay, Ian)
- Samuel Ichiye "S. I." Hayakawa (1906-1992) Canadian-American academic and politician (Hayakawa, S. I.)
- Teresa Nielsen Hayden (b. 1956) American editor, writer, essayist (Hayden, Teresa Nielsen)
- Friedrich A. Hayek (1899-1992) Austrian-born economist and philosopher (Hayek, Friedrich)
- Helen Hayes (1900-1993) American actress (Hayes, Helen)
- Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) American attorney, soldier, politician, US President (1877-81) (Hayes, Rutherford)
- Gibby Haynes (b. 1957) American rock musician, radio personality, and painter [Gibson Jerome Haynes] (Haynes, Gibby)
- Henry Hazlitt (1894-1993) American business and economics journalist (Hazlitt, Henry)
- William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer (Hazlitt, William)
- Denis Healey (1917-2015) British politician (Healey, Denis)
- Ben Hecht (1894-1964) American writer, director, producer, journalist (Hecht, Ben)
- Georg Hegel (1770-1831) German philosopher (Hegel, Georg)
- Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) Lithuanian-American violinist (Heifetz, Jascha)
- Carolyn Gold Heilbrun (1926-2003) American academic, feminist author, novelist [as Amanda Cross] (Heilbrun, Carolyn Gold)
- Cynthia Heimel (1947-2018) American feminist, humorist, writer (Heimel, Cynthia)
- Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) German poet and critic (Heine, Heinrich)
- Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer (Heinlein, Robert A.)
- Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) German physicist (Heisenberg, Werner)
- Laurie Helgoe (b. 1960) American psychologist and author (Helgoe, Laurie)
- Joseph Heller (1923-1999) American novelist (Heller, Joseph)
- Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) American playwright, screenwriter (Hellman, Lillian)
- Jesse Helms (1921-2008) American conservative politician (Helms, Jesse)
- Héloise (c. 1098-1164) Wife of Peter Abelard (Heloise)
- Mark Helprin (b. 1947) American novelist, journalist, commentator (Helprin, Mark)
- Arthur Helps (1813-1875) English writer and bureaucrat (Helps, Arthur)
- Claude Adrien Helvétius (1715-1771) French philosopher (Helvetius, Claude Adrien)
- Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer (Hemingway, Ernest)
- John G. Hemry (b. 1956) American naval officer, author [pseud. Jack Campbell] (Hemry, John G.)
- Sara Henderson (1936-2005) Australian pastoralist and author (Henderson, Sara)
- Marian Henley (contemp.) American cartoonist (Maxine) (Henley, Marian)
- William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) English poet, critic, editor (Henley, William Ernest)
- Robert Henri (1865-1929) American painter (Henri, Robert)
- Tommy Henrich (1913-2009) American baseball player [a/k/a "The Clutch" and "Old Reliable"] (Henrich, Tommy)
- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) English writer, religious philosopher (Henry, Matthew)
- O. Henry (1862-1910) American short story writer [pseud. for William Sydney Porter] (Henry, O.)
- Patrick Henry (1736-1799) American revolutionary and orator (Henry, Patrick)
- Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) Belgian-English actress (Hepburn, Audrey)
- Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress (Hepburn, Katharine)
- Heraclitus of Ephesus (c.540-c.480 BC) Greek philosopher [Ἡράκλειτος, Herákleitos, Heracleitus] (Heraclitus)
- A. P. Herbert (1890-1971) English humorist, novelist, playwright, politician [Alan Patrick Herbert; pseud. Albert Haddock] (Herbert, A. P.)
- Frank Herbert (1920-1986) American writer (Herbert, Frank)
- George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet. (Herbert, George)
- Oliver Herford (1863–1935) Anglo-American writer, artist and illustrator (Herford, Oliver)
- Edward S. Herman (1925-2017) American economist, media analyst (Herman, Edward S.)
- Herodotus (c.484-c.420 BC) Greek historian (Herodotus)
- Don Herold (1889-1966) American humorist, cartoonist, author (Herold, Don)
- Robert Herrick (1591-1674) English poet (Herrick, Robert)
- James Herriot (1916-1995) British veterinary surgeon and writer [pen name of James Alfred "Alf" Wight] (Herriot, James)
- Hendrik Hertzberg (b. 1943) American journalist, editor, speech writer, political commentator (Hertzberg, Hendrik)
- Werner Herzog (b. 1942) German film director, screenwriter, author, actor (Herzog, Werner)
- Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) Polish-American rabbi, theologian, philosopher (Heschel, Abraham)
- Hesiod (fl. 750-650 BC) Greek oral poet, mythologist (Hesiod)
- Herman Hesse (1877-1962) German-born Swiss poet, novelist, painter (Hesse, Herman)
- Monica Hesse (b. c. 1981) American author, journalist, columnist (Hesse, Monica)
- Carter Heyward (b. 1945) American cleric, feminist, theologian (Heyward, Carter)
- John Heywood (1497?-1580?) English playwright and epigrammist (Heywood, John)
- Thomas Heywood (1570s-1641) English playwright, actor, author (Heywood, Thomas)
- Bill Hicks (1961-1994) American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, musician [William Melvin "Bill" Hicks] (HIcks, Bill)
- Granville Hicks (1908-1982) American writer and literary critic (Hicks, Granville)
- Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911) American minister, author, abolitionist, soldier (Higginson, T. W.)
- Gilbert Highet (1906-1978) Scottish-American classicist, academic writer, intellectual critic, literary historian (Highet, Gilbert)
- Cullen Hightower (1923-2008) American writer, aphorist, salesman. (Hightower, Cullen)
- Aaron Hill (1685-1750) English poet and playwright (Hill, Aaron)
- Napoleon Hill (1883-1970) American author, motivational writer (Hill, Napoleon)
- Rowland Hill (1795-1879) English teacher, inventor, social reformer. (Hill, Rowland)
- Thomas Hill (1818-1891) American clergyman and educator (Hill, Thomas)
- Hillel (1st C. BC-1st C. AD) Jewish sage, rabbi [הלל] (Hillel)
- Esther "Etty" Hillesum (1914-1943) Dutch Jewish law graduate, writer, diarist (Hillesum, Etty)
- Kee Hinckley (contemp.) American entrepreneur and system architect (Hinckley, Kee)
- Cyril Norman Hinshelwood (1897-1967) British chemist and Nobel laureate (Hinshelwood, Cyril)
- Hippocrates (c. 460-c.377 BC) Greek physician (Hippocrates)
- Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) English film director (Hitchcock, Alfred)
- Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011) English intellectual, polemicist, socio-political critic (Hitchens, Christopher)
- Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader (Hitler, Adolph)
- Arthur D. Hlavaty (b. 1942) American writer, editor, publisher [a/k/a "Supergee"] (Hlavaty, Arthur D.)
- Jim Hoagland (b. 1940) American journalist, editor (Hoagland, Jim)
- John Oliver Hobbes (1867-1906) American-English author [pseud. of Pearl Cragie] (Hobbes, John Oliver)
- Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) English philosopher (Hobbes, Thomas)
- Dee W. Hock (1929-2022) American businessman (Hock, Dee W.)
- Ralph Hodgson (1871-1962) English poet (Hodgson, Ralph)
- Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman (Hoffer, Eric)
- Abbie Hoffman (1936-1989) American political activist (Hoffman, Abbie)
- Andrew J. Hoffman (b. 1961) American environmental scientist, sustainable enterprise scholar (Hoffman, Andrew J.)
- Douglas R. Hofstadter (b. 1945) American academic, cognitive scientist, author (Hofstadter, Douglas)
- Richard Hofstadter (1916-1970) American historian and intellectual (Hofstadter, Richard)
- Ben Hogan (1912-1957) American golfer (Hogan, Ben)
- Robert Hogan (b. 1937) American psychologist (Hogan, Robert)
- John H. Holcomb (b. 1930) American educational writer (Holcomb, John H.)
- Billie Holiday (1915-1959) American jazz singer and songwriter [b. Eleanora Harris] (Holiday, Billie)
- Barbara Holland (1933-2010) American author (Holland, Barbara)
- J. G. Holland (1819-1881) American novelist, poet, editor [Josiah Gilbert Holland; pseud. Timothy Titcomb] (Holland, Josiah G.)
- James F. "Jim" Hollingsworth (1918-2010) American military commander (Hollingsworth, James)
- John Andrew Holmes (1874-1937) American physician and writer (Holmes, John Andrew)
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) American jurist, Supreme Court Justice (Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr.)
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) American poet, essayist, scholar (Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Sr.)
- John Holt (1923-1985) American author and educator (Holt, John)
- Louis "Lou" Holtz (b. 1937) American football coach, sportscaster, author, motivational speaker. (Holtz, Lou)
- Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696-1782) Scottish jurist, agriculturalist, philosopher, writer (Home, Henry)
- Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author (Homer)
- Soichiro Honda (1906-1991) Japanese industrialist (Honda, Soichiro)
- Edwin Paxton Hood (1820-1885) English nonconformist minister and author (Hood, Edwin Paxton)
- Thomas Hood (1799-1845) British humorist and poet (Hood, Thomas)
- Sidney Hook (1902-1989) American philosopher (Hook, Sydney)
- Richard Hooker (1554-1600) English theologian (Hooker, Richard)
- Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) American engineer, bureaucrat, President of the US (1928-32) (Hoover, Herbert)
- Bob Hope (1903-2003) American comedian, actor, humanitarian (b. Leslie Townes Hope) (Hope, Bob)
- Arthur W. "Art" Hoppe (1925-2000) American newspaper columnist, humorist, satirist (Hoppe, Art)
- Grace Hopper (1906-1992) American admiral, computer scientist, educator (Hopper, Grace)
- Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) American actress and gossip columnist (Hopper, Hedda)
- Horace (65-8 BC) Roman poet and satirist [Quintus Horacius Flaccus] (Horace)
- Lena Horne (1917-2010) American singer, actress, dancer, activist (Horne, Lena)
- R. F. Horton (1855-1934) English nonconformist minister, reformer [Robert Forman Horton] (Horton, R. F.)
- Khaled Hosseini (b. 1965) Afghan-American novelist, physician [ خالد حسینی] (Hosseini, Khaled)
- Cory House (contemp.) American software architect, speaker, author (House, Cory)
- A. E. Housman (1859-1936) English scholar and poet [Alfred Edward Housman] (Housman, A. E.)
- Laurence Housman (1865-1959) English playwright, writer, illustrator (Housman, Laurence)
- Robert E. Howard (1906-1936) American author (Howard, Robert E.)
- Ellen Clementine Howarth (1827-1899) American poet (Howarth, Ellen C.)
- Edgar Watson "Ed" Howe (1853-1937) American journalist and author [E. W. Howe] (Howe, Edgar Watson)
- Irving Howe (1920-1993) American literary and social critic [b. Irving Horenstein] (Howe, Irving)
- Nathaniel Howe (1764-1837) American minister (Howe, Nathaniel)
- James Howell (c. 1594 - 1666) British historian and writer (Howell, James)
- William Dean Howells (1837-1920) American author, literary critic, and playwright (Howells, William Dean)
- Bette Howland (1937-2017) American writer and literary critic (Howland, Bette)
- Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) Writer, esp. of card game rules and play. (Hoyle, Edmond)
- Fred Hoyle (1915-2001) English astronomer, author (Hoyle, Fred)
- Hsi-Tang Chih Tsang (735-814) Chinese Zen master (Hsi-Tang Chih Tsang)
- Tehyi Hsieh (1884-1972) Chinese philosopher, educator, diplomat (Hsieh, Tehyi)
- Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American writer, businessman, philosopher (Hubbard, Elbert)
- Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist (Hubbard, Kin)
- Ernst Rudolf Huber (1903-1990), German jurist and constitutional historian (Huber, Ernst Rudolf)
- Darrell Huff (1913-2001) American writer (Huff, Darrell)
- Shirley Hufstedler (1925-2016) American jurist, US Secty of Education (1979-81) (Hufstedler, Shirley)
- Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. (1862-1948) American statesman, politician, Supreme Court Justice (1910-1916, 1930-1941) (Hughes, Charles Evans)
- Langston Hughes (1902-1967) American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright (Hughes, Langston)
- Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer (Hugo, Victor)
- Bobby Hull (b. 1939) Canadian hockey pro [Robert Marrin Hull, Jr.] (Hull, Bobby)
- Baron Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) German philologist, diplomat (Humboldt, Wilhelm von)
- Cyril Hume (1900-1966) American screenwriter, author (Hume, Cyril)
- David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist (Hume, David)
- Hubert Horatio Humphrey (1911-1978) American politician (Humphrey, Hubert)
- Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (1855-1897) Irish novelist (Hungerford, Margaret Wolfe)
- Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) English critic, essayist, poet, writer [James Henry Leigh Hunt] (Hunt, Leigh)
- Herman Hupfeld (1894-1951) American songwriter (Hupfeld, Herman)
- Maurice Hurley (1939-2015) American screenwriter, producer [a.k.a. C.J. Holland] (Hurley, Maurice)
- Fannie Hurst (1889-1968) American novelist (Hurst, Fannie)
- Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) American writer, folklorist, anthropologist (Hurston, Zora Neale)
- Jan Hus (c. 1370-1415) Czech priest, theologian, philosopher, Church reformer [John Huss, etc.] (Hus, Jan)
- Robert M. Hutchins (1899-1977) American educator and educational philosopher (Hutchins, Robert M.)
- Michael Hutchinson (contemp.) American neurologist, researcher (Hutchinson, Michael)
- Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) English novelist, essayist and critic (Huxley, Aldous)
- T. H. Huxley (1825-1895) English biologist [Thomas Henry Huxley] (Huxley, T. H.)
- Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) Dutch physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor (Huygens, Christiaan)
- Hyujeong (1520-1604) Korean Seon (Sŏn, Zen) Master [Sosan Taesa, Seosan Daesa, Dae Seonsa] (Hyujeong)
- Anwar I-Suhaili (fl. c. 1590) Persian artist, writer (I-Suhaili, Anwar)
- Lee Iacocca (1924-2019) American businessman [Lido Anthony Iacocca] (Iacocca, Lee)
- Karl Iagnemma (b. 1972) American writer and research scientist (Iagnemma, Karl)
- Janice Ian (b. 1951) American singer/songwriter [b. Janis Eddy Fink] (Ian, Janice)
- Ibn 'Arabi (1165-1240) Arab Andalusian Muslim scholar, Sufi mystic, poet, philosopher [ابن عربي] (Ibn Arabi)
- Abraham Ibn Ezra (1092-1167) Spanish Jewish poet, philosopher, Biblical exegete [ר׳ אַבְרָהָם בֶּן מֵאִיר אִבְּן עֶזְרָא] (Ibn Ezra, Abraham)
- Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright (Ibsen, Henrik)
- Carl Icahn (b. 1936) American businessman and investor (Icahn, Carl)
- Eric Idle (b. 1943) British actor, musician, writer, comedian (Idle, Eric)
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) Basque noble, priest, theologian [Ignazio Loiolakoa] (Ignatius Loyola)
- Ivan Illich (1926-2002) Austrian philosopher, social critic, cleric (Illich, Ivan)
- Agenore "Age" Incrocci (1919-2005) Italian screenwriter, actor (Incrocci, Agenore)
- William Ralph Inge (1860-1954) English prelate [Dean Inge] (Inge, William Ralph)
- Jean Ingelow (1820-1897) English writer (Ingelow, Jean)
- Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899) American lawyer, agnostic, orator (Ingersoll, Robert Green)
- Bernard Ingham (b. 1932) British journalist, civil servant, press secretary (Ingham, Bernard)
- Eugène Ionesco (1912-1994) Romanian-French dramatist (Ionesco, Eugene)
- John Irving (b. 1942) American-Canadian novelist and screenwriter [b. John Wallace Blunt Jr.] (Irving, John)
- Washington Irving (1783-1859) American author [pseud. for Geoffrey Crayon] (Irving, Washington)
- St. Isaac of Nineveh (d. c. 700) Assyrian bishop and theologian [a.k.a. Isaac the Assyrian, Abba Isaac, Isaac of Syria, Isaac Syrus] (Isaac of Ninevah)
- Walter Isaacson (b. 1952) American writer, biographer, journalist, editor (Isaacson, Walter)
- Isidore of Seville (c. 560 - 636) Spanish scholar and cleric [Isidore the Younger, Isidorus Hispalensis] (Isidore of Sevillle)
- Neal Israel (b. 1956) American film writer and director (Israel, Neal)
- Molly Ivins (1944-2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins] (Ivins, Molly)
- Eddie Izzard (b. 1962) British comedian (Izzard, Eddie)
- Alexander Jablokov (b. 1956) American writer (Jablokov, Alexander)
- Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) American politician, general, US President (1829-1837) (Jackson, Andrew)
- Holbrook Jackson (1874-1948) English journalist, editor, author (Jackson, Holbrook)
- Jesse Jackson (b. 1941) American activist, clergyman, politician (Jackson, Jesse)
- Joseph Henry Jackson (1894-1955) American writer, editor (Jackson, Joseph Henry)
- Robert H. Jackson (1892-1954) US Supreme Court Justice (1941-54), lawyer, jurist, politician (Jackson, Robert H.)
- François Jacob (1920-2013) French biologist, Nobel prize winner in Medicine (Jacob, Francois)
- Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) American-Canadian journalist, author, urban theorist, activist (Jacobs, Jane)
- Joseph Jacobs (1854-1916) Australian folklorist, literary critic, historian writer (Jacobs, Joseph)
- Jeffrey Paul "Jeph" Jacques (b. 1980) American cartoonist (Jacques, Jeph)
- Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger (b. 1943) English musician, songwriter, producer, actor (Jagger, Mick)
- King James I (1566-1625) King of Great Britain (James I (King))
- Henry James (1843-1916) American writer (James, Henry)
- P. D. James (1920-2014) British mystery writer [Phyllis Dorothy James White] (James, P. D.)
- Will James (1892–1942) Canadian-American artist, writer [b. Joseph Ernest Nephtali Dufault] (James, Will)
- William James (1842-1910) American psychologist and philosopher (James, William)
- Michael Jantze (b. 1962) American cartoonist (Jantze, Michael)
- Derek Jarman (1942-1994) English film director, gay rights activist, author (Jarman, Derek)
- Bruno Jasienski (1901-1941?) Polish author [also Bruno Yasensky] (Jasienski, Bruno)
- Antony Jay (1930-2016) English writer, broadcaster, director (Jay, Antony)
- John Jay (1745-1829) American statesman, diplomat, abolitionist, politician, Chief Justice (1789-1795) (Jay, John)
- Julian Jaynes (1920-1997) American psychologist (Jaynes, Julian)
- Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962) American poet (Jeffers, Robinson)
- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09) (Jefferson, Thomas)
- Mae Jemison (b. 1956) American engineer, physician, astronaut (Jemison, Mae)
- Richard Jeni (1957-2007) American comedian (Jeni, Richard)
- Jerome of Stridon (c. 347-420) Roman Christian priest, theologian, historian, translator, Doctor of the Church [Saint Jerome, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος] (Jerome (Saint))
- Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) English writer, humorist [Jerome Klapka Jerome] (Jerome, Jerome K.)
- Douglas William Jerrold (1803-1857) English playwright and humorist (Jerrold, Douglas)
- George Jessel (1898-1981) American comedian, singer, songwriter, producer (Jessel, George)
- Penn Jillette (b. 1955) American stage magician, actor, musician, author (Jillette, Penn)
- Steve Jobs (1955-2011) American computer inventor, entrepreneur (Jobs, Steve)
- William Martin "Billy" Joel (b. 1949) American singer, songwriter, pianist (Joel, Billy)
- Jake Johannsen (b. 1960) American comedian (Johannsen, Jake)
- St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) Syrian prelate, preacher, Church Father (John Chrysostom)
- St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) Spanish theologian, mystic [b. Juan de Yepes] (John of the Cross)
- Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) Polish-born Catholic Pontiff (1978-2005) [b. Karol Józef Wojtyła] (John Paul II (Pope))
- St. John XXIII (1881-1963) Italian Catholic Pontiff (1958-63) [Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli] (John XXIII)
- Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (1912-2007) American First Lady, beautification activist [nee Claudia Alton Taylor] (Johnson, Claudia "Lady Bird")
- George Clayton Johnson (1929-2015) American writer (Johnson, George Clayton)
- Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963-69) (Johnson, Lyndon)
- Paul Johnson (b. 1928) English journalist, historian, speechwriter, author (Johnson, Paul)
- Philander Johnson (1866-1939) American journalist, humorist, lyricist, playwright (Johnson, Philander)
- Richard Mentor Johnson (1781-1850) US politician, Vice-President (1837-1841) (Johnson, Richard Mentor)
- Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic (Johnson, Samuel)
- Spencer Johnson (b. 1940) American psychologist, author (Johnson, Spencer)
- Denis Johnston (1901-1984) Irish writer, playwright, critic [William Denis Johnston] (Johnston, Denis)
- Emily Kate (E. K.) Johnston (contemp.) Canadian author (Johnston, E. K.)
- Lynn Johnston (b. 1947) Canadian cartoonist (Johnston, Lynn)
- Al Jolson (1886-1950) Lithuanian-American singer, songwriger, comedian, actor [b. Asa Yoelson] (Jolson, Al)
- Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones, Jr. (1902-1971) American amateur golfer, lawyer (Jones, Bobby)
- Chuck Jones (1912-2002) American animator, screenwriter, producer, and director (Jones, Chuck)
- Ernest Jones (1879-1958) Welsh neurologist and psychoanalyst (Jones, Ernest)
- Franklin P. Jones (1908-1980) American journalist, humorist, public relations executive (Jones, Franklin P.)
- Jesse Holman Jones (1874–1956) American politician, entrepreneur (Jones, Jesse Holman)
- Laurie Beth Jones (b. 1952) American author, motivational speaker, leadership coach (Jones, Laurie Beth)
- Lucile M. "Lucy" Jones (b. 1955) American seismologist (Jones, Lucy)
- Mary Harris "Mother" Jones (1860-1930) American labor leader [a.k.a. Mother Jones] (Jones, Mary Harris "Mother")
- Robert Jones, Jr. (b. 1971) American writer [a.k.a. "Son of Baldwin"] (Jones, Robert Jr.)
- Terry Jones (1942-2020) Welsh comedian, screenwriter, director, author (Jones, Terry)
- Thomas F. Jones, Jr. (1916-1981) American educator (Jones, Thomas F.)
- Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones (b. 1968) American news commentator, author, lawyer (Jones, Van)
- Erica Jong (b. 1942) American writer, poet (Jong, Erica)
- Ben Jonson (1572-1637) English playwright and poet (Jonson, Ben)
- Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) American politician, activist, legislator (Jordan, Barbara)
- David Starr Jordan (1851-1931) American biologist and educator (Jordan, David Starr)
- Michael Jordan (b. 1963) American basketball pro (Jordan, Michael)
- Chief Joseph (1840-1904) Leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Percé [Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it] (Joseph, Chief)
- Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet (Joubert, Joseph)
- Robert de Jouvenel (1882–1924) French journalist (Jouvenel, Robert de)
- Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893) English classical scholar and theologian (Jowett, Benjamin)
- James Joyce (1882-1941) Irish writer, poet (Joyce, James)
- Naomi Judd (b. 1946) American singer, songwriter [b. Diana Ellen Judd] (Judd, Naomi)
- Julian II (AD 331-363), Emperor of Rome (355-363) [Flavius Claudius Julianus; Julian the Apostate; Julian the Philosopher] (Julian II (Emperor))
- Juliana of Norwich (1342-1417) English mystic (Juliana of Norwich)
- Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) Roman general and statesman [Gaius Julius Caesar] (Julius Caesar)
- Carl Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychologist (Jung, Carl)
- Justinian I (c. 482-565) Byzantine emperor [Justinian the Great] (Justinian I)
- Juvenal (c.55-127) Roman satirist [Decimus Junius Juvinalis] (Juvenal)
- Kabir Jayanti (1440-1518) Indian Sufi mystic and poet (Kabir)
- Pauline Kael (1919-2001) American movie critic (Kael, Pauline)
- Franz Kafka (1883-1924) Czech-Austrian Jewish writer (Kafka, Franz)
- Alice Kahn (b. 1943) American nurse practitioner and humorist (Kahn, Alice)
- Henry J. Kaiser (1882-1967) American industrialist (Kaiser, Henry J.)
- Diane Kalen-Sukra (contemp.) Canadian author, consultant (Kalen-Sukra, Diane)
- Stefan Kanfer (1933-2018) American writer, editor, journalist (Kanfer, Stefan)
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) German philosopher (Kant, Immanuel)
- Ryszard Kapuściński (1932-2007) Polish journalist, photographer, poet, author (Kapuscinski, Ryszard)
- Alphonse Karr (1808-1890) French journalist and novelist (Karr, Alphonse)
- Lawrence Kasdan (b. 1949) American screenwriter, director, producer (Kasdan, Lawrence)
- Charlotte Kasl (d. 2021) American psychologist and author (Kasl, Charlotte)
- John Kass (b. 1956) American journalist, columnist (Kass, John)
- Charlie Kaufman (b. 1958) American film producer, writer (Kaufman, Charlie)
- Margo Kaufman (1954-2000) American writer, humorist, screenwriter (Kaufman, Margo)
- Kenneth Kaunda (1924-2021) Zambian teacher, revolutionary, politician (Kaunda, Kenneth)
- Roz Kaveney (b. 1949) British writer, critic, poet (Kaveney, Roz)
- Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957) Greek writer and philosopher (Kazantzakis, Nikos)
- John Keats (1795-1821) English poet (Keats, John)
- Sam Keen (b. 1931) American author, professor, philosopher (Keen, Sam)
- Garrison Keillor (b. 1942) American entertainer, author (Keillor, Garrison)
- Kip Keino (b. 1940) Kenyan athlete [Kipchoge Keino] (Keino, Kip)
- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American author and lecturer (Keller, Helen)
- James Keller (1900-1977) American Catholic priest, inspirational speaker, television personality (Keller, James)
- Walt Kelly (1913-1973) American animator and cartoonist [Walter Crawford Kelly, Jr.] (Kelly, Walt)
- William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) Scottish physicist (Kelvin (Lord))
- Murray Kempton (1917-1997) American journalist. (Kempton, Murray)
- Sally Kempton (b. 1943) American writer, feminist (Kempton, Sally)
- Thomas Ken (1637-1711) English cleric, poet, hymnist (Ken, Thomas)
- Paul Murray Kendall (1911-1973) American academic and historian (Kendall, Paul Murray)
- Alexander Kendrick (1910-1991) American journalist (Kendrick, Alexander)
- George Kennan (1845-1924) American explorer, journalist, activist, lecturer (Kennan, George)
- Alison Louise "A. L." Kennedy (b. 1965) Scottish writer and comedian (Kennedy, A. L.)
- Anthony Kennedy (b. 1936) US Supreme Court Justice (Kennedy, Anthony)
- Charles Kennedy (1871-1950) Anglo-American dramatist (Kennedy, Charles)
- Eugene Kennedy (1928-2015) American psychologist, essayist, academic (Kennedy, Eugene)
- Florynce "Flo" Kennedy (1916-2000) American lawyer, feminist, civil rights activist (Kennedy, Florynce)
- John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) US President (1961-63) (Kennedy, John F.)
- Marilyn Moats Kennedy (1943-2017) American educator, business and career consultant, writer (Kennedy, Marilyn Moats)
- Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-1968) American politician (Kennedy, Robert F.)
- Sister Elizabeth Kenny (1886-1952) Australian nurse (Kenny, Elizabeth)
- Hugh E. Keough (1864-1912) Canadian-American sports journalist (Keough, Hugh E.)
- Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) German astronomer (Kepler, Johannes)
- Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) Canadian-American novelist and poet (Kerouac, Jack)
- Jean Kerr (1922-2003) American author and playwright [b. Bridget Jean Collins] (Kerr, Jean)
- Morris N. Kertzer (1910-1983) American rabbi, writer (Kertzer, Morris N.)
- Ken Kesey (1935-2001) American novelist, essayist, countercultural figure (Kesey, Ken)
- Charles F. Kettering (1876-1958) American inventor, engineer, researcher, businessman (Kettering, Charles F.)
- Ellen Key (1849-1926) Swedish feminist and writer (Key, Ellen)
- Daniel F. Keyes (1927-2014) American author (Keyes, Daniel)
- Ralph Keyes (b. 1945) American author. (Keyes, Ralph)
- John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) English economist (Keynes, John Maynard)
- Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989) Iranian Shia Muslim religious leader, revolutionary, politician (Khomeini, Ruhollah)
- Carolyn Ann "Callie" Khouri (b. 1957) American screenwriter, producer, director, feminist (Khouri, Callie)
- Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Danish philosopher, theologian (Kierkegaard, Soren)
- Emily Kimbrough (1899-1989) American author and journalist (Kimbrough, Emily)
- Billie Jean King (b. 1943) American tennis player (King, Billie Jean)
- Charles King (b. 1967) American historian, political scientist, academic, author (King, Charles)
- Coretta Scott King (1927-2006) American author, activist, civil rights leader (King, Coretta Scott)
- David Tyron "Ty" King (b. 1959) American screenwriter, television producer (King, David Tyron)
- Greg King (b. 1964) American author and biographer (King, Greg)
- Irving King (fl. 1920s) British songwriter [pseud. of Jimmy Campbell (1903-1967) and Reg Connelly (c. 1895-1963)] (King, Irving)
- Laurie R. King (b. 1952) American author (King, Laurie R.)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher (King, Martin Luther)
- Martin Luther King III (b. 1957) American human rights advocate and civil rights activist (King, Martin Luther III)
- Stephen King (b. 1947) American author (King, Stephen)
- Stoddard King (1889-1933) American author and songwriter (King, Stoddard)
- Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) English clergyman, historian, essayist, novelist (pseud. "Parson Lot") (Kingsley, Charles)
- Hugh Kingsmill (1889-1949) English biographer, literary critic, man of letters [pen name of Hugh Kingsmill Lunn] (Kingsmill, Hugh)
- Barbara Kingsolver (b. 1955) American novelist, essayist, poet (Kingsolver, Barbara)
- Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) American biologist, entomologist, zoologist, sex researcher (Kinsey, Alfred)
- Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) English writer (Kipling, Rudyard)
- Lisa Kirk (1925-1990) American actress and singer (Kirk, Lisa)
- Walter Kirn (b. 1962) American novelist, literary critic, essayist (Kirn, Walter)
- Henry Kissinger (1923-2024) German-American diplomat (Kissinger, Henry)
- Eartha Kitt (1927-2008) American singer and actress (Kitt, Eartha)
- Abbott Eliot "A. E." Kittredge (1834-1912) American clergyman and Presbyterian leader(Kittredge, A. E.)
- Orrin E. Klapp (1915-1997) American sociologist (Klapp, Orrin E.)
- Paul Klee (1879-1940) Swiss-German artist (Klee, Paul)
- Marty Klein (b. 1950) American sex therapist, author, public policy analyst (Klein, Marty)
- Grenville Kleiser (1868-1953) Canadian-American self-help author (Kleiser, Grenville)
- Jeffrey Kluger (b. 1954) American journalist, author (Kluger, Jeffrey)
- Caroline Knapp (1959-2002) American writer and columnist (Knapp, Caroline)
- Frank H. Knight (1885-1972) American economist, academic (Knight, Frank)
- DeAnna Knippling (contemp.) American writer (Knippling, DeAnna)
- Judith M. Knowlton (contemp.) American motivational writer (Knowlton, Judith M.)
- Ronald Knox (1888-1957) English priest, theologian, author, broadcaster (Knox, Ronald)
- Donald E. Knuth (b. 1938) American computer scientist, mathematician, academic (Knuth, Donald E.)
- Ed Koch (1924-2013) American lawyer, politician, political commentator (Koch, Ed)
- Alfred Koestler (1905-1983) Hungarian-English novelist, essayist (Koestler, Alfred)
- Elizabeth Kolbert (b. 1961) American journalist and author (Kolbert, Elizabeth)
- Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) German artist (Kollwitz, Käthe)
- Dean Koontz (b. 1945) American writer [also writes as Leigh Nichols] (Koontz, Dean)
- Andrew Kopkind (1935-1994) American journalist (Kopkind, Andrew)
- Ted Koppel (b. 1940) Anglo-American journalist [Edward James Koppel] (Koppel, Ted)
- Alfred Korzybski (1879-1950) American semanticist (Korzybski, Alfred)
- Midori Koto (b. 1971) Japanese violinist [a.k.a. Midori Goto, Midori] (Koto, Midori)
- Jonathan Kozol (b. 1936) American non-fiction writer, educator, activist (Kozol, Jonathan)
- Karl Kraus (1874-1936) Austrian writer, journalist, aphorist (Kraus, Karl)
- Charles Krauthammer (1950-2018) American columnist and political commentator (Krauthammer, Charles)
- Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986) Indian philosopher, mystic, orator (Krishnamurti, Jiddu)
- Nicholas Kristof (b. 1959) American journalist and political commentator (Kristof, Nicholas)
- Kris Kristofferson (b. 1936) American singer, songwriter, musician, actor (Kristofferson, Kris)
- Alfred Louis "A. L." Kroeber (1876-1960) American cultural anthropologist (Kroeber, A. L.)
- August Krogh (1874-1949) Danish zoophysiologist, academic (Krogh, August)
- Louis Kronenberger (1904-1980) American critic, novelist, biographer (Kronenberger, Louis)
- Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921) Russian activist, scientist, philosopher, anarchist (Kropotkin, Peter)
- Paul Krugman (b. 1953) American economist, author (Krugman, Paul)
- Nikita S. Krushchev (1894-1971) Soviet politician (Krushchev, Nikita S.)
- Joseph Wood Krutch (1893-1970) American educator, writer, critic, naturalist (Krutch, Joseph Wood)
- Mike Krzyzewski (b. 1947) American college basketball coach ["Coach K"] (Krzyzewski, Mike)
- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004) Swiss-American psychiatrist, author (Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth)
- Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) American film director, screenwriter, producer (Kubrick, Stanley)
- Dennis Kucinich (b. 1946) American politician (Kucinich, Dennis)
- Milan Kundera (b. 1929) Czech-French novelist, playwright, poet (Kundera, Milan)
- Charles Kuralt (1934-1997) American journalist (Kuralt, Charles)
- Michael Kurland (b. 1938) American writer (Kurland, Michael)
- Harold S. Kushner (b. 1935) American author, rabbi (Kushner, Harold S.)
- Tony Kushner (b. 1956) American playwright and screenwriter (Kushner, Tony)
- Louis L'Amour (1908-1988) American writer (L'Amour, Louis)
- Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos (1620-1705) French author, courtesan, patron of the arts [Ninon de Lenclos, Ninon de Lanclos] (L'Enclos, Ninon de)
- Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer (L'Engle, Madeleine)
- Roger L'Estrange (1616-1704) English journalist and pamphleteer (L'Estrange, Roger)
- Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist (La Bruyere, Jean de)
- Suzanne La Follette (1893-1983) American journalist, author, feminist (La Follette, Suzanne)
- Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) French fabulist and poet (La Fontaine, Jean de)
- Charles Varlet, Marquis de La Grange (1639-1692) (La Grange, Marquis de)
- Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709-1751) French physician and philosopher (La Mettrie, Julien Offray de)
- François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble (La Rochefoucauld, Francois)
- Matt Labash (b. 1971) American journalist (Labash, Matt)
- Patti LaBelle (b. 1944) American singer, author, actress [stage name for Patricia Louise Holt-Edwards] (LaBelle, Patti)
- Henry Du Pré Labouchère (1831-1912) English politician, writer, publisher (Labouchere, Henry)
- Jules Laforgue (1860-1887) Franco-Uruguayan Symbolist poet (Laforgue, Jules)
- Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947) American lawyer, politician, Mayor of New York (1934-45). (LaGuardia, Fiorello)
- John Lahr (b. 1941) British-based American theater critic, author (Lahr, John)
- R. D. Laing (1927-1989) Scottish psychiatrist [Ronald David Laing] (Laing, R. D.)
- George Lakoff (b. 1941) American cognitive linguist and philosopher (Lakoff, George)
- Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar (1798-1859) Texas politician, poet, diplomat, soldier (Lamar, Mirabeau)
- Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) French natural historian (Lamarck, Jean Baptiste)
- Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) Austrian-American film actress and inventor [b, Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler] (Lamarr, Hedy)
- Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869) French poet and statesman (Lamartine, Alphonse de)
- Charles Lamb (1775-1834) Welsh-English essayist (Lamb, Charles)
- Anne Lamott (b. 1954) American novelist and non-fiction writer (Lamott, Anne)
- Ann Landers (1918-2002) American advice columnist [pseud. for Eppie Lederer] (Landers, Ann)
- Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802-1838) English poet and novelist [a/k/a L.E.L.] (Landon, Letitia Elizabeth)
- Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English writer and poet (Landor, Walter Savage)
- Anthony Lane (b. 1962) British journalist, film critic (Lane, Anthony)
- Rose Wilder Lane (1886-1968) American journalist, travel writer, novelist, political theorist (Lane, Rose Wilder)
- Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane (1856-1938) Scottish orthopedic surgeon and writer (Lane, W. Arbuthnot)
- Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish writer, journalist, historian (Lang, Andrew)
- William Langland (1330-1387) English author (Langland, William)
- Noel Langley (1911-1980) South African-American novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director. (Langley, Noel)
- Lao-tzu (604?-531? BC) Chinese philosopher, poet [also Lao-tse, Laozi] (Lao-tzu)
- Lewis H. Lapham (b. 1935) American writer and editor (Lapham, Lewis H.)
- Pierre-Simon, Marquis de Laplace (1749-1827) French mathematician, astronomer (Laplace, Pierre-Simon)
- Frances Moore Lappé (b. 1944) American writer, activist (Lappé, Frances)
- Adair Lara (b. 1952) American writer, columnist, teacher (Lara, Adair)
- Ring Lardner (1885-1933) American sports columnist and writer [Ringgold Wilmer Lardner] (Lardner, Ring)
- Philip Larkin (1922-1985) English poet, novelist, librarian (Larkin, Philip)
- Doug Larson (1902-1981) American journalist (Larson, Doug)
- Christopher (Kit) Lasch (1932-1994) American historian, moralist, social critic (Lasch, Christopher)
- Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941) German chess player, mathematician (Lasker, Emanuel)
- Hugh Latimer (1487-1555) English cleric, academic, martyr (Latimer, Hugh)
- Evelyn Lauder (1936-2011) Austrian-American businesswoman, philanthropist (Lauder, Evelyn H.)
- Charles Laughton (1899-1962) British actor (Laughton, Charles)
- Hugh Laurie (b. 1959) English actor, writer, musician, singer (Laurie, Hugh)
- Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801) Swiss poet, theologian, physiognomist. (Lavater, Johann Kaspar)
- Lynn Lavner (contemp.) American comedian, pianist, singer (Lavner, Lynn)
- Vernon S. Law (b. 1930) American baseball player, writer (Law, Vernon S.)
- William Law (1686-1761) English spiritual writer, mystic (Law, William)
- David Herbert "D. H." Lawrence (1885-1930) English novelist (Lawrence, D. H.)
- Jerome Lawrence (1915-2004) American playwright and author [b. Jerome Lawrence Schwartz] (Lawrence, Jerome)
- T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British officer, diplomat, linguist, memoirist, writer [Thomas Edward Lawrence, a/k/a T. E. Shaw, "Lawrence of Arabia"] (Lawrence, T. E.)
- Henry Lawson (1867-1922) Australian writer and poet (Lawson, Henry)
- Irving Layton (1912-2006) Romanian-Canadian poet [b. Israel Pincu Lazarovitch] (Layton, Irving)
- Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) American poet (Lazarus, Emma)
- John le Carré (1931-2020) English novelist, intelligence officer [pseud. of David Moore Cornwell] (Le Carre, John)
- Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) American writer (Le Guin, Ursula K.)
- Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) Canadian economist, writer and humorist (Leacock, Stephen)
- C.W. Leadbeater (1846-1934) American Theosophist [Charles Webster Leadbeater] (Leadbeater, C.W.)
- Patrick Leahy (b. 1940) US Senator (D-VT) (Leahy, Patrick)
- Edward Lear (1812-1888) English artist, musician, author, poet (Lear, Edward)
- Norman Lear (1922-2023) American television writer-producer (Lear, Norman)
- Robert Keith Leavitt (1895-1967) American author and advertising copywriter (Leavitt, Robert Keith)
- Gustave LeBon (1841-1931) German psychologist (LeBon, Gustave)
- Fran Lebowitz (b. 1950) American journalist (Lebowitz, Fran)
- Stanislaw Lec (1909-1966) Polish aphorist, poet, satirist (Lec, Stanislaw)
- William Lecky (1838-1903) Irish historian (Lecky, William)
- Charles Lederer (1910-1976) American screenwriter (Lederer, Charles)
- Jules W. Lederer (1917?-1999) American businessman (Lederer, Jules W.)
- Harper Lee (1926-2016) American writer [Nellie Harper Lee] (Lee, Harper)
- Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) American military leader (Lee, Robert E.)
- Stan Lee (1922-2018) American comic-book writer, publisher, media personality [b. Stanley Martin Lieber] (Lee, Stan)
- Gershon Legman (1917-1999) American writer (Legman, Gershon)
- Dennis Lehane (b. 1965) American novelist, screenwriter (Lehane, Dennis)
- Ernest Lehman (1915-2005) American screenwriter (Lehman, Ernest)
- John F. Lehman, Jr. (b. 1942) U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1981-87), investment banker, writer (Lehman, John F.)
- Tom Lehrer (b. 1928) American mathematician, satirist, songwriter (Lehrer, Tom)
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) German mathematician, philosopher, diplomat, polymath (Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm)
- Robert Leighton (1611-1684) Scottish prelate, classical scholar (Leighton, Robert)
- Charles Godfrey Leland (1824-1903) American humorist, journalist, folklorist (Leland, Charles Godfrey)
- John Leland (1754-1841) American Baptist minister, civil libertarian (Leland, John)
- Jack Lemmon (1925-2001) American actor [John Uhler Lemmon III] (Lemmon, Jack)
- Vladimir Ilich Lenin (1870-1924) Russian politician, revolutionary, political theorist [b. Vladimir Ilich Ulyamov] (Lenin, Vladimir Ilich)
- John Lennon (1940-1980) English rock musician, singer, songwriter (Lennon, John)
- Nathan H. Lents (b. 1978) American biologist, author, academic (Lents, Nathan)
- Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) Italian Catholic pontiff (1878-1903) [b. Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci] (Leo XIII)
- Elmore Leonard (1925-2013) American novelist and screenwriter (Leonard, Elmore)
- George Leonard (1923-2010) American writer, editor, and educator (Leonard, George)
- Gloria Leonard (1940-2014) American porn actress, publisher, activist [b. Gale Sandra Klinetsky] (Leonard, Gloria)
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian artist, engineer, scientist, polymath (Leonardo da Vinci)
- Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) American conservationist, forester, ecologist (Leopold, Aldo)
- Leotychidas (c. 545–469 BC) Spartan king [Leotychides, Latychidas] (Leotychidas)
- Abba Lerner (1903-1982) Romanian-American economist (Lerner, Abba)
- Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986) American dramatist, lyricist, composer (Lerner, Alan Jay)
- Maxwell "Max" Lerner (1902-1992) American journalist, columnist, educator (Lerner, Max)
- Doris Lessing (1919-2013) British author, biographer, playwright [b. Doris May Tayler] (Lessing, Doris)
- Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781) German playwright, philosopher, dramaturg, writer (Lessing, Gotthold)
- David Letterman (b. 1947) American comic, talk show host (Letterman, David)
- Elmer G. Letterman (1897-1982) American insurance broker, salesman, author (Letterman, Elmer G.)
- Oscar Levant (1906-1972) American pianist, composer, actor, wit (Levant, Oscar)
- Sam Levenson (1911-1980) American humorist, author (Levenson, Sam)
- Aaron Levenstein (1910-1986) American academic (Levenstein, Aaron)
- Kelley Leverich (contemp.) (Leverich, Kelley)
- Primo Levi (1919-1987) Italian Jewish chemist and writer (Levi, Primo)
- Bernard Levin (1928-2004) British journalist, critic, broadcaster, satirist (Levin, Bernard)
- Emily Levine (1944-2019) American humorist, writer, actress, speaker (Levine, Emily)
- Steven Levitt (b. 1967) American economist and author (Levitt, Steven)
- Ronald Lewin (1914-1984) British military historian, radio producer publishing editor (Lewin, Ronald)
- Anthony Lewis (1927-2013) American journalist, political critic, intellectual, writer (Lewis, Anthony)
- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis] (Lewis, C.S.)
- Carl Lewis (b. 1961) American Olympic athlete (Lewis, Carl)
- Charlton Miner Lewis (1866-1923) American scholar of English literature, author (Lewis, Charlton Miner)
- Jerry Lewis (1926-2017) American comic actor, filmmaker, philanthropist (Lewis, Jerry)
- John Lewis (1940-2020) American politician and civil rights leader (Lewis, John)
- Joseph Lewis (1889-1968) American activist, publisher, educator (Lewis, Joseph)
- Sam M. Lewis (1885-1959) American singer and lyricist (Lewis, Sam M.)
- Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) American novelist, playwright (Lewis, Sinclair)
- Li Yu (1610-1680) Chinese playwright, novelist, publisher (Li Yu)
- Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German physicist, writer (Lichtenberg, Georg C.)
- B. H. Liddell Hart (1895-1970) English soldier, military historian (Basil Henry Liddell Hart) (Liddell Hart, B. H.)
- G. Gordon Liddy (1930-2021) American political operative, commentator, actor (Liddy, G. Gordon)
- James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist (Lileks, James)
- Lin Yu-t'ang (1895-1976) Chinese writer (Lin Yu-t'ang)
- Lin-Chi (1915-1973) Chinese T'ang master (Lin-Chi)
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65) (Lincoln, Abraham)
- Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882) American First Lady (Lincoln, Mary Todd)
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906-2001) American writer, pilot (Lindbergh, Anne Morrow)
- Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) American aviator and author (Lindbergh, Charles)
- Eduard C. Lindeman (1885-1953) American educator (Lindeman, Eduard C.)
- Ben Lindsey (1869-1943) American jurist and social reformer [Benjamin Barr Lindsey] (Lindsey, Ben)
- Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, physician [Carl von Linné, Carolus Linnæus] (Linnaeus, Carl)
- Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) American journalist and author (Lippmann, Walter)
- Toby Litt (b. 1968) English writer and academic (Litt, Toby)
- Mary Wilson Little (fl. c. 1905) American writer (Little, Mary Wilson)
- Penelope Lively (b. 1933) British writer (Lively, Penelope)
- Livy (59 BC-AD 17) Roman historian [Titus Livius] (Livy)
- David Lloyd George (1863-1945) Welsh politician, statesman, UK Prime Minister (1916-22) (Lloyd George, David)
- Henry Demarest Lloyd (1847-1903) American political activist and journalist (Lloyd, Henry Demerest)
- Arnold Lobel (1933-1987) American author, illustrator (Lobel, Arnold)
- John Locke (1632-1704) English philosopher (Locke, John)
- David Lodge (b. 1935) English author, literary critic (Lodge, David)
- Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. (1850-1924) American politician and historian (Lodge, Henry Cabot)
- Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1902-1985) American politician and diplomat (Lodge, Henry Cabot, Jr.)
- Sophie Irene Loeb (1876-1929) Ukrainian-American journalist, activist (Loeb, Sophie Irene)
- Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) American football coach (Lombardi, Vince)
- Jack London (1876-1916) American novelist (London, Jack)
- Long Chen Pa (fl. 14th C.) Tibetan Dzogchen master (Long, Chen Pa)
- Earl Kemp Long (1895-1960) American politician, orator. (Long, Earl)
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) American poet (Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth)
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980) American writer and socialite (Longworth, Alice Roosevelt)
- Lili Loofbourow (contemp.) American essayist, critic, author (Loofbourow, Lili)
- Anita Loos (1893-1981) American screenwriter, dramatist, author (Loos, Anita)
- Audre Lorde (1934-1992) American writer, feminist, civil rights activist (Lorde, Audre)
- Sophia Loren (b. 1934) Italian actress [Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone] (Loren, Sophia)
- Konrad Lorenz (1903-1989) Austrian zoologist, ethologist, ornithologist (Lorenz, Konrad)
- George Horace Lorimer (1867-1937) American journalist, author, magazine editor (Lorimer, George Horace)
- Louis XIV (1638-1715) French monarch (1643-1715) [Louis the Great, the Sun King) (Louis XIV)
- Louis XVIII (1755-1824) French monarch (1814-1824) ["Louis the Desired"] (Louis XVIII)
- Joe Louis (1914-1981) American boxer [Joseph Louis Barrow] (Louis, Joe)
- H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) American fabulist [Howard Phillips Lovecraft] (Lovecraft, H. P.)
- Richard Lovelace (1617-1657) English poet (Lovelace, Richard)
- Amy Lowell (1874-1925) American poet (Lowell, Amy)
- James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) American diplomat, essayist, poet (Lowell, James Russell)
- Bernard Lown (1921-2021) Lithuanian-American cardiologist, inventor, Nobel Prize Laureate (Lown, Bernard)
- John Lubbock, Lord Avebury (1834-1913) British banker, politician, polymath (Lubbock, John)
- Lucan (AD 39-65) Roman poet [Marcus Annaeus Lucanus] (Lucan)
- F. L. Lucas (1894-1967) British literary writer, editor, poet [Frank Laurence Lucas] (Lucas, F. L.)
- John Meredyth Lucas (1919-2002) American screenwriter (Lucas, John Meredyth)
- Halford E. Luccock (1885-1960) American theologian (Luccock, Halford E.)
- Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987) American dramatist, diplomat, politician (Luce, Clare Boothe)
- Lucian (c. AD 120 - after 180) Assyrian rhetoric, satirist [Lucian of Samasota] (Lucian)
- Lucius Accius (170-c. 86 BC) Roman tragic poet, literary scholar [a.k.a. Lucius Attius] (Lucius Accius)
- Lucretius (c. 100-c. 55 BC) Roman poet [Titus Luretius Carus] (Lucretius)
- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German religious reformer (Luther, Martin)
- John Lyly (c. 1553-1606) was an English writer [also Lilly or Lylie] (Lyly, John)
- David Lynch (b. 1946) American filmmaker and director (Lynch, David)
- Robert Lynd (1892-1970) American sociologist [Robert Slaughton Lynd] (Lynd, Robert)
- Robert Wilson Lynd (1879-1949) British writer, literary essayist, journalist, and Irish nationalist (Lynd, Robert Wilson)
- J. Russell Lynes (1910-1991) American educator, critic, writer (Lynes, J. Russell)
- Jonathan Lynn (b. 1943) English actor, comedy writer, director (Lynn, Jonathan)
- Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) English divine and hymnist (Lyte, Henry Francis)
- Jackie "Moms" Mabley (1894-1975) American standup comedian [stage name of Loretta Mary Aiken] (Mabley, Moms)
- Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) American general (MacArthur, Douglas)
- Rose Macaulay (1881-1958) English writer (Macaulay, Rose)
- Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) English writer and politician (Macaulay, Thomas Babington)
- Ewan MacColl (1915-1989) Scottish folk singer, songwriter, labour activist, playwright [stage name of James Henry (Jimmy) Miller] (MacColl, Ewan)
- George MacDonald (1824-1905) Scottish novelist, poet (MacDonald, George)
- John D. MacDonald (1916–1986) American author (MacDonald, John D.)
- Ross Macdonald (1915-1983) American-Canadian author [pseud. of Kenneth Millar] (Macdonald, Ross)
- John Macdonell (1846-1921) British jurist (Macdonell, John)
- Arthur Machen (1863-1947) Welsh author and mystic (Machen, Arthur)
- Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) Italian politician, philosopher, political scientist (Machiavelli, Niccolo)
- William "Bill" Machrone (1946-2016) American technology columnist, editor (Machrone, Bill)
- Helen MacInnes (1907-1985) Scottish-American writer (MacInnes, Helen)
- Alasdair MacIntyre (b. 1929) Scottish philosopher (MacIntyre, Alasdair)
- Charles Mackay (1814-1889) Scottish poet, journalist, song writer (Mackay, Charles)
- Katherine MacKenett (b. c. 1984) American writer, editor (MacKennett, Katherine)
- Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832) Scottish administrator, jurist, philosopher (Mackintosh, James)
- Shirley MacLaine (b. 1934) American actress, dancer, activist, author (MacLaine, Shirley)
- Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910) Scots-English minister, homilist (Maclaren, Alexander)
- Alistair MacLean (1922-1987) Scottish novelist (pen name Ian Stuart) (MacLean, Alistair)
- Archibald MacLeish (1892–1982) American poet, writer, statesman (MacLeish, Archibald)
- Harold Macmillan (1894-1986) British politician, UK Prime Minister (1957-63) (Macmillan, Harold)
- James Madison (1751-1836) American statesman, political theorist, US President (1809-17) (Madison, James)
- Madonna (b. 1958) American singer, actress [b. Louise Veronica Ciccone] (Madonna)
- Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949) Belgian poet, dramatist, essayist (Maeterlinck, Maurice)
- John Gillespie Magee Jr. (1922-1941) Anglo-American pilot and poet (Magee, John Gillespie)
- Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) Portuguese explorer (Magellan, Ferdinand)
- Rosalie Maggio (1944-2021) American writer (Maggio, Rosalie)
- Tom Magliozzi (1937-2014) American mechanic, radio personality [of Click & Clack, the Tappet Brothers] (Magliozzi, Tom)
- A. T. Mahan (1840-1914) American admiral, strategist, historian [Alfred Thayer Mahan] (Mahan, A. T.)
- William "Bill" Maher (b. 1956) American comedian, political commentator, critic, television host. (Maher, Bill)
- Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006) Egyptian writer (Mahfouz, Naguib)
- Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Austrian Jewish composer and conductor (Mahler, Gustav)
- Norman Mailer (1923-2007) American novelist, journalist, playwright, activist (Mailer, Norman)
- Maimonides (1135-1204) Spanish Jewish philosopher, scholar, astronomer, physician [Moses ben Maimon, Rambam, רמב״ם] (Maimonides)
- David H. Maister (b. 1947) American academic, writer, management consultant (Maister, David H.)
- F. W. Maitland (1850-1906) English legal historian and jurist [Frederic William Maitland] (Maitland, F. W.)
- Bernard Malamud (1914-1986) American author (Malamud, Bernard)
- Malcolm X (1925-1965) American revolutionary, religious leader [b. Malcolm Little] (Malcolm X)
- Patrick Murphy Malin (1903-1964.) American civil rights activist and administrator (Malin, Patrick Murphy)
- Robert Mallet (1915-2002) French novelist, poet, playwright, academician (Mallet, Robert)
- Jef Mallett (b. 1962) American comic strip writer, artist (Mallett, Jef)
- Dudley F. Malone (1882-1950) American diplomat (Malone, Dudley F.)
- Thomas Malory (c. 1415-1471) English writer (Malory, Thomas)
- Maxwell Maltz (1899-1975) American author, dramatist, plastic surgeon (Maltz, Maxwell)
- Albert Paul Malvino (b. 1931) American electrical engineer, educational writer (Malvino, Albert P.)
- David Mamet (b. 1947) American writer, playwright, director (Mamet, David)
- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) South African revolutionary, politician, statesman (Mandela, Nelson)
- Mieczysław Maneli (1922-1994) Polish lawyer, diplomat, jurist, academic (Maneli, Mieczyslaw)
- Edouard Manet (1832-1883) French painter, sculptor (Manet, Edouard)
- Joseph Mankiewicz (1909-1993) American screenwriter, director, producer (Mankiewicz, Joseph)
- Abby Mann (1927-2008) American screenwriter, producer [a.k.a. Abraham Goodman, Ben Goodman] (Mann, Abby)
- Horace Mann (1796-1859) American educator (Mann, Horace)
- Thomas Mann (1875-1955) German writer, critic, philanthropist, Nobel laureate [Paul Thomas Mann] (Mann, Thomas)
- Marya Mannes (1904-1990) American author and critic [pen name "Sec"] (Mannes, Marya)
- Brennan Manning (1934-2013) American author, laicized priest, theologian, speaker [Richard Francis Xavier Manning] (Manning, Brennan)
- Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923) New Zealander writer, poet [pen name of Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp)] (Mansfield, Katherine)
- Hilary Mantel (b. 1952) English writer (Mantel, Hilary)
- Mao Zedong (1893-1976) Chinese revolutionary, political philosopher, statesman [a.k.a. Mao Tse-tung] (Mao Zedong)
- Jean-Paul Marat (1743-1793) French physician, political theorist, scientist, journalist (Marat, Jean-Paul)
- Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher (Marcus Aurelius)
- Orison Swett Marden (1848-1924) American magazine editor (Marden, Orison Swett)
- Jon Margolis (b. 1940) American journalist, author (Margolis, Jon)
- Javier Marías (b. 1951) Spanish novelist, translator, columnist (Marias, Javier)
- Marie de France (1160?-1215?) French poet (Marie de France)
- Pierre Marivaux (1688-1763) French dramatist, novelist (Marivaux, Pierre)
- Beryl Markham (1902-1986) Anglo-Kenyan aviatrix (Markham, Beryl)
- Edwin Markham (1852-1940) American poet (Markham, Edwin)
- Merrill Markoe (b. 1948) American author, screenwriter, comedian (Markoe, Merrill)
- Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) English dramatist and poet (Marlowe, Christopher)
- Margaret Maron (1938-2021) American writer (Maron, Margaret)
- Don Marquis (1878-1937) American journalist and humorist (Marquis, Don)
- Andrew Marr (b. 1959) Scottish journalist and political commentator (Marr, Andrew)
- Paule Marshall (1929-2019) American writer (Marshall Paule)
- John Marshall (1755-1835) American lawyer, politician, Supreme Court Chief Justice (1801-1835) (Marshall, John)
- Peter Marshall (1902-1949) Scottish-American preacher, author, Senate chaplain (Marshall, Peter)
- Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) American lawyer, US Supreme Court Justice (1967-1991) (Marshall, Thurgood)
- Ralph Marston (b. 1955) American writer, computer consultant (Marston, Ralph)
- William Moulton Marston (1893-1947) American psychologist, writer [pen name Charles Moulton] (Marston, William Moulton)
- Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis] (Martial)
- Edward Sandford Martin (1856-1939) American writer and editor (Martin, Edward Sandford)
- Everett Dean Martin (1880-1941) American educator, minister, writer, lecturer (Martin, Everett Dean)
- George R. R. Martin (b. 1948) American author and screenwriter [George Raymond Richard Martin] (Martin, George R. R.)
- Graham Dunstan Martin (1932-2021) British author, translator, philologist (Martin, Graham Dunstan)
- Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners] (Martin, Judith)
- Steve Martin (b. 1945) American comedian, actor, writer, producer, musician (Martin, Steve)
- Christy Marx (b. 1952) American screenwriter, photographer, game designer (Marx, Christy)
- Groucho Marx (1890-1977) American comedian [b. Julius Henry Marx] (Marx, Groucho)
- Arthur "Harpo" Marx (1888-1964) American comedian, actor, mime, musician [b. Adolph Marx] (Marx, Harpo)
- Karl Marx (1818-1883) German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist (Marx, Karl)
- Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) American psychologist (Maslow, Abraham)
- Andrew V. Mason (contemp.) American surgeon, author (Mason, Andrew V.)
- George Mason (1725-1792) American statesman, Founding Father [George Mason IV] (Mason, George)
- Suzanne Massie (contemp.) American writer, Russian historian (Massie, Suzanne)
- Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (b. 1941) American author (Masson, Jeffrey Moussaieff)
- Tom Masson (1866–1934) American anthropologist, editor, author, humorist [Thomas Lansing Masson] (Masson, Tom)
- Cotton Mather (1663-1728) American Puritan clergyman, writer (Mather, Cotton)
- Brett Matthews (b. c. 1978) American television screenwriter, author (Matthews, Brett)
- Don Juan Matus (contemp.) Yaqui Indian brujo, possibly a fictional character by Carlos Castañeda (Matus, Don Juan)
- W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) English novelist and playwright [William Somerset Maugham] (Maugham, W. Somerset)
- Bill Mauldin (1921-2003) American editorial cartoonist, writer (Mauldin, Bill)
- François Mauriac (1885-1970) French author, critic, journalist (Mauriac, Francois)
- André Maurois (1885-1967) French author [b. Émile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog] (Maurois, Andre)
- Mary Maverick (1906-1976) American peace activist [Mary Maverick Lloyd] (Maverick, Mary)
- Elsa Maxwell (1883-1963) American gossip columnist, author, songwriter, professional hostess (Maxwell, Elsa)
- Rollo May (1909-1994) American psychotherapist (May, Rollo)
- Benjamin Mays (1894-1984) American minister, educator, civil rights leader (Mays, Benjamin)
- Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) Italian social reformer (Mazzini, Giuseppe)
- Amanda McBroom (b. 1947) American singer-songwriter, actress (McBroom, Amanda)
- Donald McCaig (1940-2018) American writer, essayist, sheep farmer [pseud. Steven Ashley] (McCaig, Donald)
- John McCain (1936-2018) American naval aviator, politician (McCain, John)
- Mercedes McCambridge (1916-2004) American actress (McCambridge, Mercedes)
- Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023) American novelist, playwright, screenwriter (McCarthy, Cormac)
- Eugene McCarthy (1916-2005) American politician, poet, activist (McCarthy, Eugene)
- John McCarthy (1927-2011) American computer scientist, cognitive scientist, artificial intelligence pioneer (McCarthy, John)
- Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) American politician, attorney (McCarthy, Joseph)
- Mary McCarthy (1912-1989) American author, critic, political activist (McCarthy, Mary)
- Helen McCloy (1904-1994) American writer [pseud. Helen Clarkson] (McCloy, Helen)
- Mitch McConnell (b. 1942) American politician, US Senator (R-Ky) [Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr.] (McConnell, Mitch)
- Frank McCourt (1930-2009) Irish-American teacher and writer (McCourt, Frank)
- Elizabeth McCracken (b. 1966) American author (McCracken, Elizabeth)
- Carson McCullers (1917–1967), American writer (b. Lula Carson Smith) (McCullers, Carson)
- Colleen McCullough (1937-2015) Australian author (McCullough, Colleen)
- David McCullough (b. 1933) American author, narrator, historian, lecturer (McCullough, David)
- Jack McDevitt (b. 1935) American author (McDevitt, Jack)
- Thornton McEnery (contemp.) American business journalist (McEnery, Thornton)
- Ian McEwan (b. 1948) English novelist and screenwriter (McEwan, Ian)
- William McFee (1881-1966) English writer (McFee, William)
- Arthur Cushman "A. C." McGiffert (1861-1933) American religious historian, theologian (McGiffert, A. C.)
- Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978) American author, poet (McGinley, Phyllis)
- George McGovern (1922-2012) American historian, author, politician (McGovern, George)
- Jay McInerney (b. 1955) American novelist, screenwriter, editor [John Barrett McInerney, Jr.] (McInerney, Jay)
- Claude McKay (1889-1948) Jamaican-American writer, poet, journalist (McKay, Claude)
- Ruth McKenney (1911-1999) American writer (McKenney, Ruth)
- Bill McKibben (b. 1960) American environmentalist, writer (McKibben, Bill)
- William McKinley (1843-1901) US President (1897-1901) (McKinley, William)
- Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author (McLaughlin, Mignon)
- Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) Canadian philosopher, communication theorist, educator (McLuhan, Marshall)
- Larry McMurtry (b. 1936) American novelist, essayist, bookseller, screenwriter (McMurtry, Larry)
- Christopher McQuarrie (b. 1968) American screenwriter, director (McQuarrie, Christopher)
- David McRaney (contemp.) American journalist, author, lecturer (McRaney, David)
- Peter McWilliams (1950-2000) American writer (McWilliams, Peter)
- Margaret Mead (1901-1978) American anthropologist (Mead, Margaret)
- Marijane Meaker (1927-2022) American writer (pen names: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, M. E. Kerr) (Meaker, Marijane)
- Peter Medawar (1915-1987) British biologist, Nobel laureate (Medawar, Peter)
- Meiji (1852-1912) Emperor of Japan (1867-1912) [明治天皇, Meiji-tennō; b. Mutsuhito (睦仁)] (Meiji)
- Alexander Meiklejohn (1872-1964) Philosopher, university administrator, civil libertarian (Meiklejohn, Alexander)
- Golda Meir (1898-1978) Russian-American-Israeli politician, teacher; Prime Minister of Israel (1969-1974) (Meir, Golda)
- James H. Meisel (1900-1991) German-American political scientist, author (Meisel, James)
- Rupertus Meldenius (1582-1651) German writer [pseud. of Peter Meiderlin] (Meldenius, Rupertus)
- Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer (Melville, Herman)
- Menander (c. 341 - c. 290 BC) Greek comedic dramatist (Menander)
- Mencius (371-278 B.C.) Chinese philosopher (Mencius)
- H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) American writer and journalist [Henry Lewis Mencken] (Mencken, H. L.)
- Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859) Polish Hassidic philosopher, rabbi (Mendel, Menachem)
- Aubrey Menen (1912-1989) British writer, novelist, satirist, theatre critic (Menen, Aubrey)
- Robert G. Menzies (1894-1978) Australian politician (Menzies, Robert G.)
- George Meredith (1828-1909) English novelist and poet (Meredith, George)
- Thomas Merton (1915-1968) French-American religious and writer [a.k.a. Fr. M. Louis] (Merton, Thomas)
- W. S. Merwin (1927-2019) American poet [William Stanley Merwin] (Merwin, W. S.)
- Wilhelm Emil "Willy" Messerschmitt (1898-1978) German aircraft designer and manufacturer (Messerschmitt, Willy)
- Michelangelo (1475-1564) Italian artist, architect, poet [Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni] (Michelangelo)
- James A. Michener (1907-1997) American writer (Michener, James)
- Thomas Middleton (1580-1627) English Jacobean playwright and poet (Middleton, Thomas)
- Bette Midler (b. 1945) American singer, actress, comedian, author (Midler, Bette)
- Barbara Mikkelson (b. 1959) American urban folklorist (Mikkelson, Barbara)
- Barbara Mikulski (b. 1936) American politician (Mikulski, Barbara)
- Stanley Milgram (1933-1984) American social psychologist (Milgram, Stanley)
- John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) English philosopher and economist (Mill, John Stuart)
- Margaret Millar (1915-1994) American-Canadian mystery and suspense writer (Millar, Margaret)
- Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950) American poet (Millay, Edna St. Vincent)
- Alice Miller (1923-2010) Polish-Swiss psychologist, psychoanalyst, philosopher (Miller, Alice)
- Arthur Miller (1915–2005) American playwright and essayist (Miller, Arthur)
- Dennis Miller (b. 1953) American comedian, television personality (Miller, Dennis)
- Henry Miller (1891-1980) American novelist (Miller, Henry)
- Joaquin Miller (1837-1913) American poet [pen name of Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller] (Miller, Joaquin)
- John J. Miller (b. 1954) American writer (Miller, John J.)
- Olin Miller (fl. early 20th C) American humorist (Miller, Olin)
- Walter M. Miller Jr. (1923-1996) American science fiction writer (Miller, Walter M.)
- Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (1918-2002) Anglo-Irish comedian, writer, actor (Milligan, Spike)
- C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) American sociologist, academic, author [Charles Wright Mills] (Mills, C. Wright)
- A. A. Milne (1882-1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne] (Milne, A. A.)
- Frederick Milner (1849-1931) British politician (Milner, Frederick)
- Czesław Miłosz (1911-2004) Polish-Lithuanian poet, essayist, diplomat (Milosz, Czeslaw)
- John Milton (1608-1674) English poet (Milton, John)
- Tim Minear (b. 1963) American screenwriter and director (Minear, Tim)
- Victor de Riqueti, Marquis de Mirabeau (1715-1786) French economist (Mirabeau, Victor de)
- Mistinguett (1873-1956) French actress singer, dancer [b. Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois] (Mistinguett)
- Adrian Mitchell (1932-2008) English poet, novelist, playwright (Mitchell, Adrian)
- Edgar "Ed" Mitchell (1930-2016) American aviator, engineer, astronaut (Mitchell, Ed)
- George J. Mitchell (b. 1933) American politician, diplomat, lawyer (Mitchell, George)
- Joni Mitchell (b. 1943) Canadian singer-songwriter and painter [b. Roberta Joan Anderson] (Mitchell, Joni)
- Langdon Mitchell (1862-1935) American playwright (Mitchell, Langdon)
- Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) American author and journalist. (Mitchell, Margaret)
- Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) American astronomer, educator (Mitchell, Maria)
- François Mitterrand (1916-1996) President of France (1981-1995) (Mitterrand, Francois)
- Wilson Mizner (1876-1933) American screenwriter and wit (Mizner, Wilson)
- Steven Moffat (b. 1961) Scottish television writer, producer (Moffat, Steven)
- Dominique Moïsi (b. 1946) French political scientist and writer (Moisi, Dominique)
- Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin] (Moliere)
- Ferenc Molnár (1878-1952) Hungarian-American author, stage director, dramatist [a.k.a. Franz Molnar] (Molnar, Ferenc)
- Paul Monash (1917-2003) American producer and screenwriter (Monash, Paul)
- Walter Mondale (1928-2021) American politician (Mondale, Walter)
- Jean Monnet (1888-1979) French political economist, diplomat (Monnet, Jean)
- Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) American actress, sex symbol (Monroe, Marilyn)
- Ashley Montagu (1905-1999) British-American anthropologist and humanist [b. Israel Ehrenberg, a/k/a Montague Francis Ashley-Montagu] (Montagu, Ashley)
- Elizabeth Montagu (1720-1800) English intellectual, conversationalist (Montagu, Elizabeth)
- Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762) English aristocrat, letter writer, poet [née Pierrepont] (Montagu, Mary Wortley)
- Charles Edward "C. E." Montague (1867-1928) English journalist, novelist, essayist (Montague, C. E.)
- Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist (Montaigne, Michel de)
- Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher (Montesquieu, Baron de)
- Maria Montessori (1870-1952) Italian educator, philosopher, educator, physician (Montessori, Maria)
- Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976) British military leader (Montgomery, Bernard)
- John Michael Montgomery (b. 1965) American country musician (Montgomery, John Michael)
- Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) Canadian author (Montgomery, Lucy Maud)
- Monty Python (contemp.) British comedy troupe (Monty Python)
- Dwight Lyman "D. L." Moody (1837-1899) American evangelist and publisher (Moody, D. L.)
- Alan Moore (b. 1953) British writer (Moore, Alan)
- Dudley Moore (1935-2002) Engish actor, comedian, musician. composer (Moore, Dudley)
- Mary Tyler Moore (1936-2017) American actress, producer, and social advocate (Moore, Mary Tyler)
- Ronald D. Moore (b. 1964) American screenwriter, television producer (Moore, Ronald D.)
- Rosalie Moore (1910-2001) American poet [Gertrude Elizabeth Moore] (Moore, Rosalie)
- Thomas Moore (1779-1852) Irish writer, poet, lyricist (Moore, Thomas)
- Alberto Moravia (1907-1990) Italian novelist [b. Alberto Pincherle] (Moravia, Alberto)
- Hannah More (1745-1833) English religious writer, educator (More, Hannah)
- Thomas More (1478-1535) English lawyer, social philosopher, statesman, humanist, Christian martyr (More, Thomas)
- Arthur E. Morgan (1878-1975) American engineer, educator, humanist (Morgan, Arthur E.)
- Edward P. Morgan (1910-1993) American journalist (Morgan, Edward)
- John Pierpont "J. P." Morgan (1837-1913) American banker and financier (Morgan, John Pierpont)
- Robin Morgan (b. 1941) American poet, author, activist, journalist (Morgan, Robin)
- Michael Moriarty (b. 1941) American-Canadian actor, musician (Moriarty, Michael)
- Elting E. Morison (1909-1995) American historian of technology (Morison, Elting E.)
- Alanis Morissette (b. 1974) Canadian-American singer, songwriter, actress (Morissette, Alanis)
- Christopher Morley (1890-1957) American journalist, novelist, essayist, poet (Morley, Christopher)
- John Morley (1838-1923) English statesman, journalist, writer [John, Viscount Morley] (Morley, John)
- Desmond Morris (b. 1928) English zoologist, ethologist, author (Morris, Desmond)
- Edmund Morris (1940-2019) South African-American writer and biographer (Morris, Edmund)
- William Morris (1834-1896) British textile designer, writer, socialist activist (Morris, William)
- Grant Morrison (b. 1960) Scottish comic book writer and playwright (Morrison, Grant)
- Toni Morrison (1931-2019) American writer, editor, academic, Nobel Laureate [Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison] (Morrison, Toni)
- Dwight Morrow (1873-1931) American businessman, diplomat, politician (Morrow, Dwight)
- James Morrow (b. 1947) American author, humanist (Morrow, James)
- John Mortimer (1923-2009) British barrister, screenwriter, author (Mortimer, John)
- Raymond Mortimer (1895-1980) American author, literary critic (Mortimer, Raymond)
- Moses ibn Ezra (c. 1055 - after 1138) Spanish Jewish philosopher, linguist, rabbi, poet (Moses ibn Ezra)
- Frederick Mosteller (1916-2006) American statistician, academic (Mosteller, Frederick)
- Lord John Fletcher Moulton (1844-1921) English jurist (Moulton, John Fletcher)
- Lord Mountbatten (1900-1979) British statesman and naval officer (Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, b. Prince Louis of Battenberg) (Mountbatten (Lord))
- Andrew R. Moxon (contemp.) American writer, critic [a.k.a. Julius Goat] (Moxon, A. R.)
- Bill Moyers (b. 1934) American journalist and public commentator (Moyers, Bill)
- Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) American politician, diplomat, sociologist (Moynihan, Daniel Patrick)
- Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990) British journalist, author, media personality, satirist (Muggeridge, Malcolm)
- Muhammad (570-632) Arabian merchant, prophet, founder of Islam [Mohammed] (Muhammad)
- John Muir (1838-1914) Scottish-American naturalist (Muir, John)
- Geoff Mulgan (b. 1961) British academic, bureaucrat, policy advisor, journalist (Mulgan, Geoff)
- Martin Mull (b. 1943) American actor, comedian (Mull, Martin)
- Marcia Muller (b. 1944) American author (Muller, Marcia)
- Max Müller (1823-1900) German-British philologist, Orientalist, religious studies founder (Muller, Max)
- Brian Mulroney (b. 1939) Canadian politician, Prime Minister (1984-93) (Mulroney, Brian)
- Lewis Mumford (1895-1990) American writer, philosopher, historian, architect (Mumford, Lewis)
- H. H. Munro (1870-1916) Scottish writer [Hector Hugh Munro; pseud. Saki] (Munro, H. H.)
- Randall Munroe (b. 1984) American webcomic writer, roboticist, programmer (Munroe, Randall)
- Abdal Hakim Murad (b. 1960) British Muslim shaykh, researcher, writer, academic [b. Timothy John Winter] (Murad, Abdal Hakim)
- Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973 - c. 1014/1025) Japanese novelist, poet, lady-in-waiting [紫式部] (Murasaki Shikibu)
- Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) English writer (Murdoch, Iris)
- William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705-1793) British barrister, politician, judge, legal reformer (Murray, William)
- Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965) American journalist (Murrow, Edward R.)
- Edmund Muskie (1914-1996) American politician (Muskie, Edmund)
- Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) Italian politician, dictator, fascist (Mussolini, Benito)
- A. J. Muste (1885-1967) Dutch-American minister, labor and civil rights activist, pacifist [Reverend Abraham Johannes Muste] (Muste, A. J.)
- Michael Myers (b. 1962) American comedian (Myers, Michael)
- Ted Nace (b. 1956) American writer, publisher, environmentalist (Nace, Ted)
- Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) Ukrainian Jewish Hasidic leader, rabbi, kabbalist [רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב; of Bratslav; of Bracław] (Nachman of Breslov)
- Ralph Nader (b. 1934) American attorney, author, lecturer, political activist (Nader, Ralph)
- Mohammed Naguib (1901-1984) Egyptian statesman and general (Naguib, Mohammed)
- Keshavan Nair (d. 2002) Indian executive, consultant, academic, philosopher (Nair, Keshavan)
- Lewis B. Namier (1888-1960) Polish-British historian (Namier, Lewis)
- Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian (Nansen, Fridtjof)
- William Napier (1785-1860) Irish soldier and military historian (Napier, William)
- Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) French emperor, military leader (Napoleon Bonaparte)
- José Narosky (b. 1930) Argentine aphorist and writer (Narosky, Jose)
- Ogden Nash (1902-1971) American poet (Nash, Ogden)
- Gamel Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) Egyptian soldier, statesman (Nasser, Gamel Abdel)
- George Jean Nathan (1892-1958) American editor and critic (Nathan, George Jean)
- Robert Nathan (b. 1938) American novelist, journalist, screenwriter, television producer (Nathan, Robert)
- Matt Nathanson (b. 1973) American singer-songwriter (Nathanson, Matt)
- Carry Nation (1846-1911) American temperance agitator (Nation, Carry)
- Martina Navratilova (b. 1956) Czech–American tennis player (Navratilova, Martina)
- James Ball Naylor (1860-1945) American physician, writer, poet, politician (Naylor, James Ball)
- John Mason Neale (1818-1866) English cleric, scholar, hymnist (Neale, John Mason)
- Scott Nearing (1883-1983) American economist, educator, writer, political activist (Nearing, Scott)
- Charles Neaves (1800-1876) Scottish judge, theologian, critic, poet (Neaves, Charles)
- Richard J. Needham (1912-1996) Anglo-Canadian humorist (Needham, Richard J.)
- Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) Indian nationalist leader, politician, statesman, author (Nehru, Jawaharlal)
- Edward J. Nell (b. 1935) American economist and a professor (Nell, Edward J.)
- Gaylord Nelson (1916-2005) American politician and environmentalist (Nelson, Gaylord)
- Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) British admiral (Nelson, Horatio)
- Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) Chilean poet, diplomat, politician [b. Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto] (Neruda, Pablo)
- Richard Neustadt (1919-2003) American political scientist (Neustadt, Richard)
- Dorothy Nevill (1826-1913) British society hostess, wit, horticulturalist (Nevill, Dorothy)
- Andrew B. Newberg (b. 1966) American neurologist, researcher (Newberg, Andrew B.)
- Daisy Newman (1904-1990) Quaker writer (Newman, Daisy)
- John Henry Newman (1801-1890) English prelate, Catholic Cardinal, theologian (Newman, John)
- Peter C. Newman (b. 1929) Canadian journalist and writer (Newman, Peter C.)
- Isaac Newton (1642-1727) English physicist and mathematician (Newton, Isaac)
- John Newton (1725-1807) English minister, hymnist, former slave trader (Newton, John)
- Jack Nicklaus (b. 1940) American golfer (Nicklaus, Jack)
- James Nicoll (b. 1961) Canadian reviewer, editor (Nicoll, James)
- Harold Nicolson (1886-1968) English diplomat, author, diarist, politician (Nicolson, Harold)
- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) American theologian and clergyman (Niebuhr, Reinhold)
- Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) German theologian and pastor (Niemöller, Martin)
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) German philosopher and poet (Nietzsche, Friedrich)
- Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) American motivational speaker, writer, radio personality (Nightingale, Earl)
- Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) English social reformer, statistician, founder of modern nursing (Nightingale, Florence)
- Anaïs Nin (1903-1977) Catalan-Cuban-French author, diarist (Nin, Anais)
- William A. Niskanen (1933-2011) American public policy analyst, economist (Niskanen, William A.)
- Paul Nitze (1907-2004) American public official, diplomat (Nitze, Paul)
- Larry Niven (b. 1938) American writer (Niven, Larry)
- Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) American politician, writer, US President (1967-74) (Nixon, Richard Milhous)
- Louis Nizer (1902-1994) British-American lawyer (Nizer, Louis)
- Joshua Nkomo (1917-1999) Zimbawean politician, trade unionist, guerrilla leader (Nkomo, Joshua)
- Christopher Nolan (b. 1970) English-American film director, screenwriter, producer (Nolan, Christopher)
- Peggy Noonan (b. 1950) American writer (Noonan, Peggy)
- Marsha Norman (b. 1947) American playwright, screenwriter, novelist. (Norman, Marsha)
- Kathleen Norris (1880-1960) American novelist (Norris, Kathleen)
- Frederick North (1732-1792) British Prime Minister (1770-82) [Lord North] (North, Frederick)
- Oliver North (b. 1943) American military officer, politician, commentator (North, Oliver)
- Caroline Sheridan Norton (1808-1877) English poet, novelist (Norton, Caroline Sheridan)
- Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) Dutch Catholic priest and writer (Nouwen, Henri)
- Steven Novella (b. 1964) American clinical neurologist, academic, skeptic (Novella, Seven)
- Tim O'Brien (b. 1946) American novelist, journalist, veteran (O'Brien, Tim)
- Sean O'Casey (1880-1964) Irish playwright [b. John Casey, a.k.a. Seán O'Cathaseaigh] (O'Casey, Sean)
- Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964) American writer [Mary Flannery O'Connor] (O'Connor, Flannery)
- Frank O'Connor (1903-1966) Irish author and translator [pseud. of Michael O'Donovan] (O'Connor, Frank)
- Sandra Day O'Connor (b. 1930) American attorney, politician, Supreme Court justice (1981-2006) (O'Connor, Sandra Day)
- Madalyn Murray O'Hair (1919-1995) American atheist, civil rights activist (O'Hair, Madalyn Murray)
- Austin O'Malley (1858-1932) American ophthalmologist, professor of literature, aphorist (O'Malley, Austin)
- Shaquille O'Neal (b. 1972) American basketball player (O'Neal, Shaquille)
- Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953) Irish American playwright, Nobel laureate (O'Neill, Eugene)
- P. J. O'Rourke (b. 1947) American humorist, editor (O'Rourke, P. J.)
- Bill Oakley (b. 1966) American television writer and producer (Oakley, Bill)
- Joyce Carol Oates (b. 1938) American author (Oates, Joyce Carol)
- Barack Obama (b. 1961) American politician, US President (2009-2017) (Obama, Barack)
- Charlton Ogburn, Jr. (1911-1998) American journalist, author (Ogburn, Charlton Jr)
- David Ogilvy (1911–1999) British advertising executive (Ogilvy, David)
- Kenichi Ohmae (b. 1943) Japanese management consultant, writer (Ohmae, Kenichi)
- John Oliver (b. 1977) British-American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator (Oliver, John)
- Mary Oliver (1935-2019) American poet (Oliver, Mary)
- Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) English actor, director, producer (Olivier, Laurence)
- Jesse Olney (1798-1872) American geographer, educator, politician (Olney, Jesse)
- Omar Khayyám (1048-1123) Persian poet, mathematician, philosopher, astronomer [عمر خیام] (Omar Khayyam)
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994) First Lady of the United States (1961-1963), book editor, celebrity (Onassis, Jacqueline Kenndy)
- Robert Orben (1927-2023) American comedy writer, magician, speechwriter (Orben, Robert)
- Emma, Baroness Orczy (1865-1947) Hungarian-British author, artist [Emma ("Emmuska") Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy de Orczi] (Orczy (Baroness))
- Thomas Orde-Lees (1877-1948) British naval officer, arctic explorer, mountaineer, writer (Orde-Lees, Thomas)
- Orderic Vitalis (1075-c. 1142) English monk, chronicler (Orderic Vitalis)
- Ben Orlin (b. c. 1988) American math teacher, author (Orlin, Ben)
- H. Allen Orr (b. 1960) American evolutionary biologist (Orr, H. Allen)
- José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1944) Spanish philosopher (Ortega y Gasset, Jose)
- George Orwell (1903-1950) English writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair] (Orwell, George)
- Osho (1931-1990) Indian spiritual leader [Bhagwan Sree Rajneesh] (Osho)
- Sir William Osler (1849-1919) Canadian physician (Osler, William)
- Thomas Otway (1652-1685) English dramatist (Otway, Thomas)
- Ouida (1839-1908) English novelist [pseud. of Maria Louise Ramé] (Ouida)
- Thomas Overbury (1581-1613) English poet (Overbury, Thomas)
- Bonaro W. Overstreet (1902-1985) American poet, psychologist (Overstreet, Bonaro W.)
- Ovid (43 BC-AD 17) Roman poet [Publius Ovidius Naso] (Ovid)
- John Owen (1616-1683) English clergyman and theologian (Owen, John)
- Cynthia Ozick (b. 1928) American writer (Ozick, Cynthia)
- David Packard (1912-1996) American electrical engineer, businessman, government official (Packard, David)
- Nicholas Packwood (contemp.) Canadian essayist and academic (Packwood, Nicholas)
- Clementine Paddleford (1898-1967) American food writer (Paddleford, Clementine)
- Benjamin I. Page (b. 1940) American political scientist, academic, researcher (Page, Benjamin)
- Camille Paglia (b. 1947) American feminist academic and social critic (Paglia, Camille)
- Satchel Paige (1906-1982) American baseball player [Leroy Robert Paige] (Paige, Satchel)
- Thomas Paine (1737-1809) American political philosopher and writer (Paine, Thomas)
- Brad Paisley (b. 1972) American country music singer-songwriter (Paisley, Brad)
- Chuck Palahniuk (b. 1962) American novelist and freelance journalist (Palahniuk, Chuck)
- Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865) British statesman, Prime Minister (1855-58, 1859-65) [Lord Palmerston] (Palmerston (Lord))
- Saskya Pandita (1182-1251) Tibetan Grand Lama (Pandita, Saskya)
- Philippus Aureolus Paracelsus (1493-1541) German alchemist and physician [Bombast von Hohenheim] (Paracelsus)
- Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) American writer (Parker, Dorothy)
- Edward H. Parker (1823-1896) American physician, poet (Parker, Edward Hazen)
- Robert B. Parker (1932-2010) American writer (Parker, Robert)
- Ross Parker (1914-1974) English pianist, composer, lyricist, actor [Albert Rostron Parker] (Parker, Ross)
- Theodore Parker (1810-1860) American clergyman, transcendentalist, abolitionist (Parker, Theodore)
- Trey Parker (b. 1969) American actor, animator, writer, musician [Randolph Severn "Trey" Parker III] (Parker, Trey)
- Colin Murray Parkes (b. 1928) British psychiatrist and author (Parkes, Colin Murray)
- Cyril Northcote Parkinson (1909-1993) British historian and writer (Parkinson, Cyril Northcote)
- Vernon Parrington (1871-1929) American historian (Parrington, Vernon)
- Matthew Parris (b. 1949) British political writer, politician (Parris, Matthew)
- Lucy Parsons (1851-1942) American labor organizer, anarchist, orator [a.k.a. Lucy Gonzalez] (Parsons, Lucy)
- Dolly Parton (b. 1946) American singer (Parton, Dolly)
- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) French scientist and philosopher (Pascal, Blaise)
- Boris Pasternak (1890-1960) Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator (Pasternak, Boris)
- Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) French chemist, pharmacist, microbiologist (Pasteur, Louis)
- Alan Paton (1903-1988) South African author, activist (Paton, Alan)
- Patrick (fl. AD 5th C) Romano-British Christian missionary, saint, bishop of Ireland (Patrick (Saint))
- John Patrick (1905-1995) American playwright and screenwriter (Patrick, John)
- Floyd Patterson (1935-2006) American professional boxer (Patterson, Floyd)
- George S. Patton (1885-1945) American soldier (Patton, George S.)
- Paul VI (1897-1978) Italian Catholic Pope (1963-1978) [born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini] (Paul VI)
- Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958) American physicist (Pauli, Wolfgang)
- Linus Pauling (1901-1994) American chemist and pacifist (Pauling, Linus)
- John Allen Paulos (b. 1945) American mathematician, academic, writer (Paulos, John Allen)
- Walter Payton (1954-1999) American football player (Payton, Walter)
- Octavio Paz (1914-1998) Mexican writer and diplomat (Paz, Octavio)
- Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866) English novelist, satirist, poet, merchant (Peacock, Thomas Love)
- Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) American preacher, writer (Peale, Norman Vincent)
- Donn Pearce (1928-2017) American novelist, screenwriter (Pearce, Donn)
- Tom Pease (contemp.) American musician, storyteller, humorist (Pease, Tom)
- Dr. M. Scott Peck (1936-2005) American writer, behavioral scientist, philosopher (Peck, M. Scott)
- Robert Peel (1788-1850) British statesman, Prime Minister (1834-35, 1841-46) (Peel, Robert)
- Charles Péguy (1873-1914) French poet, essayist, editor (Peguy, Charles)
- William Penn (1644-1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman (Penn, William)
- Arno Penzias (b. 1933) German-American physicist (Penzias, Arno)
- David Peoples (b. 1940) American screenwriter (Peoples, David)
- George W. Pepper (1867-1961) American lawyer, law professor, politician (Pepper, George Wharton)
- Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) English diarist, naval administrator (Pepys, Samuel)
- Walker Percy (1916-1990) American author, philosopher (Percy, Walker)
- S. J. Perelman (1904-1979) American humorist, screenwriter [Sidney Joseph Perelman] (Perelman, S. J.)
- Shimon Peres (1923-2016) Polish-Israeli politician, statesman (Peres, Shimon)
- Pericles (c. 495-429 BC) Greek statesman (Pericles)
- H. Ross Perot (1930-2019) American entrepreneur, politician, reformer [Henry Ross Perot, Sr.] (Perot, H. Ross)
- Persius (AD 34-62) Roman poet and satirist [Aulus Persius Flaccus] (Persius)
- Lawrence J. Peter (1919-1990) American educator, management theorist (Peter, Lawrence J.)
- Charles Peters (b. 1926) American journalist, editor, author (Peters, Charles)
- Elizabeth Peters (1927-2013) American author [pseud. of Barbara Mertz, who also wrote as Barbara Michaels] (Peters, Elizabeth)
- Ellis Peters (1913-1995) English writer, translator [pseud. of Edith Mary Pargeter, who also wrote under the names John Redfern, Jolyon Carr, Peter Benedict] (Peters, Ellis)
- Cassandra Peterson (b. 1951) American comic actress [a.k.a. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark] (Peterson, Cassandra)
- Peter G. Peterson (1926-2018) American investment banker, author, politician (Peterson, Peter G.)
- Wilferd A. Peterson (1900-1995) American writer, magazine editor (Peterson, Wilferd A.)
- Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn (1792-1870) French-Swiss poet (Petit-Senn, Jean-Antoine)
- Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) Italian scholar and poet [a.k.a. Petrarch] (Petrarch)
- John Pfeiffer (1914-1999) American anthropologist, author (Pfeiffer, John E.)
- Phaedrus (15 BC-AD 50) Roman fabulist, poet (Phaedrus)
- Edward John Phelps (1822-1920) American diplomat, lawyer (Phelps, Edward John)
- William Lyon Phelps (1865-1943) American educator and critic (Phelps, William Lyon)
- Philemon (c. 362 BC – c. 262 BC) Athenian poet and playwright (Philemon)
- Jack Philip (1840-1900) American naval officer [John Woodward Philip] (Philip, Jack)
- Emo Philips (b. 1956) American actor, stand-up comedian, writer, producer [b. Phil Soltanec] (Philips, Emo)
- Christopher Phillips (b. 1959) American philosopher, writer, creator of the Socrates Cafe discussion groups (Phillips, Christopher)
- Rev. J.B. Phillips (1906-1982) British religious writer, translator [John Bertram Phillips] (Phillips, J.B.)
- Wendell Phillips (1811-1884) American abolitionist, orator, social activist (Phillips, Wendell)
- Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960) English novelist, poet, playwright (Phillpotts, Eden)
- Philo of Alexandria (AD c. 20-50) Hellenistic Jewish philosopher [Philo Judaeus] (Philo of Alexandria)
- Phocylides (b. c. 560 BC) Greek poet (Phocylides)
- Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Spanish painter and sculptor (Picasso, Pablo)
- T. Boone Pickens (1928-2019) American business magnate and financier (Pickens, T. Boone)
- Marge Piercy (b. 1936) American poet, novelist, social activist (Piercy, Marge)
- Albert Pike (1809-1891) American author, orator, jurist, Freemason (Pike, Albert)
- Edgar Royston Pike (1896-1984) British historian, social scientist, author (Pike, E. Royston)
- Kenneth L. Pike (1912-2001) (Pike, Kenneth L.)
- Pindar (c. 522–443 BC) Greek lyric poet (Pindar)
- Steven Pinker (b. 1954) Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, linguist, author (Pinker, Steven)
- H. Beam Piper (1904-1964) American author (Piper, H. Beam)
- Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936) Italian novelist and dramatist (Pirandello, Luigi)
- Robert Pirsig (1928-2017) American philosopher, writer (Pirsig, Robert)
- Brad Pitt (b. 1963) American actor (Pitt, Brad)
- William Pitt the Elder (1708-1778) British statesman, orator [1st Earl of Chatham] (Pitt, William the Elder)
- William Pitt (1759-1806) British Prime Minister (1804-06) [William Pitt the Younger] (Pitt, William the Younger)
- Leonard Pitts, Jr. (b. 1957) American commentator, journalist, novelist (Pitts, Leonard)
- Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) Roman Catholic pontiff (Pius XII (Pope))
- Max Planck (1858-1947) German physicist (Planck, Max)
- Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) American poet and author (Plath, Sylvia)
- Plato (c.428-347 BC) Greek philosopher (Plato)
- P. J. Plauger (b. 1944) American writer, computer scientist [Philip James Plauger] (Plauger, P. J.)
- Plautus (c. 254-184 BC) Roman playright [Titus Maccius Plautus] (Plautus)
- Vyacheslav von Pléhve (1846-1904) Russian Tsarist security director, Interior Minister [Vyacheslav Konstantinovich von Plehve, or Pleve; Вячесла́в Константи́нович фон Пле́ве] (Plehve, Vyacheslav von)
- Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) Roman author, naturalist, philosopher, military commander [Gaius Plinius Secundus] (Pliny the Elder)
- Pliny the Younger (c. 61-c. 113) Roman politician, writer [Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus] (Pliny the Younger)
- Plutarch (AD 46-127) Greek historian, biographer, essayist [Mestrius Plutarchos] (Plutarch)
- Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) American author, poet, editor, literary critic (Poe, Edgar Allan)
- Letty Cottin Pogrebin (b. 1939) American author, journalist, lecturer, social activist (Pogrebin, Letty)
- Frederik Pohl (1919-2013) American science fiction writer, editor (Pohl, Frederik)
- Jules Henri Poincaré (1854-1912) French physicist, mathematician, philosopher (Poincare, Henri)
- Christopher Poindexter (contemp.) American poet (Poindexter, Christopher)
- James K. Polk (1795-1849) American lawyer, politician, US President (1845-1849) (Polk, James K.)
- John G. Pollard (1871-1937) American politician (Pollard, John G.)
- Katha Pollitt (b. 1949) American poet, feminist, essayist, critic (Pollitt, Katha)
- Polybius (203?-120 BC) Greek historian (Polybius)
- Mary Pettibone Poole (fl. 1930s) American aphorist (Poole, Mary Pettibone)
- Alexander Pope (1688-1744) English poet (Pope, Alexander)
- Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) Austrian-British philosopher (Popper, Karl)
- Cole Porter (1891-1964) American composer and songwriter (Porter, Cole)
- Jane Porter (1776-1850) English historical novelist and dramatist (Porter, Jane)
- Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980) American journalist, essayist, author, political activist [b. Callie Russell Porter] (Porter, Katherine Anne)
- Sylvia Porter (1913-1991) American economist, journalist, author (Porter, Sylvia)
- Emily Post (1872-1960) American author, columnist [née Price] (Post, Emily)
- Neil Postman (1931-2003) American author, media theorist, cultural critic (Postman, Neil)
- Charles Francis Potter (1885-1962) American Unitarian minister, theologian, humanist, activist (Potter, Charles Francis)
- Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American expatriate poet, critic, intellectual (Pound, Ezra)
- Anthony Powell (1905-2000) English novelist (Powell, Anthony)
- Colin Powell (1937-2021) American military leader, politician, diplomat (Powell, Colin)
- Lewis F. Powell, Jr. (1907-1998) US Supreme Court Justice (1972-87) (Powell, Lewis F.)
- Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author (Pratchett, Terry)
- Hugh Prather (1938-2010) American minister, writer, counselor (Prather, Hugh)
- Burt Prelutsky (b. 1940) American TV screenwriter, author, columnist, critic (Prelutsky, Burt)
- George D. Prentice (1802-1870) American newspaper editor (Prentice, George)
- "Amarillo Slim" Preston (1928-2012) American gambler [Thomas Austin Preston, Jr.] (Preston, Amarillo Slim)
- James E. Preston (b. 1933) American business executive (Preston, James)
- Jeffrey Price (b. 1949) American screenwriter, producer (Price, Jeffrey)
- Ivy Baker Priest (1905-1975) American politician [Ivy Baker] (Priest, Ivy Baker)
- J. B. Priestley (1894-1984) English author, dramatist [John Boyne Priestley] (Priestley, J. B.)
- Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) British theologian, Dissenting clergyman, scientist, political theorist (Priestley, Joseph)
- Joel R. Primack (b. 1945) American astrophysicist, academic (Primack, Joel R.)
- Matthew Prior (1664-1721) English poet and diplomat (Prior, Matthew)
- Herbert V. Prochnow (1897-1998) American writer, educator (Prochnow, Herbert V.)
- Pat Proft (b. 1947) American screenwriter, comedian (Proft, Pat)
- Propertius (50-16 BC) Roman elegiac poet [Sextus Propertius] (Propertius)
- Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865) French politician, economist, philospher, anarchist (Proudhon, Pierre-Joseph)
- Marcel Proust (1871-1922) French author (Proust, Marcel)
- Publilius Syrus (d. 42 BC) Assyrian slave, writer, philosopher [less correctly Publius Syrus] (Publilius Syrus)
- Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911) Hungarian-American newspaper publisher [b. Politzer József] (Pulitzer, Joseph)
- William W. Purkey (b. 1929) American educator, academic, author (Purkey, William)
- Mario Puzo (1920-1999) American novelist, screenwriter (Puzo, Mario)
- Thomas Pynchon (b. 1937) American novelist (Pynchon, Thomas)
- Pythagoras (c.570 BC - c.495 BC) Greek mathematician and philosopher (Pythagoras)
- Mary Quant (b. 1934) Welsh fashion designer (Quant, Mary)
- Francis Quarles (1592-1644) English poet (Quarles, Francis)
- Matthew Stanley Quay (1833-1904) American political boss, politician, US Senator (Quay, Matthew)
- J. Danforth (Dan) Quayle (b. 1947) Vice-president of the U.S. (1988-92) (Quayle, Dan)
- Henri Queuille (1884-1970) French politician (Queuille, Henri)
- Robert Quillen (1887-1948) American journalist and humorist (Quillen, Robert)
- Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863–1944). British poet, novelist, scholar, critic (Quiller-Couch, Arthur)
- Anna Quindlen (b. 1953) American journalist, novelist (Quindlen, Anna)
- Quintilian (39-90) Roman orator [Marcus Fabius Quintilianus] (Quintilian, Marcus Fabius)
- John Quinton (b. 1947) American actor, writer (Quinton, John)
- Jonathan Raban (b. 1942) British travel writer and novelist (Raban, Jonathan)
- François Rabelais (1494-1553) French writer, humanist, doctor (Rabelais, Francois)
- Rabi'ah of Basra (713?-801) Arab mystic and poetess [Rabi'ah al 'Adawiyah] (Rabi'ah of Basra)
- Arthur W. Radford (1896-1973) American naval commander (Radford, Arthur W.)
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975) Indian philosopher, statesman (Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli)
- Gilda Radner (1946-1989) American comedian (Radner, Gilda)
- Walter Raleigh (c. 1552-1618) English statesman, soldier, writer, explorer (Raleigh, Walter)
- Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920) Indian mathematician (Ramanujan, Srinivasa)
- Ayn Rand (1905-1982) Russian-American writer, philosopher (Rand, Ayn)
- James G. Randall (1881-1953) American historian (Randall, J. G.)
- James Randi (1928-2020) Canadian-American stage magician ("The Amazing Randi") and scientific skeptic. [b. Randall James Hamilton Zwinge] (Randi, James)
- Edmund Randolph (1753-1813) American attorney, politician (Randolph, Edmund)
- John Randolph of Roanoke (1773-1833) American politician, diplomat (Randolph, John (Roanoke))
- Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973) American suffragist, politician (Rankin, Jeannette)
- Jamie Raskin (b. 1962) American constitutional scholar, politician (Raskin, Jamie)
- Jef Raskin (1943-2005) American computer scientist, writer (Raskin, Jef)
- Philip M. Raskin (1878-1944) American poet (Raskin, Philip M.)
- Mitch Ratcliffe (b. 1961) American technology journalist (Ratcliffe, Mitch)
- Dan Rather (b. 1931) American broadcast journalist (Rather, Dan)
- Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) American theologian, social reformer, Baptist pastor (Rauschenbusch, Walter)
- John Ray (1627-1705) English naturalist [a.k.a. John Wray] (Ray, John)
- Sam Rayburn (1882-1961) American lawyer and politician (Rayburn, Sam)
- Eric S. Raymond (b. 1957) American software developer, writer [a.k.a. ESR] (Raymond, Eric S.)
- Charles Reade (1814-1884) English novelist and dramatist (Reade, Charles)
- Ronald Reagan (1911-2006) US President (1981-89), politician, actor (Reagan, Ronald)
- Bernice Johnson Reagon (b. 1942) American song leader, composer, scholar, social activist (Reagon, Bernice Johnson)
- Harry Reasoner (1923-1991) American journalist (Reasoner, Harry)
- Joyce Rebeta-Burditt (b. 1938) American writer, television producer (Rebeta-Burditt, Joyce)
- William C. Redfield (1858-1932) American politician (Redfield, William C.)
- Ambrose Redmoon (1933-1996) American beatnik, writer, radical [b. James Neil Hollingworth; also Ambrose Redmon] (Redmoon, Ambrose)
- Stanley Forman Reed (1884-1980) US Supreme Court Justice (1938-57) (Reed, Stanley Forman)
- Thomas Brackett Reed (1839-1902) American politician, Speaker of the House (1889-91, 1895-99) (Reed, Thomas Brackett)
- Richard V. Reeves (b. 1969) British historian, journalist, political theorist (Reeves, Richard V.)
- Donald Regan (1918-2003) American financier, government executive (Regan, Donald)
- Isaac Samuel Reggio (1784-1855) Austro-Italian Jewish scholar, rabbi (Reggio, Isaac Samuel)
- Theodor Reik (1888-1969) Austrian-American psychoanalyst, writer (Reik, Theodor)
- Carl Reiner (1922-2020) American comedian, writer, producer (Reiner, Carl)
- Darius Rejali (b. c. 1959) Iranian-American academic, political scientist (Rejali, Darius)
- Ernest Renan (1823-1892) French philosopher, writer, historian, political theorist (Renan, Ernest)
- Jules Renard (1864-1910) French writer (Renard, Jules)
- Mary Renault (1905-1983) English writer [b. Eileen Mary Challans] (Renault, Mary)
- Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) French Impressionist artist (Renoir, Pierre-Auguste)
- Agnes Repplier (1855-1950) American writer (Repplier, Agnes)
- James "Scotty" Reston (1909-1995) Scottish-American journalist and editor (Reston, James)
- Allen Reynolds (b. 1938) American music writer and producer (Reynolds, Allen)
- Glenn Reynolds (b. 1960) American law professor, blogger (Reynolds, Glenn)
- Jim Reynolds (contemp.) American TV screenwriter, producer (Reynolds, Jim)
- Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) British painter, critic (Reynolds, Joshua)
- Abraham Ribicoff (1910-1998) American politician (Ribicoff, Abraham)
- Anne Rice (b. 1941) American author [b. Howard Allen Frances O'Brien] (Rice, Anne)
- Grantland Rice (1880-1954) American sportswriter (Rice, Grantland)
- Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981) American poet, businesswoman (Rice, Helen Steiner)
- John R. Rice (1895-1980) American evangelist, author (Rice, John R.)
- Tim Rice (b. 1944) British lyricist and author (Rice, Tim)
- Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) American poet, essayist, feminist (Rich, Adrienne)
- Ann Richards (1933-2006) American politician [Dorothy Ann Willis Richards] (Richards, Ann)
- James Richardson (b. 1950) American poet (Richardson, James)
- Ralph Richardson (1902-1983) English actor (Richardson, Ralph)
- Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) English writer and printer (Richardson, Samuel)
- Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) French statesman and religious [Armand-Jean du Plessis] (Richelieu (Cardinal))
- Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825) German writer, art historian, philosopher, littérateur [Johann Paul Friedrich Richter; pseud. Jean Paul] (Richter, Jean-Paul)
- W. D. Richter (b. 1945) American screenwriter, producer, director [Walter Duch Richter] (Richter, WD)
- Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973) American industrialist and aviator (Rickenbacker, Eddie)
- Branch Rickey (1881-1965) American baseball executive (Rickey, Branch)
- Hyman Rickover (1900-1986) US Navy Admiral (Rickover, Hyman)
- Matthew Ridgway (1895-1993) American general (Ridgway, Matthew)
- Pat Riley (b. 1945) American basketball coach (Riley, Pat)
- Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1963) German poet (Rilke, Rainer Maria)
- Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876–1958) American novelist (Rinehart, Mary Roberts)
- Michael Rivero (contemp.) American journalist, conspiracy theorist (Rivero, Michael)
- Leonard Harman Robbins (1877–1947) American writer (Robbins, Leonard Harman)
- Tom Robbins (b. 1932) American novelist (Robbins, Tom)
- Cavett Robert (1908-1997) American orator, lawyer (Robert, Cavett)
- Jane Roberts (1929-1984) American author (Roberts, Jane)
- Lillian M. Roberts (contemp.) American author, veterinarian (Roberts, Lillian M)
- Stephen F. Roberts (b. c. 1969) American software developer (Roberts, Stephen F.)
- Wess Roberts (b. 1946) American author, motivational speaker (Roberts, Wess)
- William Roberts (1913-1997) American screenwriter (Roberts, William)
- Pat Robertson (1930-2023) American politician and televangelist (Robertson, Pat)
- Maximilien Robespierre (1758-174) French lawyer, politician, revolutionary leader (Robespierre, Maximilien)
- Edward G. Robinson (1893-1973) American stage and film actor [b. Emanuel Goldenberg] (Robinson, Edward G.)
- Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935) American poet (Robinson, Edwin Arlington)
- Gene Robinson (b. 1947) American Episcopal bishop (Robinson, Gene)
- James Harvey Robinson (1863-1936) American historian and educator (Robinson, James Harvey)
- Marilynne Robinson (b. 1943) American novelist and essayist (Robinson, Marilynne)
- Phil Alden Robinson (b. 1950) American screenwriter, director, producer (Robinson, Phil Alden)
- Roxana Robinson (b. 1946) American novelist and biographer (Robinson, Roxana)
- Spider Robinson (b. 1948) American-Canadian author (Robinson, Spider)
- Alfredo Rocco (1875-1935) Italian politician, jurist, economic theorist (Rocco, Alfredo)
- Boyle Roche (1743-1807) Irish politician (Roche, Boyle)
- Nelson Rockefeller (1908–1979) American politician (Rockefeller, Nelson)
- Knute Rockne (1888-1931) American football coach (Rockne, Knute)
- Robert Rodat (b. 1953) American screenwriter (Rodat, Robert)
- Joni Rodgers (b. 1962) American author (Rodgers, Joni)
- Paul Rodriguez (b. 1955) Mexican-American comedian (Rodriguez, Paul)
- Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) American poet (Roethke, Theodore)
- Carl Rogers (1902-1987) American psychologist (Rogers, Carl)
- Fred Rogers (1928-2003) American educator, minister, songwriter, television host ["Mister Rogers"] (Rogers, Fred)
- Samuel Rogers (1763-1855) English poet (Rogers, Samuel)
- Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist (Rogers, Will)
- Felix G. Rohatyn (1928-2018) Austrian-American banker and diplomat (Rohatyn, Felix G.)
- Emanuel James "Jim" Rohn (b. 1932) American entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker (Rohn, Jim)
- Óscar Romero (1917-1980) El Salvadoran Catholic bishop (Romero, Oscar)
- Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) German field marshal (Rommel, Erwin)
- Andy Rooney (1919-2011) American journalist, commentator, author (Rooney, Andy)
- Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) First Lady of the US (1933-45), politician, diplomat, activist (Roosevelt, Eleanor)
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) American lawyer, politician, statesman, US President (1933-1945) (Roosevelt, Franklin Delano)
- Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901-1909) (Roosevelt, Theodore)
- Richard Rorty (1931-2007) American philosopher (Rorty, Richard)
- Winn L. Rosch (contemp.) American computer writer, journalist (Rosch, Winn L.)
- Billy Rose (1899-1966) American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist [b. William Samuel Rosenberg] (Rose, Billy)
- Phyllis Rose (b. 1942) American literary critic, essayist, biographer, educator (Rose, Phyllis)
- Roger Rosenblatt (b. 1940) American essayist, playwright, English professor (Rosenblatt, Roger)
- Chip Rosenthal (b. 1957) American computer engineer, designer, programmer (Rosenthal, Chip)
- Ellen E. Ross (contemp.) (Ross, Ellen E.)
- Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) English poet (Rossetti, Christina)
- Clinton Rossiter (1917-1970) American historian and political scientist [Clinton Lawrence Rossiter III] (Rossiter, Clinton)
- Edmond Rostand (1868-1918) French playwright (Rostand, Edmond)
- Jean Rostand (1894-1977) French biologist, philosopher (Rostand, Jean)
- Leo C. Rosten (1908-1997) Polish-American author and political scientist (Rosten, Leo C.)
- Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007) Russian cellist and conductor (Rostropovich, Mstislav)
- Theodore Roszak (1933-2011) American historian and author (Roszak, Theodore)
- Philip Roth (1933-2008) American novelist and short-story writer (Roth, Philip)
- Patrick Rothfuss (b. 1973) American author (Rothfuss, Patrick)
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) French philosopher and writer (Rousseau, Jean-Jacques)
- Joseph Roux (1834-1886) French Catholic priest (Roux, Joseph)
- Richard H. Rovere (1915-1979) American journalist (Rovere, Richard)
- Nicholas Rowe (1674-1718) English poet and dramatist (Rowe, Nicholas)
- Helen Rowland (1875-1950) American journalist and humorist (Rowland, Helen)
- Joanne "Jo" Rowling (b. 1965) British novelist [writes as J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith] (Rowling, Jo)
- Lillian Rubin (1924-2014) American writer, professor, psychotherapist, sociologist (Rubin, Lillian)
- Theodore Isaac Rubin (1923-2019) American psychiatrist and author (Rubin, Theodore Isaac)
- Greg Rucka (b. 1969) American comic book writer and novelist (Rucka, Greg)
- Rita Rudner (b. 1956) American comedian, essayist, actress (Rudner, Rita)
- Paul Rudnick (b. 1957) American screenwriter, playwright (Rudnick, Paul)
- Muriel Rukeyser (1913-1980) American poet (Rukeyser, Muriel)
- Donald Rumsfeld (1932-2021) American politician, government official, businessman (Rumsfeld, Donald)
- Damon Runyon (1884-1946) American writer and journalist (Runyon, Damon)
- Adolph Rupp (1901-1977) American college basketball coach (Rupp, Adolph)
- Benjamin Rush (1746-1813) American physician, writer, educator, humanitarian (Rush, Benjamin)
- Salman Rushdie (b. 1947) Indian novelist (Rushdie, Salman)
- Dean Rusk (1909-1994) American politician and diplomat (Rusk, Dean)
- John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic, painter, writer, social thinker (Ruskin, John)
- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher (Russell, Bertrand)
- Dora, Countess Russell (1894-1986) British author, feminist, social activist [Dora Russell, née Black] (Russell, Dora)
- John Russell (contemp.) ("jr") (Russell, John "jr")
- John Russell (1792-1878) British politician, statesman, Prime Minister of the UK (1846-52, 1865-66) [1st Earl Russell] (Russell, Lord John)
- Rosalind Russell (1911-1976) American actress, philanthropist (Russell, Rosalind)
- Babe Ruth (1895-1948) American baseball player (Ruth, Babe)
- Martin Rutte (contemp.) Canadian business/spirituality consultant, speaker (Rutte, Martin)
- Sa'adi (1184-1283/1291?) Persian poet [a.k.a. Sa'di, Moslih Eddin Sa'adi, Mushrif-ud-Din Abdullah, Muslih-ud-Din Mushrif ibn Abdullah, Mosleh al-Din Saadi Shirazi, Shaikh Mosslehedin Saadi Shirazi] (Sa'adi)
- Arthur J. Sabin (b. 1930) American law profess, lawyer, historian, writer (Sabin, Arthur J.)
- Anwar el-Sadat (1918-1981) Egyptian soldier and statesman (Sadat, Anwar)
- Louis A. Safian (contemp.) American theatrical producer, writer (Safian, Louis A.)
- William Safire (1929-2009) American author, columnist, journalist, speechwriter (Safire, William)
- Carl Sagan (1934-1996) American scientist and writer (Sagan, Carl)
- Françoise Sagan (1935-2004) French playwright, novelist, screenwriter (Sagan, Francoise)
- Nayantara Sahgal (b. 1927) Indian author (Sahgal, Nayantara)
- Mort Sahl (1927-2021) Canadian-American comedian, actor, social satirist (Sahl, Mort)
- Iberico Saint Jean (1922-2012) Argentine general, politician (Saint Jean, Iberico)
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) French writer, aviator (Saint-Exupery, Antoine)
- Yves Saint-Laurent (1936-2008) French fashion designer (Saint-Laurent, Yves)
- George Saintsbury (1845-1933) English literary critic, scholar, historian, journalist (Saintsbury, George)
- Israel Salanter (1810-1883) Lithuanian scholar, rabbi, founder of Musar movement [Israel Lipkin] (Salanter, Israel)
- William Saletan (b. 1964) American political essayist (Saletan, William)
- J. D. Salinger (1919-2010) American writer [Jerome David Salinger] (Salinger, J. D.)
- Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury (1830-1903) British politician [Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury] (Salisbury, Robert Cecil (Lord))
- Jonas Salk (1914-1995) American medical researcher and virologist (Salk, Jonas)
- Sallust (c. 86-35 BC) Roman historian and politician [Gaius Sallustius Crispus] (Sallust)
- Mary Jo Salter (b. 1954) American poet, editor, academic (Salter, Mary Jo)
- William Saltonstall (1905-1989) American educator and writer (Saltonstall, William)
- Jim Samuels (1948-1990) American stand-up comic (Samuels, Jim)
- Paul A. Samuelson (1915-2009) American economist, educator (Samuelson, Paul A.)
- George Sand (1804-1876) French novelist, feminist [pseud. for Aurore Dupin] (Sand, George)
- Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) American poet, biographer (Sandburg, Carl)
- Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) American birth control activist, sex educator, nurse (Sanger, Margaret)
- George Santayana (1863-1952) Spanish-American poet and philosopher [Jorge Agustín Nicolás Ruíz de Santayana y Borrás] (Santayana, George)
- Sappho (c. 610-635 BC) Greek poet (Sappho)
- Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908) Spanish violinist and composer (Sarasate, Pablo de)
- David Sarnoff (1881-1971) Belarusian-American businessman and broadcasting executive (Sarnoff, David)
- Dorothy Sarnoff (1914-2008) American opera singer, actress, image consultant (Sarnoff, Dorothy)
- William Saroyan (1908-1981) American writer (Saroyan, William)
- May Sarton (1912-1995) Belgian-American poet, novelist, memoirist [pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton] (Sarton, May)
- Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) French philosopher and writer (Sartre, Jean-Paul)
- Moshe Leib Sassover (1745-1807) Rabbi, founder of the Sassov Hasidic dynasty (Sassover)
- Robert C. Savage (1914-1987) American Christian missionary, pastor, hymnologist, author (Savage, Robert C.)
- Mario Savio (1942-1996) American political activist (Savio, Mario)
- John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) American poet and satirist (Saxe, John Godfrey)
- Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957) English author, translator (Sayers, Dorothy)
- Wallace Sayre (1905-1972) U.S. political scientist, academic (Sayre, Wallace)
- Antonin Scalia (1936-2016) US Supreme Court justice (Scalia, Antonin)
- John Scalzi (b. 1969) American writer (Scalzi, John)
- Maggie Scarf (b. 1932) American writer, journalist, lecturer (Scarf, Maggie)
- Stephan Schambach (b. 1970) German-American entrepreneur, technologist (Schambach, Stephan)
- E. E. Schattschneider (1892-1971) American political scientist [Elmer Eric Schattschneider](Schattschneider, E. E.)
- Judith Scheindlin (b. 1940) American judge, author, television personality [a.k.a. Judge Judy] (Scheindlin, Judith)
- Friedrich von Schelling (1775-1854) German philosopher (Schelling, Friedrich)
- Bob Schieffer (b. 1937) American broadcast journalist (Schieffer, Bob)
- Stacy Schiff (b. 1961) American editor, essayist, biographer (Schiff, Stacy)
- Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) German poet, playwright, critic [Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller] (Schiller, Friedrich)
- Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1917-2007) American historian, author, social critic (Schlesinger, Arthur)
- Mary Schmich (b. 1953) American newspaper columnist (Schmich, Mary)
- Paul Schneider (1923-2008) American screenwriter (Schneider, Paul)
- Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931) Austrian physician, playwright, novelist (Schnitzler, Arthur)
- Caroline Schoeder (1882-1951) German-American pianist. (Schoeder, Caroline)
- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) German philosopher (Schopenhauer, Arthur)
- Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) South African author, political activist, intellectual, freethinker (Schreiner, Olive)
- Gerhard "Gerd" Schröder (b. 1944) German politician, Chancellor (1998-2005), lobbyist (Schroeder, Gerhard)
- Patricia Schroeder (b. 1940) American politician (Schroeder, Patricia)
- Norm Schryer (1933-2016) American computer scientist, mathematician (Schryer, Norm)
- Robert H. Schuller (1926-2015) American televangelist, pastor, motivational speaker, author (Schuller, Robert H.)
- Tom Schulman (b. 1951) American screenwriter, director (Schulman, Tom)
- Charles Schulz (1922-2000) American cartoonist (Schulz, Charles)
- William F. "Bill" Schulz b. 1949) American Unitarian Universalist minister and activist (Schulz, William F.)
- E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977) German-English economist, statistician [Ernst Friedrich "Fritz" Schumacher] (Schumacher, E. F.)
- Carl Schurz (1829-1906) German-American revolutionary, soldier, statesman, reformer (Schurz, Carl)
- Fred Schwartz (contemp.) (Schwartz, Fred)
- Norman Schwarzkopf (1934-2012) American military leader (Schwarzkopf, Norman)
- Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) Alsatian philosopher, physician, philanthropist, polymath (Schweitzer, Albert)
- Robert Scoble (b. 1965) American blogger, technical journalist, author (Scoble, Robert)
- Florida Scott-Maxwell (1883-1979) American-British playwright, author, psychologist (Scott-Maxwell, Florida)
- Hazel Scott (1920-1981) Trinidad-American pianist, singer, writer (Scott, Hazel)
- Walter Scott (1771-1832) Scottish writer, historian, biographer (Scott, Walter)
- David Searls (b. 1947) American journalist, columnist, blogger (Searls, David)
- Seattle (c. 1780-1866) Native American leader, statesman [Si'ahl, Sealth, Seathle, Seathl, See-ahth] (Seattle)
- David Sedaris (b. 1956) American humorist, comedian, author (Sedaris, David)
- John Sedgwick (1813-1864) American army officer (Sedgwick, John)
- Jerry Seinfeld (b. 1954) American comedian (Seinfeld, Jerry)
- John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath (Selden, John)
- Will Self (b. 1961) English author, journalist, television personality (Self, Will)
- David Seltzer (b. 1940) American screenwriter, director, producer (Seltzer, David)
- Hans Seyle (1907-1982) Hungarian endocrinologist [Selye János] (Selye, Hans)
- Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (1922-2014) American screenwriter (Semple, Lorenzo)
- Seneca the Elder (c. 54 BC - c. AD 39) Roman orator and writer [Lucius or Marcus Annaeus Seneca, Seneca the Rhetorician] (Seneca the Elder)
- Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC-AD 65) Roman statesman, philosopher, playwright [Lucius Annaeus Seneca] (Seneca the Younger)
- Peter Senge (b. 1947) American systems scientist, lecturer, academic (Senge, Peter)
- Rod Serling (1924-1975) American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, narrator (Serling, Rod)
- Quintus Sertorius (c. 123-72 BC) Roman statesman and general (Sertorius)
- Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel] (Seuss, Dr.)
- Eric Sevareid (1912-1992) American journalist [Arnold Eric Sevareid] (Sevareid, Eric)
- Anna Sewell (1820-1878) English novelist (Sewell, Anna)
- Anne Sexton (1928-1974) American poet (Sexton, Anne)
- Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922) Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer (Shackleton, Ernest)
- Mary Shafer (contemp.) American aeronautics engineer (Shafer, Mary)
- Anthony Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713) English politician and philosopher (Shaftesbury, Earl of)
- Idries Shah (1924-1996) Indian- British writer, Sufi teacher (Shah, Idries)
- Merle Shain (1935-1989) Canadian journalist and author (Shain, Merle)
- Ronnie Shakes (1947-1987) American comedian [Ronald Michael Sakele] (Shakes, Ronnie)
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet (Shakespeare, William)
- Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) American rapper, record producer, actor [b. Lesane Parish Crooks] (Shakur, Tupac)
- Garry Shandling (1949-2016) American comedian (Shandling, Garry)
- Rev. Al Sharpton (b. 1954) American clergyman and activist (Sharpton, Al)
- Kathy Shaskan (contemp.) American cartoonist (Shaskan, Kathy)
- Robert W. Shaunon (fl. late 19th C.) (Shaunon, Robert W.)
- Carole Shaw (b. 1936) American singer, publisher, activist (Shaw, Carole)
- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) British playwright and critic (Shaw, George Bernard)
- Hartley Shawcross (1902-2003) English barrister, politician, diplomat (Shawcross, Hartley)
- Marie Shear (1940-2017) American writer and feminist activist (Shear, Marie)
- John Augustus Shedd (1859-1928) American writer, educator (Shedd, John A.)
- Gail Sheehy (1936-2020) American writer, journalist, editor (Sheehy, Gail)
- Fulton Sheen (1895-1979) American Catholic archbishop, preacher, televangelist (Sheen, Fulton)
- W. L. Sheldon (1858-1907) American lecturer, ethicist [Walter Lorenzo Sheldon] (Sheldon, W. L.)
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851) English novelist (Shelley, Mary Wallstonecraft)
- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) English poet (Shelley, Percy Bysshe)
- William Shenstone (1714-1763) English poet (Shenstone, William)
- Alan B. Shepherd, Jr. (1923-1998) American astronaut (Shepherd, Alan)
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) Irish dramatist, satirist, politician (Sheridan, Richard Brinsley)
- William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) American military leader and author (Sherman, William T.)
- Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) Ukrainian poet and artist [a/k/a "Kobzar"] (Shevchenko, Taras)
- Florence Scovel Shinn (1870-1940) American illustrator, metaphysicist (Shinn, Florence Scovel)
- Eric Shinseki (b. 1942) American military leader, bureaucrat (Shinseki, Eric)
- Jonathan Shipley (1714-1788) Clergyman in the Church in Wales (Shipley, Jonathan)
- David Shore (b. 1959) Canadian writer, lawyer, screenwriter, television producer (Shore, David)
- Dinah Shore (1917-1994) American actress, singer (Shore, Dinah)
- Shu Ching (6th Century BC) Chinese collection of political philosophy [Shujing, Shu-kin, Shangshu, The Book of History, The Book of Documents, or The Classic of History] (Shu Ching)
- George Shultz (b. 1920) American economist, statesman, and businessman (Shultz, George)
- Frank B. Shutts (1870-1947) American attorney, publisher (Shutts, Frank B.)
- M. Night Shyamalan (b. 1970) Indian-American screenwriter, director (Shyamalan, M. Night)
- Philip Sidney (1554-1586) English poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier (Sidney, Philip)
- Bernie Siegel (b. 1932) American writer and physician (Siegel, Bernie)
- Simone Signoret (1921-1985) German-French actress [b. Simone Kaminker] (Signoret, Simone)
- Beverly Sills (1929-2007) American opera singer [b. Belle Silverman] (Sills, Beverly)
- Sarah Silverman (b. 1970) American stand-up comedian, actress, writer (Silverman, Sarah)
- Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, children's author (Silverstein, Shel)
- Richard Alan Simmons (1924-2004) American screenwriter, producer (Simmons, Richard Alan)
- William G. Simms (1806-1870) American writer and politician (Simms, William G.)
- Claude Simon (1913-2005) French novelist, critic, Nobel Laureate (Literature) (Simon, Claude)
- John Simon (1925-2019) American author and literary, theater, and film critic (Simon, John)
- John A. Simon (1873-1954) English statesman and politician (Simon, John A.)
- Neil Simon (1927-2018) American playwright and screenwriter (Simon, Neil)
- Paul Simon (b. 1941) American musician, singer-songwriter. (Simon, Paul)
- Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) American writer, journalist, activist, politician (Sinclair, Upton)
- Simon Sinek (b. 1973) British-American author and motivational speaker (Sinek, Simon)
- Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991) Polish-American writer, Nobel laureate (b. Icek-Hersz Zynger) (Singer, Isaac Bashevis)
- Margaret Singer (1921-2003) American clinical psychologist and researcher (Singer, Margaret)
- John J. Sirica (1904-1992) American jurist (Sirica, John)
- Edith Sitwell (1887-1964) English poet (Sitwell, Edith)
- Walter William Skeat (1835-1912) British philologist and cleric (Skeat, Walter William)
- Philip Skelton (1707-1787) Irish clergyman, philosopher, scholar (Skelton, Philip)
- Bernard Slade (1930-2019) Canadian-American playwright and screenwriter (Slade, Bernard)
- E. B. Sledge (1923-2001) American soldier, biologist, academic, memoirist [Eugene Bondurant Sledge] (Sledge, E. B.)
- William Joseph "Bill" Slim, Viscount Slim (1891-1970) British military commander and politician (Slim, William Joseph)
- P. F. Sloan (1945-2015) American singer-songwriter [Philip Gary "Flip" Sloan, b. Philip Gary Schlein] (Sloan, P.F.)
- Christopher Smart (1722-1771) English poet (Smart, Christopher)
- Adam Smith (1723-1790) Scottish economist (Smith, Adam)
- Alexander Smith (1830-1867) Scottish poet (Smith, Alexander)
- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American evangelist, suffragist, author (Smith, Hannah Whitall)
- Horace Smith (1779-1849) English poet and novelist (Smith, Horace)
- Justin E. H. Smith (b. 1972) American-Canadian professor of history and philosophy of science (Smith, Justin E H)
- Kevin Smith (b. 1970) American writer, film director, actor (Smith, Kevin)
- Lillian Smith (1897-1966) American author (Smith, Lillian)
- Liz Smith (1923-2017) American entertainment journalist [Mary Elizabeth Smith] (Smith, Liz)
- Logan Pearsall Smith (1865-1946) American-English essayist, editor, anthologist (Smith, Logan Pearsall)
- Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine) (Smith, Margaret Chase)
- Michael Marshall Smith (b. 1965) English author, screenwriter [writes as Michael Marshall, M. M. Smith, Michael Rutger] (Smith, Michael Marshall)
- Michael W. Smith (b. 1959) American Christian singer (Smith, Michael W.)
- Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895) American Baptist minister, journalist, author (Smith, Samuel Francis)
- Steven B. Smith (b. 1951) American political scientist, academic, author (Smith, Steven B.)
- Stevie Smith (1902-1971) English novelist and poet [b. Florence Margaret Smith] (Smith, Stevie)
- Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit (Smith, Sydney)
- Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith (1895-1961) American soldier, diplomat (Smith, Walter Bedell "Beetle")
- William D. Smithburg (b. 1938) American businessman (Smithburg, William)
- Tommy Smothers (b. 1937) American comedian, folk musician, winemaker [Thomas Bolyn Smothers III] (Smothers, Tommy)
- Lemony Snicket (b. 1970) American author, screenwriter, musician (pseud. for Daniel Handler) (Snicket, Lemony)
- C. P. Snow (1905-1980) English novelist, physical chemist, bureaucrat [Charles Percy Snow] (Snow, C. P.)
- Timothy Snyder (b. 1969) American historian, author (Snyder, Timothy)
- Ralph W. Sockman (1889-1970) American Methodist clergyman (Sockman, Ralph W.)
- Socrates (c.470-399 BC) Greek philosopher (Socrates)
- Mirza Aḥmad Sohráb (1890-1958) Persian-American author, Baháʼí dissident (Sohrab, Ahmad)
- Rebecca Solnit (b. 1961) American writer, historian, activist (Solnit, Rebecca)
- Solon (c. 638 BC - 558 BC) Athenian statesman, lawmaker, poet (Solon)
- Alexander Solzhenitsen (1918-2008) Russian novelist, emigre [Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn] (Solzhenitsen, Alexander)
- Paul Somerson (1950-2018) American technology writer (Somerson, Paul)
- Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) American composer and lyricist (Sondheim, Stephen)
- Susan Sontag (1933-2004) American essayist, novelist, activist (Sontag, Susan)
- Sophocles (496-406 BC) Greek tragic playwright (Sophocles)
- Theodore "Ted" Sorensen (1928-2010) American lawyer, writer, presidential adviser, speechwriter (Sorensen, Theodore)
- Charles E. Sorenson (1881-1968) American engineer, executive (Sorenson, Charles)
- Robert South (1634-1716) English churchman and preacher (South, Robert)
- Thomas Sowell (b. 1930) American economist and political commentator (Sowell, Thomas)
- Art Spander (contemp.) American sports writer (Spander, Art)
- Robert D. Specht (1913-1996) American research analyst(Specht, Robert D.)
- Albert Speer 1905-1981) German architect, government official, author, war criminal (Speer, Albert)
- Henry Spencer (b. 1955) Canadian computer scientist, space enthusiast (Spencer, Henry)
- Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, naturalist (Spencer, Herbert)
- Oswald Spengler (1880–1936), German author (Spengler, Oswald)
- Edmund Spenser (c. 1552-1599) English poet (Spenser, Edmund)
- Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) Dutch philosopher (Spinoza, Baruch)
- Benjamin Spock (1903-1998) American pediatrician, writer, activist (Spock, Benjamin)
- William Buell Sprague (1795-1876) American clergyman, philographer, biographer (Sprague, William B.)
- Jerry Springer (b. 1944) Anglo-American broadcaster, actor, producer, politician (Springer, Jerry)
- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) British Baptist preacher, author [Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon] (Spurgeon, Charles)
- Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855-1936) Indian monk, yogi, guru [श्रीयुक्तेश्वर गिरि, b. Priya Nath Karar] (Sri Yukteswar Giri)
- Adela Rogers St. Johns (1894-1988) American journalist, novelist, screenwriter. (St. Johns, Adela Rogers)
- Walter P. Stacy (1884-1951) American jurist (Stacy, Walter P)
- Josef Stalin (1879-1953) Georgian revolutionary and Soviet dictator (Stalin, Josef)
- Josiah Stamp (1880-1941) English industrialist, economist, statistician, banker (Stamp, Josiah)
- Elisabeth-Anne "Bessie" Anderson Stanley (1879–1952) American poet (Stanley, Bessie A.)
- Jason Stanley (b. 1969) American philosopher, epistemologist, academic (Stanley, Jason)
- Vivian Stanshall (1943-1995) British singer-songwriter, author, poet and wit (Stanshall, Vivian)
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) American social activist, abolitionist, woman's suffragist (Stanton, Elizabeth Cady)
- Starhawk (b. 1951) American writer, activist, feminist theologian [b. Miriam Simos] (Starhawk)
- Freya Stark (1893-1993) Franco-British explorer, travel writer [Freya Madeline Stark] (Stark, Freya Madeline)
- Harold E. Stassen (1907-2001) American politician, lawyer, educator (Stassen, Harold E.)
- Christina Stead (1902-1983) Australian writer (Stead, Christina)
- Ronald Steel (b. 1931) American writer, historian, and professor (Steel, Ronald)
- Richard Steele (1672-1729) Irish writer and politician (Steele, Richard)
- Lincoln Steffens (1866-1936) American journalist (Steffens, Lincoln)
- Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) American novelist (Stegner, Wallace)
- Ben Stein (b. 1944) American actor, lawyer, economist, political writer [Benjamin Jeremy Stein] (Stein, Ben)
- Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) American expatriate author, feminist (Stein, Gertrude)
- Herb Stein (1916-1999) American economist (Stein, Herb)
- Leo Stein (1872-1947) American art collector, writer (Stein, Leo)
- John Steinbeck (1902-1968) American writer (Steinbeck, John)
- Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist (Steinem, Gloria)
- George Steiner (1929-2020) Franco-American literary critic, philosopher, writer, educator (Steiner, George)
- Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865-1923) American electrical engineer (Steinmetz, Charles)
- Wilhelm Stekel (1868-1940) Austrian physician, psychologist (Stekel, Wilhelm)
- Stendhal (1783-1842) French writer [pen name of Marie-Henri Beyle] (Stendhal)
- Casey Stengel (1890-1975) American athlete, coach, manager [Charles Dillon Stengel] (Stengel, Casey)
- Bonnie Stepenoff (b. 1949) American writer, researcher, historian (Stepenoff, Bonnie)
- Leslie Stephen (1832-1904) English critic, man of letters, biographer (Stephen, Leslie)
- Alexander Stephens (1812-1883) American lawyer, politician, Confederate States Vice-President (1861-65) (Stephens, Alexander)
- Bret Stephens (b. 1973) American journalist, editor, columnist (Stephens, Bret)
- Neal Stephenson (b. 1959) American novelist (Stephenson, Neal)
- G. B. Stern (1890-1973) British writer [Gladys Bronwyn Stern] (Stern, G. B.)
- Laurence Sterne (1713-1786) Anglo-Irish novelist, Anglican clergyman (Sterne, Laurence)
- John Paul Stevens (1920-2019) American lawyer, US Supreme Court Justice (1975-2010) (Stevens, John Paul)
- Wallace Stevens (1879-1955) American poet (Stevens, Wallace)
- Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965) American diplomat, statesman (Stevenson, Adlai)
- Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet (Stevenson, Robert Louis)
- Cal Stewart (1856-1919) American vaudevillean, monologuist [stage character "Uncle Josh" Weathersby] (Stewart, Cal)
- Ian Stewart b. 1945) English mathematician, author (Stewart, Ian)
- Jon Stewart (b. 1962) American satirist, comedian, and television host. [b. Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz] (Stewart, Jon)
- Potter Stewart (1915-1985) US Supreme Court Justice (1959-81) (Stewart, Potter)
- Thomas A. Stewart (b. 1948) American management consultant, business editor, writer (Stewart, Thomas A.)
- Edward Stillingfleet (1635-1699) British Christian theologian, polemicist, preacher, prelate (Stillingfleet, Edward)
- Jeff Stilson (b. c. 1959) American comedian, writer (Stilson, Jeff)
- Sting (b. 1951) British singer-songwriter, actor [b. Gordon Matthew Summer] (Sting)
- Abraham "Bram" Stoker (1847-1912) Irish author, theater manager, journalist (Stoker, Bram)
- Isidor Feinstein "I. F." Stone (1907-1989) American investigative journalist and author (Stone, I. F.)
- Peter Stone (1930-2003) American writer for theater, television, movies (Stone, Peter)
- Tom Stoppard (b. 1937) Czech-English playwright and screenwriter (Stoppard, Tom)
- Anthony Storr (1920-2001) English psychiatrist and author (Storr, Anthony)
- Joseph Story (1779-1845) American lawyer, jurist, Supreme Court Justice (1811-1845) (Story, Joseph)
- William M. Stott (b. 1940) American diplomat, academic in American Studies and English, author (Stott, William)
- Rex Stout (1886-1975) American writer (Stout, Rex)
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) American author (Stowe, Harriet Beecher)
- J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"] (Straczynski, J. Michael "Joe")
- Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) American composer (Stravinsky, Igor)
- Meryl Streep (b. 1949) American actress (Streep, Meryl)
- Arthur Stringer (1874-1950) Canadian-American novelist, screenwriter, poet (Stringer, Arthur)
- William Stringfellow (1928-1985) American lay theologian (Stringfellow, William)
- Charles "Charlie" Stross (b. 1964) British writer (Stross, Charles)
- Mildred W. Struven (1892-1983) American Christian Scientist, housewife (Struven, Mildred W.)
- Charles William Stubbs (1845-1912) British cleric (Bishop of Truro) (Stubbs, Charles William)
- Theodore Sturgeon (1918-1985) American fiction author, poet, essayist, critic [b. Edward Hamilton Waldo] (Sturgeon, Theodore)
- Jean Baptiste Antoine Suard (1734-1817) French journalist (Suard, Jean Baptiste Antoine)
- Suleiman I, the Magnificent (1494-1566) Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1520-1566) [also Süleyman, Muhibbi] (Suleiman the Magnificient)
- Andrew Sullivan (b. 1963) Anglo-American author, editor, journalist, blogger (Sullivan, Andrew)
- Edith Summerskill (1901-1980) English politician, physician, author (Summerskill, Edith)
- William Graham Sumner (1840-1910) American minister, sociologist, anthropologist. (Sumner, William Graham)
- Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu] (Sun-Tzu)
- William Ashley "Billy" Sunday (1862-1935) American athlete, evangelist, preacher (Sunday, Billy)
- Cass R. Sunstein (b. 1954) American legal scholar (Sunstein, Cass R.)
- George Sutherland (1862-1942) Anglo-American jurist, Supreme Court Justice (1922-1938) (Sutherland, George)
- Shunryū Suzuki (1905-1971) Japanese Zen Buddhist master (Suzuki, Shunryu)
- Daniel Swensen (b. c.1975) American writer (Swensen, Daniel)
- Joel L. Swerdlow (contemp.) American author, editor, researcher, educator (Swerdlow, Joel)
- Anne Sophie Swetchine (1782-1857) Russian-French author and salonist [Madame Swetchine] (Swetchine, Sophie)
- Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman (Swift, Jonathan)
- Charles Rozell "Chuck" Swindoll (b. 1934) American evangelist, author, educator (Swindoll, Chuck)
- John M Swomley, Jr. (1915-2010) American ethicist, theologian, civil libertarian scholar (Swomley, John)
- Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (c. 345-402) Roman statesman, orator, man of letters (Symmachus)
- Thomas Szasz (1920-2012) Hungarian-American psychiatrist, educator (Szasz, Thomas)
- Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist (Szilard, Leo)
- Gladys Taber (1899-1980) American author and columnist (Taber, Gladys)
- Mary B. W. Tabor (b. 1964) American journalist [Mary Britt Wellford Tabor] (Tabor, Mary B. W.)
- Tacitus (c.56-c.120) Roman historian, orator, politician [Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus] (Tacitus)
- William Howard Taft (1857-1930) US President (1909-13) and Chief Justice (1921-1930) (Taft, William)
- Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru] (Tagore, Rabindranath)
- Niisan Takahashi (1926-2015) Japanese screenwriter [高橋 二三, b. Yukito Takahashi] (Takahashi, Niisan)
- George Takei (b. 1937) American actor, author, activist [ジョージ・タケイ, b. Hosato Takei] (Takei, George)
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb (b. 1960) Lebanese-American essayist, statistician, risk analyst, aphorist. (Taleb, Nassim Nicholas)
- Charles Maurice, Prince de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French statesman (Talleyrand, Prince de)
- Ted Tally (b. 1952) American screenwriter, playwright (Tally, Ted)
- The Talmud (AD 200-500) Collection of Jewish rabbinical writings (Talmud)
- Amy Tan (b. 1952) American novelist (Tan, Amy)
- Tarfon (fl. 1st-2nd C AD) Jewish rabbi, sage (Tarfon)
- Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) American novelist and dramatist (Tarkington, Booth)
- Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986) Russian film director, screenwriter, film theorist [Андрей Арсеньевич Тарковский] (Tarkovsky, Andrei)
- Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956) Russian chess grandmaster (Tartakower, Savielly)
- Carol Tavris (b. 1944) American social psychologist and author (Tavris, Carol)
- R. H. Tawney (1880-1962) English writer, economist, historian, social critic [Richard Henry Tawney] (Tawney, R. H.)
- A. J. P. Taylor (1906-1990) British historian, journalist, broadcaster [Alan John Percivale Taylor] (Taylor, A. J. P.)
- Barbara Brown Taylor (b. 1951) American minister, academic, author (Taylor, Barbara Brown)
- Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) British-American actress (Taylor, Elizabeth)
- Henry Taylor (1800-1886) English dramatist, poet, bureaucrat, man of letters (Taylor, Henry)
- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) English cleric and author (Taylor, Jeremy)
- William "Tell" Taylor (1876-1937) American vaudevillian, singer, playwright, composer, lyricist (Taylor, Tell)
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Russian composer (Tchaikovsky, Peter)
- Edwin Way Teale (1899-1980) American naturalist, photographer, writer (Teale, Edwin Way)
- Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) American lyrical poet (Teasdale, Sara)
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) French Jesuit priest, paleontologist, philosopher (Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre)
- Edward Teller (1908-2003) Hungarian-American theoretical physicist (Teller, Edward)
- William Temple (1881-1944) English Anglican archbishop, teacher, preacher (Temple, William)
- William Temple, 1st Baronet Temple (1628-1699) English statesman and essayist. (Temple, William Baronet)
- Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) Dutch evangelist, concentration camp survivor (Ten Boom, Corrie)
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) English poet (Tennyson, Alfred, Lord)
- Sheri Tepper (1929-2016) American writer (Tepper, Sheri)
- Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer] (Terence)
- Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) Spanish mystic, poet, philosopher, saint (Teresa of Avila)
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) Albanian-Indian religious and humanitarian [b. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu] (Teresa of Calcutta (Mother))
- Ellen Terry (1848-1928) English stage actress (Terry, Ellen)
- Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769) German religious writer, preacher, mystic, hymnist [Dutch, Gerrit ter Steegen] (Tersteegen, Gerhard)
- Tertullian (c. AD 160-225) Carthaginian Christian writer, theologian [Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus] (Tertullian)
- Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) Serbian-American inventor, physicist, engineer, futurist (Tesla, Nikola)
- Doyce Testerman (b. 1971) American writer (Testerman, Doyce)
- William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist (Thackeray, William Makepeace)
- Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) British Prime Minister (1979-90), research chemist, barrister, politician (Thatcher, Margaret)
- Bob Thaves (1924-2006) American cartoonist (Thaves, Bob)
- Nancy Thayer (b. 1943) American novelist (Thayer, Nancy)
- Themistocles (c. 524-459 BC) Athenian politician and general (Themistocles)
- Paul Theroux (b. 1941) American novelist and travel writer (Theroux, Paul)
- Thích Nhất Hạnh (b. 1926) Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist (Thich Nhat Hanh)
- Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471) German-Dutch priest, author (Thomas a Kempis)
- Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Italian friar, philosopher, theologian (Thomas Aquinas)
- Thomas of Celano (c.1200 - c.1265) Italian friar, poet, hagiographer [Tommaso da Celano] (Thomas of Celano)
- Caitlin Thomas (1913-1994) British author, wife of Dylan Thomas [née Macnamara] (Thomas, Caitlin)
- Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) Welsh poet and writer (Thomas, Dylan)
- Edward Thomas (1878-1917) British poet, essayist, novelist (Thomas, Edward)
- Helen Thomas (1920-2013) American reporter and author (Thomas, Helen)
- Lewis Thomas (1913-1993) American physician, poet, essayist, researcher (Thomas, Lewis)
- Caroline Thompson (b. 1956) American novelist, screenwriter, film director, producer (Thompson, Caroline)
- Derek Thompson (b. 1986) American business journalist, editor (Thompson, Derek)
- E. P. Thompson (1924-1993) British historian, writer, activist [Edward Palmer Thompson] (Thompson, E. P.)
- Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) American journalist, writer (Thompson, Hunter S.)
- Kelly Thompson (contemp.) American writer (Thompson, Kelly)
- James Thomson (1700-1748) Scottish poet and playwright (Thomson, James)
- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer (Thoreau, Henry David)
- Edward Thorndike (1874-1949) American psychologist, educator (Thorndike, Edward)
- Peter, Lord Thorneycroft (1909-1994) British politician. (Thorneycroft, Peter)
- Kelvin R. Throop (contemp.) Fictional bureaucrat, epigrammist [collectiive pseud. for various Analog magazone authors] (Throop, Kelvin R.)
- Thucydides (c. 460-400 BC) Greek historian (Thucydides)
- James Thurber (1894-1961) American cartoonist and writer (Thurber, James)
- Ernest Tidyman (1928-1984) American author and screenwriter (Tidyman, Ernest)
- Paul Tillich (1886-1965) American theologian and philosopher (Tillich, Paul Johannes)
- John Tillotson (1630-1694) English prelate, Archbishop of Canterbury (Tillotson, John)
- Josef Broz Tito (1892-1980) Yugoslavian politician, revolutionary (Tito, Josef Broz)
- John Tobin (1770-1804) British playwright (Tobin, John)
- Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) French writer, diplomat, politician (Tocqueville, Alexis de)
- Tzvetan Todorov (1939-2017) Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, literary critic, sociologist (Todorov, Tzvetan)
- Alvin Toffler (1928-2016) American writer and futurist (Toffler, Alvin)
- J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien] (Tolkien, J.R.R.)
- Melvin B. Tolson (1898-1966) American poet, educator, columnist, politician (Tolson, Melvin B.)
- Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) Russian novelist and moral philosopher (Tolstoy, Leo)
- Lily Tomlin (b. 1939) American comedian and actress (Tomlin, Lily)
- Paul Tournier (1848-1986) Swiss physician, writer, philosopher (Tournier, Paul)
- Robert Townsend (1920-1998) American business executive and author (Townsend, Robert)
- Arnold Toynbee (1889-1975) English historian (Toynbee, Arnold)
- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American minister, author [Aiden Wilson Tozer] (Tozer, A. W.)
- Brian Tracy (b. 1944) American motivational speaker, writer (Tracy, Brian)
- P. L. Travers (1899-1996) Australian-British writer [Pamela Lyndon Travers; b. Helen Lyndon Goff] (Travers, P. L.)
- Merle Travis (1917-1963) American country and western singer, songwriter, musician (Travis, Merle)
- Richard Chenevix Trench (1807-1886) English archbishop, philologist, poet (Trench, Richard Chenevix)
- Calvin Trillin (b. 1935) American journalist, humorist, novelist (Trillin, Calvin)
- Robert L. Trivers (b. 1943) American evolutionary biologist and sociobiologist (Trivers, Robert L.)
- Frances Trollope (1779-1863) English novelist and writer (Trollope, Frances)
- Joanna Trollope (b. 1943) British writer [pseud. Caroline Harvey] (Trollope, Joanna)
- Dawson Trotman (1906-1956) American activist, evangelist (Trotman, Dawson)
- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) Russian politician, Marxist, intellectual, revolutionary [b. Lev Davidovich Bronstein] (Trotsky, Leon)
- Garry Trudeau (b. 1948) American cartoonist (Trudeau, Garry)
- Pierre Trudeau (1919–2000) Canadian politician (Trudeau, Pierre)
- D. Elton Trueblood (1900-1994) American author, educator, theologian [David Elton Trueblood] (Trueblood, D. Elton)
- George W. Truett (1867-1944) American minister, writer, and religious leader (Truett, George W.)
- Harry S Truman (1884-1972) US President (1945-1953) (Truman, Harry S)
- Dalton Trumbo (1905-1976) American screenwriter and novelist [James Dalton Trumbo] (Trumbo, Dalton)
- Donald J. Trump (b. 1946) American businessman, media personality, US President (2017-21) (Trump, Donald)
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) American abolitionist, women's rights activist [b. Isabella Baumfree] (Truth, Sojourner)
- Thomas Tryon (1634-1703) English merchant, author, vegetarian (Tryon, Thomas)
- Paul Tsongas (1941-1997) American politician (Tsongas, Paul)
- Marina Tsvetaeva (1892-1941) Russian poet (Tsvetaeva, Marina)
- Barbara W. Tuchman (1912-1989) American historian and author (Tuchman, Barbara)
- Sophie Tucker (1887-1966) American singer, comedian, actress, radio personality [b. Sonya Kalish] (Tucker, Sophie)
- Sir Samuel Tuke (c. 1620-1674) English Royalist and playwright (Tuke, Sir Samuel)
- John Tukey (1915-2000) American mathematician and statistician (Tukey, John)
- Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810-1889) English poet (Tupper, Martin Farquhar)
- Tina Turner (1939-2023) American singer, songwriter, actress [b. Anna Mae Bullock] (Turner, Tina)
- Thomas Tusser (1524-1580) English poet and farmer (Tusser, Thomas)
- Mr. Tut-tut (fl. 17th C.) Chinese collector of proverbs (pseud.) (Tut-tut, Mr.)
- Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) South African cleric, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Nobel Laureate (Tutu, Desmond)
- Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens] (Twain, Mark)
- William M. Tweed (1823-1878) American politician ("Boss" Tweed) (Tweed, William M. "Boss")
- Jill Tweedie (1936-1993) British author, journalist, feminist, broadcaster (Tweedie, Jill)
- David N. Twohy (b. 1956) American screenwriter, director (Twohy, David N.)
- Frank Tyger (1929-2011) American artist, editorial cartoonist, aphorist (Tyger, Frank)
- Donald Tyson (b. 1954) Canadian writer and mystic (Tyson, Donald)
- Mike Tyson (b. 1966) American boxer (Tyson, Mike)
- Neil deGrasse Tyson (b. 1958) American astrophysicist, author, orator (Tyson, Neil deGrasse)
- Samuel Ullman (1840-1924) German-American businessman, poet, humanitarian, religious leader (Ullman, Samuel)
- Liv Ullmann (b. 1938) Norwegian actress and film director (Ullmann, Liv)
- Umar I (c. 583-644) Arab caliph, jurist [Omar, Umar ibn Al-Khattāb, Al-Farooq] (Umar I)
- Ijeoma Umebinyuo (contemp.) Nigerian poet (Umebinyuo, Ijeoma)
- Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936) Spanish philosopher and writer [Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo] (Unamuno, Miguel de)
- Jesse Unruh (1922-1987) American politican (Unruh, Jesse)
- John Updike (1932-2009) American writer (Updike, John)
- Peter Ustinov (1921-2004) English actor, author, director (Ustinov, Peter)
- Paul Valéry (1871-1945) French poet, critic, author, polymath (Valéry, Paul)
- Abigail Van Buren (1918-2013) American columnist [a.k.a. Dear Abby, pen name for Pauline Phillips] (Van Buren, Abigail)
- Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) US President, 1837-41 (Van Buren, Martin)
- Martin van Creveld b. 1946) Israeli military historian and theorist (Van Creveld, Martin)
- Jan L. A. van de Snepscheut (1953-1994) Dutch-American computer scientist, educator (van de Snepscheut, Jan L. A.)
- Laura van den Berg (b. 1983) American writer (Van den Berg, Laura)
- Laurens van der Post (1906-1996) Afrikaner author, conservationist, statesman, humanitarian (Van der Post, Laurens)
- Carl Van Doren (1885-1950) American writer (Van Doren, Carl)
- Mark Van Doren (1894-1972) American poet and critic (Van Doren, Mark)
- Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) American clergyman and writer (Van Dyke, Henry)
- Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch painter (Van Gogh, Vincent)
- Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882-1944) Dutch-American historian and journalist (Van Loon, Hendrik Willem)
- Carl Van Vechten (1880-1964) American writer and photographer (Van Vechten, Carl)
- Arthur Vandenberg (1884-1951) American politician and statesman (Vandenberg, Arthur)
- Raoul Vaneigem (b. 1934) Belgian writer (Vaneigem, Raoul)
- Danielle Vare (1880-1956) Italian diplomat and author (Vare, Danielle)
- William E. "Bill" Vaughan (1915-1977) American columnist, humorist [pseud. Burton Hillis] (Vaughan, Bill)
- Roger J. Vaughan (b. 1946) American economist, economic analyst (Vaughan, Roger J)
- Carrie Vaughn (b. 1973) American writer (Vaughn, Carrie)
- Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715-1747) French moralist, essayist, soldier (Vauvenargues, Luc de)
- Jules Verne (1828-1905) French novelist, poet, playwright (Verne, Jules)
- John W. Vessey, Jr. (1922-2016) American career US Army officer (Vessey, John W.)
- Victoria (1819-1901) British monarch, queen, empress (1837-1901) [Alexandrina Victoria Wettin, née Hanover] (Victoria (Queen))
- Gore Vidal (1925-2012) American novelist, dramatist, critic (Vidal, Gore)
- Peter Viereck (1916-2006) American poet, historian, academic (Viereck, Peter)
- Lynn Vincent (b. 1962) American author, journalist (Vincent, Lynn)
- Judith Viorst (b. 1931) American writer, journalist, psychoanalysis researcher (Viorst, Judith)
- Vincent Virga (b. 1942) American photo editor, writer (Virga, Vincent)
- Virgil (70-19 BC) Roman poet [b. Publius Vergilius Maro; also Vergil] (Virgil)
- David Viscott (1938-1996) American psychologist, writer, radio personality (Viscott, David)
- Vivekananda (1863-1902) Indian Hindu monk, spiritual reformer, nationalist [b. Narendra Nath Datta] (Vivekananda)
- Edmund H. Volkart (1919-1992) American sociologist, researcher, editor (Volkart, Edmund H.)
- Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet] (Voltaire)
- Wernher von Braun (1877-1912) German-American engineer (Von Braun, Wernher)
- Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) Prussian soldier, historian, military theorist (Von Clausewitz, Karl)
- Thea von Harbou (1888-1954) German screenwriter, novelist, film director, actress (Von Harbou, Thea)
- Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) Austrian economist, philosopher, author (Von Mises, Ludwig)
- Helmuth von Moltke (1800-1891) Prussian soldier (Von Moltke, Helmuth)
- Robert von Musil (1880-1942) Austrian writer (Von Musil, Robert)
- John von Neumann (1903-1957) Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist, inventor, polymath [János "Johann" Lajos Neumann] (Von Neumann, John)
- Charles "Chuq" Von Rospach (contemp.) American science fiction writer and critic (Von Rospach, Chuq)
- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922-2007) American novelist, journalist (Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr.)
- Charles Wadsworth (contemp.) American musician, promoter (Wadsworth, Charles)
- Jane Wagner (b. 1935) American humorist, writer, director (Wagner, Jane)
- John Wagner (b. 1949) American-British cartoonist ("Maxine") (Wagner, John)
- Mark Waid (b. 1962) American comic book writer, editor (Waid, Mark)
- John Wain (1925-1994) English poet, novelist, critic (Wain, John)
- Loudon Wainwright III (b. 1946) American singer-songwriter, humorist, actor (Wainwright, Loudon, III)
- Arthur Waley (1889-1966) English orientalist, sinologist, literary translator (Waley, Arthur)
- Alice Walker (b. 1944) American writer, activist (Walker, Alice)
- Kelly Catlin Walker (contemp.) American motivational speaker, business consultant (Walker, Kelly Catlin)
- David Foster Wallace (1962-2008) American author, academic (Wallace, David Foster)
- Henry Wallace (1888-1965) American politician, journalist, farmer, businessman (Wallace, Henry)
- Irving Wallace (1916-1990) American author and screenwriter (Wallace, Irving)
- Karl Wallenda (1905-1978) German-American tightrope walker (Wallenda, Karl)
- Horace Walpole (1717-1797) English novelist, letter writer (Walpole, Horace)
- Hugh Walpole (1884-1941) English novelist (Walpole, Hugh)
- Barbara Walters (b. 1929) American broadcast journalist (Walters, Barbara)
- J. Donald Walters (1926-2013) American yoga teacher, writer, musician [a.k.a. Swami Kriyananda] (Walters, J. Donald)
- Jo Walton (b. 1964) Welsh-Canadian writer and poet (Walton, Jo)
- John Wanamaker (1838-1922) American merchant, marketer, philanthropist, Postmaster General (Wanamaker, John)
- Hui-ling Wang (contemp.) Taiwanese screenwriter [Wáng Huìlíng, 王蕙玲] (Wang Hui-ling)
- William Warburton (1698-1779) English critic and churchman (Warburton, William)
- Artemus Ward (1834-1867) American humorist, editor, lecturer [pseud. of Charles Farrar Browne] (Ward, Artemus)
- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) American aphorist, author, educator (Ward, William Arthur)
- Andy Warhol (1928-1987) American artist, author (Warhol, Andy)
- Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American essayist and novelist (Warner, Charles Dudley)
- Susan Warner (1819-1885) American novelist (Warner, Susan)
- Earl Warren (1891-1974) American jurist and politician; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1953-69) (Warren, Earl)
- Elizabeth Warren (b. 1949) American academic and politician [née Herring] (Warren, Elizabeth)
- Jim Warren (b. 1936) American mathematician, computer scientist, journalist, activist (Warren, Jim)
- Rick Warren (b. 1954) American Christian pastor and author (Warren, Rick)
- Robert Penn Warren (1905-1989) American poet, novelist, literary critic (Warren, Robert Penn)
- Sydney Warren (b. 1916) American author, historian (Warren, Sydney)
- Lemuel K. Washburn (1846-1927) American freethinker, writer (Washburn, Lemuel)
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) American educator, writer (Washington, Booker T.)
- George Washington (1732-1799) American military leader, Founding Father, US President (1789-1797) (Washington, George)
- Martha Washington (1731-1802) American socialite, wife of George Washington, First Lady (1789-1797) (Washington, Martha)
- Bishop Waso of Liège (AD 980-1048) Ecclesiastical leader in the Holy Roman Empire (Waso of Liège)
- John Waters (b. 1946) American movie actor, director, screenwriter (Waters, John)
- Sarah Waters (b. 1966) Welsh novelist (Waters, Sarah)
- John Watson (1850-1907) Scottish writer, preacher, theologian [pseud. Ian Maclaren] (Watson, John)
- Thomas J. Watson (1856-1922) American businessman (Watson, Thomas J.)
- Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist (Watterson, Bill)
- Alan Watts (1915-1973) Anglo-American philosopher, writer (Watts, Alan)
- Isaac Watts (1674-1748) English theologian and hymnodist (Watts, Isaac)
- Julius Caesar "J. C." Watts, Jr. (b. 1957) American writer, politician (Watts, J. C., Jr.)
- Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966) English novelist (Waugh, Evelyn)
- John Wayne (1907-1979) American actor, director [b. Marion Michael Morrison] (Wayne, John)
- David Weber (b. 1952) American writer (Weber, David)
- Max Weber (1864-1920) German sociologist, philosopher, political economist [Maximilian Karl Emil Weber] (Weber, Max)
- Daniel Webster (1782-1852) American statesman, lawyer, orator (Webster, Daniel)
- John Webster (c.1580-c.1634) English Jacobean dramatist (Webster, John)
- Noah Webster, Jr. (1758-1843) American lexicographer and author (Webster, Noah)
- Walter Weckler (1758-1843) American lexicographer (Weckler, Walter)
- Edward Weeks (1898-1989) American writer, essayist, editor (Weeks, Edward)
- M.L. Weems (1759-1825) American clergyman and author [Mason Locke Weems] (Weems, M.L.)
- Simone Weil (1909-1943) French philosopher (Weil, Simone)
- A. H. Weiler (1908-2002) Russian-American editor, critic (Weiler, A. H.)
- Steven Weinberg (1933-2021) American theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate (Weinberg, Steven)
- Harry Weinberger (1888–1944) American lawyer, civil libertarian (Weinberger, Harry)
- Andy Weir (b. 1972) American programmer and writer (Weir, Andy)
- Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952) Russian-Israeli scientist, Zionist leader (Weizmann, Chaim)
- John Welch (1805-1891) American politician, jurist (Welch, John)
- Fay Weldon (b. 1931) English author, essayist, playwright (Weldon, Fay)
- Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor (Welles, Orson)
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman (Wellesley, Arthur)
- Carolyn Wells (1869-1942) American author (Wells, Carolyn)
- H.G. Wells (1866-1946) British writer [Herbert George Wells] (Wells, H.G.)
- Chuck Wendig (b. 1976) American novelist, screenwriter, game designer, blogger (Wendig, Chuck)
- John Wesley (1703-1791) English cleric, Christian theologian and evangelist, founder of Methodism (Wesley, John)
- Cornel West (b. 1953) American philosopher, political activist, social critic (West, Cornel)
- Jessamyn West (1902-1984) American writer, Quaker (West, Jessamyn)
- Mae West (1892-1980) American film actress (West, Mae)
- Rebecca West (1892-1983) British author, journalist, literary critic, travel writer [pseud. for Cicily Isabel Fairfield] (West, Rebecca)
- Donald E. Westlake (1933-2008) American writer (Westlake, Donald)
- Edward Moffat Weyer, Jr. (1904-1998) American anthropologist, explorer (Weyer, Edward)
- Edith Wharton (1862-1937) American novelist (Wharton, Edith)
- Richard Whately (1787-1863) English logician, theologian, archbishop (Whately, Richard)
- Margaret J. "Meg" Wheatley (b. 1944) American writer, teacher, speaker, management consultant (Wheatley, Meg)
- Joss Whedon (b. 1964) American screenwriter, author, producer [Joseph Hill Whedon] (Whedon, Joss)
- Edwin Percy Whipple 1819-1886) American essayist and critic (Whipple, Edwin Percy)
- James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) American artist (Whistler, James McNeill)
- Carl Whitaker (1912-1995) American physician, psychotherapist, family therapist (Whitaker, Carl)
- Bryan White (b. 1974) American singer-songwriter (White, Bryan)
- E. B. White (1899-1985) American author, critic, humorist [Elwyn Brooks White] (White, E. B.)
- Jon Manchip White (1924-2013) Welsh-American writer (White, Jon Manchip)
- Ken White (b. c. 1969) American constitutional and criminal attorney, prosecutor, blogger (White, Ken)
- T. H. White (1906-1964) English writer [Terence Hanbury White] (White, T. H.)
- Theodore H. White (1915-1986) American political journalist, historian, author (White, Theodore H.)
- William Allen White (1868-1944) American writer and journalist (White, William Allen)
- Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) English mathematician and philosopher (Whitehead, Alfred North)
- Katharine Whitehorn (1928-2021) English writer, journalist, radio presenter (Whitehorn, Katharine)
- Gough Whitlam (1916-2014) Australian statesman, Prime Minister (1972-75) (Whitlam, Gough)
- Walt Whitman (1819-1892) American poet (Whitman, Walt)
- Willis Whitney (1887-1958) American industrial researcher (Whitney, Willis)
- John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) American poet and abolitionist (Whittier, John Greenleaf)
- Charlotte Whitton (1896-1975) Canadian politician (Whitton, Charlotte)
- Dennis Wholey (b. 1939) American writer, television personality, producer (Wholey, Dennis)
- Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897-1941) American linguist, anthropologist (Whorf, Benjamin Lee)
- David Whyte (b. 1955) Anglo-Irish poet (Whyte, David)
- William Hollingsworth "Holly" Whyte, Jr. (1917-1999) American sociologist, journalist, and civic planner (Whyte, William H., Jr.)
- Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) American mathematician and philosopher (Wiener, Norbert)
- Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate. (Wiesel, Elie)
- William Wilberforce (1759-1833) English philanthropist and politician (Wilberforce, William)
- Richard Wilbur (1921-2017) American poet, literary translator (Wilbur, Richard)
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) American author and poet. (Wilcox, Ella Wheeler)
- Larry Wilde (b. 1928) American humorist, actor, speaker, publisher [b. Herman Wildman] (Wilde, Larry)
- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish poet, wit, dramatist (Wilde, Oscar)
- Billy Wilder (1906-2002) Austrian-American film producer, director, screenwriter [b. Samuel Wilder] (Wilder, Billy)
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) American writer (Wilder, Laura Ingalls)
- Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) American novelist and playwright (Wilder, Thornton)
- Frank Wilhoit (contemp.) American composer and software architect (Wilhoit, Frank)
- Anne Wilkinson (1910-1961) Canadian poet (Wilkinson, Anne)
- George Will (b. 1941) American political commentator (Will, George F.)
- Bernard J. "Bern" Williams (1913-2004) American columnist radio host, aphorist (Williams, Bern)
- Marjorie Williams (1958-2005) American journalist, columnist, author (Williams, Marjorie)
- Robin Williams (1951-2014) American comedian and actor (Williams, Robin)
- Roger Williams (1603?-1683) American clergyman and reformer (Williams, Roger)
- Robert Paul "Tad" Williams (b. 1957) American writer (Williams, Tad)
- Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) American playwright (Williams, Tennessee)
- Wendell Willkie (1892-1994) American businessman, politician (Willkie, Wendell)
- Garry Wills (b. 1934) American author, journalist, historian (Wills, Garry)
- Meredith Willson (1902-1984) American composer, songwriter, flutist, conductor, playwright (Willson, Meredith)
- Charles E. Wilson (1890-1961) US Secretary of Defense; engineer, industrialist (Wilson, Charles E.)
- Colin Wilson (1931-2013) English existentialist philosopher, novelist (Wilson, Colin)
- E. O. Wilson (1929-2021) American biologist, naturalist, writer [Edward Osborne Wilson] (Wilson, E. O.)
- Earl Wilson (1907-1987) American columnist (Wilson, Earl)
- Edmund Wilson, Jr. (1895-1972) American writer, literary critic, journalist (Wilson, Edmund)
- Harold Wilson (1916-1995) British Prime Minister (1964-70) (Wilson, Harold)
- Ian E. Wilson (b. 1943) Canadian archivist, historian (Wilson, Ian E.)
- Robert Anton Wilson (1932-2007) American author, futurist self-described "agnostic mystic" [pen name of Robert Edward Wilson] (Wilson, Robert Anton)
- Robert R. Wilson (1914-2000) American physicist (Wilson, Robert R.)
- Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) US President (1913-20), educator, political scientist (Wilson, Woodrow)
- Stephanie A. Wiltse (contemp.) American graphic designer, fanzine publisher (Wiltse, Stephanie A.)
- George Wiman (contemp.) American blogger, computer technician (Wiman, George)
- Walter Winchell (1856-1972) American journalist (Winchell, Walter)
- Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954) American TV personality, actress (Winfrey, Oprah)
- Henry Winkler (b. 1945) American actor, director, producer, author (Winkler, Henry)
- Lloyd "Bud" Winter (1909-1985) American track coach (Winter, Lloyd "Bud")
- William Winter (1836-1917) American dramatic critic and author (Winter, William)
- John Winthrop (1588–1649) English Puritan, politician (Winthrop, John)
- Owen Wister (1860-1938) American novelist (Wister, Owen)
- Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) Austrian-English philosopher (Wittgenstein, Ludwig)
- P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse] (Wodehouse, P. G.)
- John Wolcot (1738-1819) English satirist (pseud. Peter Pindar) (Wolcot, John)
- Naomi Wolf (b. 1962), American writer, feminist, progressive (Wolf, Naomi)
- David Wolfe-Blank (1951-1998) American religious teacher, rabbi (Wolfe-Blank, David)
- Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938) American writer (Wolfe, Thomas)
- Tom Wolfe (1930-2018) American author and journalist [Thomas Kennerly Wolfe Jr.] (Wolfe, Tom)
- John Wolfenden (1906-1985) British educator, author (Wolfenden, John)
- Raymond Wolfinger (1931-2015) American political scientist and professor (Wolfinger, Ray)
- Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) English social philosopher, feminist, writer (Wollstonecraft, Mary)
- Jan D. Wolter (1959-2015) American computer science professional (Wolter, Jan D.)
- Stevie Wonder (b. 1950) American musician and songwriter [b. Stevland Hardaway Morris] (Wonder, Stevie)
- David Wong (b. 1975) American writer, humorist, editor [pseud. for Jason Pargin] (Wong, David)
- George Edward Woodberry (1855-1930) American man of letters (Woodberry, George Edward)
- John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball player and coach (Wooden, John)
- Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) English modernist writer [b. Adeline Virginia Stephen] (Woolf, Virginia)
- Alexander Woollcott (1887-1943) American critic, commentator, journalist, wit (Woollcott, Alexander)
- Elizabeth Wordsworth (1840–1932) English poet, novelist, author (Wordsworth, Elizabeth)
- William Wordsworth (1770-1850) English poet (Wordsworth, William)
- Henry Wotton (1568-1639) English author, diplomat, politician (Wotton, Henry)
- Matthew Wren (1585-1667) English clergyman, bishop, scholar (Wren, Matthew)
- Frances "Fanny" Wright (1795-1852) Scottish-American writer, lecturer, social reformer (Wright, Fanny)
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) American architect, interior designer, writer, educator [b. Frank Lincoln Wright] (Wright, Frank Lloyd)
- Steven Wright (b. 1955) Canadian-American humorist (Wright, Steven)
- William Wrigley, Jr. (1861-1932) American industrialist (Wrigley, William Jr)
- William Wycherley (1640-1716) English dramatist (Wycherley, William)
- Philip Wylie (1902-1971) American author (Wylie, Philip Gordon)
- Lois Wyse (1926-2007) American advertising executive, author, columnist [née Lois Wohlgemuth] (Wyse, Lois)
- Xenophanes (c. 570–478 BC) Greek philosopher, poet. (Xenophanes)
- Xenophon (c. 431-355 BC) Greek historian and essayist (Xenophon)
- Xerxes I (519-465 BC) King the Achaemenid Empire of Persia [Xerxes the Great] (Xerxes)
- Rosalyn Sussman Yalow (1921-2011) American medical physicist, Nobel laureate (Yalow, Rosalyn Sussman)
- William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Irish poet and dramatist (Yeats, William Butler)
- Yevgeny Yevtushenko (1933-2017) Russian poet, writer, film director, academic [Евге́ний Евтуше́нко, Evgenij Evtušenko] (Yevtushenko, Yevgeny)
- Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) Indian religious leader (Yogananda, Paramahansa)
- Yoshida Kenkō (1284-1350) Japanese author and Buddhist monk [吉田 兼好] (Yoshida, Kenko)
- Alistair J.R. Young (b. 1974) British systems software developer (Young, Alistair J.R.)
- Andrew Young (b. 1932) American politician, diplomat, activist (Young, Andrew)
- Edward Young (1683-1765) English poet (Young, Edward)
- Loretta Young (1913-2000) American actress [b. Gretchen Michaela Belzer] (Young, Loretta)
- Nedrick Young (1914-1968) American screenwriter and actor [pseud. Nathan E. Douglas] (Young, Nedrick)
- Darryl F. Zanuck (1902-1979) American film producer, writer, actor, director (Zanuck, Darryl)
- Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919) Mexican revolutionary, reformer [Emiliano Zapata Salazar] (Zapata, Emiliano)
- Frank Zappa (1940-1993) American singer-songwriter (Zappa, Frank)
- Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) American writer (Zelazny, Roger)
- Katherine Zell (1497-1562) German Protestant reformer, writer, humanitarian [Katharina Schütz Zell] (Zell, Katherine)
- Robert Zemeckis (b. 1952) American screenwriter, director (Zemeckis, Robert)
- Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC) Greek philosopher, founder of the Stoics (Zeno)
- Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar (1926-2012) American author, salesperson, motivational speaker (Ziglar, Zig)
- Johann Georg Zimmermann (1728-1795) Swiss philosophical writer, naturalist, physician (Zimmermann, J. G.)
- Howard Zinn (1922-2010) American historian, academic, author, social activist (Zinn, Howard)
- Emile Zola (1840-1902) French author, journalist (Zola, Emile)
- Zoroaster (628?-551? BC) Persian religious leader (Zoroaster)
- David Zucker (b. 1947) American writer-director (Zucker, David)
- Yonatan Zunger (b. 1977) American essayist, software engineer, physicist, ethicist (Zunger, Yonatan)
- Rabbi Meshullam Zusya of Hanipol (1718-1800) Hassidic teacher (Zusya of Hanipol)
- Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist, biographer (Zweig, Stefan)
- Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) Swiss cleric, religious reformer, politician [also Huldrych or Ulricht] (Zwingli, Ulrich)
Visited 9,221 time(s).
Pingback: ~~Admin - Doing the Numbers: 3/2013 | WIST Quotations
THANKS for citing where these are located! No one else does this. You are special.
Thanks!
Hi Dave. I greatly admire what you are doing. Keep it up!
Thought you might like to know that you mistakenly have Gore Vidal saying: “I am myself a propagandist, a tremendous hater, a tiresome nag…” He actually wrote:
I am at heart a propagandist, a tremendous hater, a tiresome nag, complacently positive that there is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise. Gore Vidal, in Preface to Visit to a Small Planet and Other Television Plays (1956)
The entry above is from WRITERS–ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR WORK, a section of my online database: http://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/w#writers_on_themselves_and_their_work
All my best,
Mardy
Yikes! And, yes, there it is, right in the source material I linked to. Not sure if I goofed in transcribing it, or the original source I found it in had it wrong and I didn’t notice. Thanks for the update, and I’ve corrected the entry.
(And thanks for your site, too — I enjoy your quotation work quite a bit, esp. the broader contexts you give to common phrases.)