Most Famous People from Romania

100 Romanians in view out of 1,305

All 152,953
Romania 1,313
Nicolae Ceaușescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu Romanian Politician 1918 – 1989
#661
Nadia Comăneci
Nadia Comăneci Romanian Gymnast Born 1961
#1,443
Eugène Ionesco
Eugène Ionesco Romanian Playwright 1909 – 1994
#1,676
Mircea Eliade
Mircea Eliade Romanian Anthropologist 1907 – 1986
#1,843
Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu Romanian Actor 1850 – 1889
#2,385
Tristan Tzara
Tristan Tzara Romanian Collector 1896 – 1963
#2,589
Constantin Brâncuși
Constantin Brâncuși Romanian Sculptor 1876 – 1957
#2,868
Emil Cioran
Emil Cioran Romanian Writer 1911 – 1995
#2,952
Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu Romanian Politician 1882 – 1946
#3,475
Vlad the Impaler
Vlad the Impaler Romanian Sovereign 1431 – 1476
#3,572
Michael I of Romania
Michael I of Romania Romanian Monarch 1921 – 2017
#4,818
SS
Sebastian Stan Romanian Actor Born 1982
#4,890
George Enescu
George Enescu Romanian Composer 1881 – 1955
#5,057
Ion Luca Caragiale
Ion Luca Caragiale Romanian Playwright 1852 – 1912
#5,362
Inna
Inna Romanian Singer Born 1986
#6,143
Carol II of Romania
Carol II of Romania Romanian Sovereign 1893 – 1953
#6,265
Ion Creangă
Ion Creangă Romanian Writer 1837 – 1889
#6,548
Carol I of Romania
Carol I of Romania Romanian Monarch 1839 – 1914
#6,861
Angela Gheorghiu
Angela Gheorghiu Romanian Singer Born 1965
#7,884
Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache Romanian Conductor 1912 – 1996
#8,774
Elena Ceaușescu
Elena Ceaușescu Romanian Politician 1916 – 1989
#9,421
Mihail Sadoveanu
Mihail Sadoveanu Romanian Novelist 1880 – 1961
#9,518
Dimitrie Cantemir
Dimitrie Cantemir Romanian Anthropologist 1676 – 1723
#10,009
Elisabeth of Wied
Elisabeth of Wied Romanian Queen 1843 – 1916
#10,074
Lucian Blaga
Lucian Blaga Romanian Poet 1895 – 1961
#10,708
Corneliu Zelea Codreanu
Corneliu Zelea Codreanu Romanian Politician 1899 – 1938
#10,844
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu Romanian Politician Born 1930
#10,994
Gheorghe Zamfir
Gheorghe Zamfir Romanian Conductor Born 1941
#11,032
Kira Muratova
Kira Muratova Romanian Film 1934 – 2018
#12,755
Michael the Brave
Michael the Brave Romanian Prince 1558 – 1601
#14,287
Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius Romanian Composer 1571 – 1621
#14,314
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej Romanian Politician 1901 – 1965
#14,776
Adrian Mutu
Adrian Mutu Romanian Football Born 1979
#15,349
CM
Cristian Mungiu Romanian Screenwriter Born 1968
#15,486
Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel Bethlen Romanian Prince 1580 – 1629
#17,302
Nicolae Grigorescu
Nicolae Grigorescu Romanian Painter 1838 – 1907
#17,473
Cristian Chivu
Cristian Chivu Romanian Football Born 1980
#17,957
Liviu Rebreanu
Liviu Rebreanu Romanian Writer 1885 – 1944
#19,020
Titu Maiorescu
Titu Maiorescu Romanian Diplomat 1840 – 1917
#19,611
Saul Steinberg
Saul Steinberg Romanian Artist 1914 – 1999
#19,913
Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi Romanian Football Born 1965
#20,410
Ana Pauker
Ana Pauker Romanian Politician 1893 – 1960
#20,894
Christian Rakovsky
Christian Rakovsky Romanian Revolutionary 1873 – 1941
#21,379
NS
Nichita Stănescu Romanian Poet 1933 – 1983
#22,478
AB
Ana Blandiana Romanian Poet Born 1942
#22,713
Eugen Doga
Eugen Doga Romanian Composer Born 1937
#23,145
Sergiu Nicolaescu
Sergiu Nicolaescu Romanian Film 1930 – 2013
#24,750
Petru Groza
Petru Groza Romanian Politician 1884 – 1958
#26,568
RL
Radu Lupu Romanian Pianist Born 1945
#26,699
EL
Edward Luttwak Romanian Economist Born 1942
#27,215
GB
George Bacovia Romanian Poet 1881 – 1957
#28,949
Ion Barbu
Ion Barbu Romanian Poet 1895 – 1961
#29,104
Ciprian Porumbescu
Ciprian Porumbescu Romanian Composer 1853 – 1883
#29,310
Victor Brauner
Victor Brauner Romanian Painter 1903 – 1966
#30,503
Ion I. C. Brătianu
Ion I. C. Brătianu Romanian Politician 1864 – 1927
#30,622
Ștefan Luchian
Ștefan Luchian Romanian Painter 1868 – 1916
#32,361
Peter Mogila
Peter Mogila Romanian Priest 1596 – 1646
#32,868
Marin Sorescu
Marin Sorescu Romanian Poet 1936 – 1996
#33,863
Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Averescu Romanian Officer 1859 – 1938
#33,871
George Coșbuc
George Coșbuc Romanian Poet 1866 – 1918
#34,022
Traian Băsescu
Traian Băsescu Romanian Politician Born 1951
#34,539
Marcel Iureș
Marcel Iureș Romanian Actor Born 1951
#34,828
Gheorghe Mureșan
Gheorghe Mureșan Romanian Basket Born 1971
#35,428
Eugenio Coșeriu
Eugenio Coșeriu Romanian Linguist 1921 – 2002
#35,558
Ioan Slavici
Ioan Slavici Romanian Writer 1848 – 1925
#36,055
Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu Romanian Prince 1654 – 1714
#36,888
Horia Sima
Horia Sima Romanian Politician 1907 – 1993
#38,140
Mircea I of Wallachia
Mircea I of Wallachia Romanian Grandson 1355 – 1418
#38,432
Gheorghe Popescu
Gheorghe Popescu Romanian Football Born 1967
#38,705
Constantin Noica
Constantin Noica Romanian Essayist 1909 – 1987
#39,617
Florin Andone
Florin Andone Romanian Football Born 1993
#40,159
László Bölöni
László Bölöni Romanian Football Born 1953
#40,390
Emil Loteanu
Emil Loteanu Romanian Film 1936 – 2003
#41,205
Vlad II Dracul
Vlad II Dracul Romanian Monarch 1395 – 1447
#42,848
Gheorghe Asachi
Gheorghe Asachi Romanian Writer 1788 – 1869
#43,589
Ion Heliade Rădulescu
Ion Heliade Rădulescu Romanian Poet 1802 – 1872
#44,648
Mihai Antonescu
Mihai Antonescu Romanian Politician 1904 – 1946
#44,685
Alexandru Vaida-Voevod
Alexandru Vaida-Voevod Romanian Politician 1872 – 1950
#45,135
Lucian Pintilie
Lucian Pintilie Romanian Actor 1933 – 2018
#45,888
Marin Preda
Marin Preda Romanian Writer 1922 – 1980
#46,069
Solomon Schechter
Solomon Schechter Romanian Academic 1847 – 1915
#46,445
Patriarch Daniel of Romania
Patriarch Daniel of Romania Romanian Church Born 1951
#47,094
Tudor Vladimirescu
Tudor Vladimirescu Romanian Politician 1780 – 1821
#48,596
LS
Lucian Sânmărtean Romanian Football Born 1980
#49,204
Nicolae Stanciu (footballer (Born 1993))
Nicolae Stanciu (footballer (Born 1993)) Romanian Football Born 1993
#50,059
Avram Iancu
Avram Iancu Romanian Lawyer 1824 – 1872
#50,536
Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu
Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu Romanian Linguist 1838 – 1907
#51,617
Traian Vuia
Traian Vuia Romanian Inventor 1872 – 1950
#51,994
Constantin Virgil Gheorghiu
Constantin Virgil Gheorghiu Romanian Writer 1916 – 1992
#52,145
VH
Vintilă Horia Romanian Writer 1915 – 1992
#53,262
Daniela Silivaș
Daniela Silivaș Romanian Gymnast Born 1972
#53,908
Bănel Nicoliță
Bănel Nicoliță Romanian Football Born 1985
#54,549
Victor Pițurcă
Victor Pițurcă Romanian Football Born 1956
#54,616
Iasmin Latovlevici
Iasmin Latovlevici Romanian Football Born 1986
#54,624
Ion Agârbiceanu
Ion Agârbiceanu Romanian Writer 1882 – 1963
#55,180
Raul Rusescu
Raul Rusescu Romanian Football Born 1988
#55,522
Vasile Lupu
Vasile Lupu Romanian Aristocrat 1595 – 1661
#56,062
Elisabeth of Romania
Elisabeth of Romania Romanian Princess 1894 – 1956
#57,891
Adrian Păunescu
Adrian Păunescu Romanian Poet 1943 – 2010
#58,010
Paul Goma
Paul Goma Romanian Novelist 1935 – 2020
#58,580

By the numbers

Inside Romania

1,313 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Romania during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in Romania peaked in the 1950s with 157 people.

What Romania Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Sports is Romania's biggest group — 32% of all notables (422).

Romania over-indexes on writing — 1.6× the global rate.

Romania under-produces military — only 0.5× the global rate.

  1. Sports422
  2. Writing245
  3. Politics & Law213
  4. Science90
  5. Music75
  6. Religion69
  7. Other60
  8. Film & TV59
  1. Writing2451.6×
  1. Military250.5×
  2. Art & Design420.6×
  3. Other600.6×
  4. Film & TV590.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Romania's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

1550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Writing
  • Politics & Law
  • Science
  • Music
  • Religion
  • Other

Top Cities

Biggest birthplaces in this slice — click any to explore.