List of Romanians explained
Note: Names that cannot be confirmed in Wikipedia database nor through given sources are subject to removal. If you would like to add a new name please consider writing about the person first. If a notable Romanian is missing and without article, please add your request for a new article here. However, this is not a list of all famous Romanians.
This is a list of some of the most prominent Romanians. It contains historical and important contemporary figures (athletes, actors, directors etc.).
Most of the people listed here are of Romanian ethnicity, whose native tongue is Romanian. There are also a few mentioned who were born in Romania and can speak Romanian, though not of Romanian ethnicity.
Historical and political figures
Medieval
- Alexander I the Good (1375–1432), Domn of Moldavia (1400–1432)
- Basarab I the Founder (1270–1352), first independent Domn of Wallachia (1310–1352)
- Michael the Brave (1558–1601), Domn of Wallachia (1593–1601), Domn of Moldavia (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania (1599–1600)
- Mircea I the Elder (1355–1418), Domn of Wallachia (1386–1394, 1397–1418)
- Neagoe Basarab V (1459–1521), Domn of Wallachia (1512–1521)
- Nicolaus Olahus (1493–1568), Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Kingdom of Hungary
- Stephen III the Great (1433–1504), Domn of Moldavia (1457–1504)
- Vlad II Dracul (before 1395–1447), Domn of Wallachia (1436–1442, 1443–1447)
- Vlad III the Impaler (1431–1477), Domn of Wallachia (1448, 1456–1462, 1476–1477)
Renaissance Age
Modern era
Politicians and militarymen
- Ion Antonescu, Prime Minister and Conducător (Leader) during World War II
- Alexandru Averescu, general and politician
- Nicolae Bălcescu, historian, revolutionary
- Antoine Bibesco, diplomat, writer
- Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, Prime Minister during the 1907 Romanian Peasants' revolt
- Lascăr Catargiu
- Corneliu Codreanu, founder and charismatic leader of the Iron Guard
- Constantin Cristescu, general, Chief of Staff
- Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea, former mayor of Bucharest
- Ion Dragalina, general
- Petre Dumitrescu, general
- Octavian Goga, writer, former Prime Minister
- Avram Iancu, revolutionary in 1848 Revolution
- Take Ionescu, Prime Minister in interbellum Romania
- Mugur Isărescu, economist and member of the Club of Rome, former Prime Minister
- Mihail Lascăr, World War II general, Minister of Defense
- Mihail Manoilescu, economist and Foreign Minister
- Alexandru Marghiloman, Prime Minister during World War I
- Gheorghe G. Mironescu, Prime Minister in interbellum Romania
- Ion Mihai Pacepa
- David Praporgescu, general
- Constantin Prezan, general in World War I, Marshal of Romania
- Nicolae Rădescu, Prime Minister during World War II
- Radu R. Rosetti, general
- Ecaterina Teodoroiu, soldier and heroine during World War I
- Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania
- Corneliu Coposu, politician, National Peasants' Party
- Doina Cornea, noted dissident and intellectual, National Peasants' Party
- Iuliu Maniu, politician, one of the creators of the National Peasants' Party
- Ion Mihalache, politician, National Peasants' Party
- Ion Rațiu, politician, National Peasants' Party
- Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, politician, Prime Minister of Romania, National Peasants' Party
- Radu Vasile, economist and politician, former Prime Minister
- Dinu Brătianu, president of the National Liberal Party, arrested and imprisoned without trial by the communists, dying in 1950, probably at Sighet Prison
- Ion C. Brătianu, Prime Minister of Romania
- Ion I. C. Brătianu, politician, one of the founders of the Liberal movement in Romania, Prime Minister, son of Ion C. Brătianu
- Vintilă Brătianu, politician, Prime Minister of Romania, son of Ion C. Brătianu
- Ion G. Duca, Prime Minister, assassinated by Iron Guard
- Ion Ghica, mathematician, diplomat, Prime Minister
- Mihail Kogălniceanu, lawyer, historian, publicist, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs
- C. A. Rosetti, publicist, Mayor of Bucharest
- Dimitrie Sturdza, president of the National Liberal Party and president of the Romanian Academy
- Crin Antonescu, former leader of the party (2009–2014)
- Radu Câmpeanu, first leader of the party after the 1989 revolution
- Neagu Djuvara, former historian
- Eduard Hellvig, current director of the Romanian Intelligence Service
- Klaus Iohannis, current President of Romania, former leader of the party (2014)
- Mircea Ionescu-Quintus, leader of the party (1993–2001)
- Nicolae Manolescu, literary critic
- Siegfried Mureșan, MEP and current spokesman of the European People's Party (EPP)
- Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, former Prime Minister, former leader of the party (2004–2009)
- Cătălin Predoiu, lawyer, former Justice Minister
- Theodor Stolojan, former Prime Minister, leader of the party (2002–2004)
- Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004–2007), head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service (2007–2012)
- Renate Weber, former lawyer, current MEP
- Ana Birchall, current Justice Minister
- Titus Corlățean, former Foreign Affairs Minister
- Cristian Diaconescu, former Foreign Affairs Minister
- Mircea Geoană, former Foreign Minister, former president of the Social Democratic Party and current deputy secretary general of NATO
- Ion Iliescu, former President of Romania, former president of the Social Democratic Party
- Adrian Năstase, former Prime Minister, former president of the Social Democratic Party
- Victor Ponta, former Prime Minister, former president of the Social Democratic Party
Diplomats
Arts
Architecture
See main article: List of Romanian architects.
Dance
Fashion
Photography
Sculpture
Writing
- Vasile Alecsandri, poet and playwright
- Lucian Blaga, philosopher, poet, playwright
- Ion Luca Caragiale
- Andrei Codrescu, poet and essayist
- Nichita Danilov, poet, essayist, novelist
- Nae Ionescu, philosopher, writer, logician
- Virgil Nemoianu, essayist, literary critic, philosopher of culture
- Horia-Roman Patapievici, writer, philosopher, essayist
- Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu, philologist, linguist
- Ion Pillat, poet, publicist, academic
- Andrei Pleșu, writer, philosopher, essayist, journalist
- Dumitru Radu Popescu, novelist, essayist, playwright
- Marin Sorescu, poet, playwright
- Nichita Stănescu, poet and playwright
- Petre Țuțea
- Vasile Voiculescu, poet, writer, playwright
Philosophers
- Petre Andrei, philosopher
- Lucian Blaga, philosopher, poet, playwright
- Emil Cioran, essayist, philosopher
- Vasile Conta, philosopher
- Mircea Eliade, philosopher
- Mircea Florian, philosopher
- Nae Ionescu, orthodox philosopher
- Stéphane Lupasco, philosopher
- Constantin Noica, philosopher
- Theodor Paleologu, politician, philosopher
- Camil Petrescu, essayist, philosopher, writer
- Dumitru D. Roșca, philosopher, professor
- Petre Țuțea, philosopher
- Tudor Vianu, philosopher of culture, critic, writer
Poets
- Vasile Alecsandri, playwright, poet and revolutionary
- Grigore Alexandrescu, poet
- Ioan Alexandru, poet and political figure
- Bartolomeu Anania, poet and clerical figure
- Dimitrie Anghel, poet and playwright
- Tudor Arghezi, poet, journalist
- Céline Arnauld, poet (French language)
- Anatol E. Baconsky, poet
- George Bacovia, poet
- Vasile Baghiu, novelist and poet
- Cezar Baltag, poet and essayist
- Ion Barbu, poet and mathematician
- Mihai Beniuc, poet and Communist Party figure
- Lucian Blaga, poet, philosopher, playwright, translator
- Ana Blandiana, poet, journalist
- Eta Boeriu, poet, literary critic, translator
- Geo Bogza, poet, journalist
- Dimitrie Bolintineanu, novelist, poet, and revolutionary
- Cezar Bolliac, poet and revolutionary
- Emil Botta, actor, poet
- Emil Brumaru, poet
- Scarlat Cantacuzino, poet, essayist and diplomat
- Ion Caraion, poet
- Vasile Cârlova, poet
- Magda Cârneci, poet, art critic and historian
- Mircea Cărtărescu, poet, essayist
- Nina Cassian, poet, translator (+English language)
- Paul Celan,[3] poet (German language)
- George Coșbuc, poet, translator
- Traian T. Coșovei, poet
- Aron Cotruș, poet
- Nichifor Crainic, essayist, poet, journalist, theologian, and political figure
- Nichita Danilov, poet
- Leonid Dimov, poet
- Mircea Dinescu, poet, journalist
- Ștefan Augustin Doinaș, poet, translator and political figure
- Geo Dumitrescu, poet
- Mihai Eminescu, poet, essayist, journalist
- Șerban Foarță, poet, essayist, translator
- Benjamin Fondane, poet, essayist (+French language)
- Emilian Galaicu-Păun, poet, essayist and novelist
- Dumitru Găleșanu, poet-philosopher, essayist and book illustrator
- Octavian Goga, poet and political figure
- Radu Gyr, poet
- Iulia Hasdeu, poet
- Ion Heliade-Rădulescu, poet and revolutionary
- Ștefan Octavian Iosif, poet, translator
- Isidore Isou, poet
- Nora Iuga, poet
- Mircea Ivănescu, poet and translator
- Eugen Jebeleanu, poet
- Claudiu Komartin, poet and translator
- Nicolae Labiș, poet
- Leonida Lari, poet and political figure
- Irving Layton, poet
- Gherasim Luca, poet
- Alexandru Macedonski, poet
- Adrian Maniu, poet
- Angela Marinescu, poet
- Dumitru Matcovschi, poet
- Virgil Mazilescu, poet
- Ion Minulescu, poet and novelist
- Andrei Mureșanu, poet and revolutionary
- Alexandru Mușina, poet, essayist and translator
- Gellu Naum, poet, playwright and translator
- Sașa Pană, poet
- Oskar Pastior, poet (German language)
- Adrian Păunescu, poet and political figure
- Cristian Popescu, poet
- Marin Sorescu, poet and novelist
- Radu Stanca, director, playwright, poet and essayist
- Nichita Stănescu, poet, essayist, translator
- Valeriu Sterian, singer-songwriter
- Constant Tonegaru, poet
- George Topîrceanu, poet
- Tristan Tzara, poet (+French language)
- Grigore Vieru, poet
- Ion Vinea, poet
- Matei Vișniec, playwright and poet (+French language)
- Gelu Vlașin, poet
- Vasile Voiculescu, poet
- Ilarie Voronca, poet (+French language)
Writers
- Gabriela Adameșteanu
- Radu Aldulescu
- George Bălăiță
- Eugen Barbu
- Marthe Bibesco, writer (+French language)
- Nicolae Breban
- Augustin Buzura
- Ion Luca Caragiale, playwright
- Mateiu Caragiale, novelist
- Mircea Cărtărescu, writer, essayist
- Pavel Chihaia
- George Coandă, writer, historian, novelist and poet
- Ioan Mihai Cochinescu, writer, essayist
- Gheorghe Crăciun
- Ion Creangă, writer, especially of children's stories
- Ioan Petru Culianu, historian of religion
- Petru Dumitriu
- Mircea Eliade, historian of religion; also novelist
- Mihail Fărcășanu, writer, novelist
- Nicolae Filimon
- Filip Florian
- Virgil Gheorghiu, novelist
- Paul Goma, writer
- Anton Holban
- Vintilă Horia, prominent writer(+French language)
- Eugène Ionesco, playwright (+French language)
- Petre Ispirescu, writer
- Panait Istrati, novelist (+French language)
- Claudiu Komartin
- Gabriel Liiceanu, writer, publi
- Herta Müller, writer (German language), 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Mircea Nedelciu
- Bujor Nedelcovici
- Hortensia Papadat-Bengescu
- Camil Petrescu
- Cezar Petrescu
- Radu Petrescu
- Vasile Pogor, writer
- Marin Preda, novelist
- Doina Ruști, novelist
- Liviu Rebreanu, writer
- Mihail Sadoveanu, novelist
- Dinu Săraru
- Mihail Sebastian, writer, playwright
- Ioan Slavici
- Bogdan Suceavă
- Lucian Dan Teodorovici
- Dumitru Țepeneag, novelist (+French language)
- Nicolae Iorga, historian, politician
- Nicolae Milescu, writer, diplomat
- Urmuz, writer
- Richard Wagner, writer
- Elie Wiesel, Romanian-born American writer, professor, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor
Literary critics
Historians
Journalists
Linguists
Music
See main article: List of Romanian musicians. See also Music of Romania, especially for contemporary pop musicians.
Composers
See main article: List of Romanian composers.
- Ana-Maria Avram, composer
- Pascal Bentoiu, composer
- Tiberiu Brediceanu, composer and conductor
- Nicolae Bretan, opera composer
- Eduard Caudella, composer
- Paul Constantinescu, composer
- Dimitrie Cuclin, composer
- Constantin Dimitrescu, composer, cellist
- Sabin Dragoi, composer
- Iancu Dumitrescu, composer, conductor, musicologist
- George Enescu, composer, violinist, pianist, conductor, teacher
- Iosif Ivanovici
- Dinu Lipatti
- Liviu Marinescu, composer
- Octavian Nemescu, composer
- Ștefan Niculescu, composer
- Nonna Otescu, composer
- Anton Pann, composer
- Ciprian Porumbescu, composer
- Horațiu Rădulescu, composer
- Octave Octavian Teodorescu, composer
- Cornel Trailescu, composer
- Iannis Xenakis, composer born in Romania
Musicians
- Dan Andrei Aldea, rock guitarist, composer, singer
- Christian Badea, conductor
- Lucian Ban, jazz composer & pianist
- Carla's Dreams, singer-, musician
- Sergiu Celibidache, orchestra conductor
- Nicole Cherry, singer
- Connect-R, rapper
- Marius Constant, originator of the Twilight Zone theme
- Marin Constantin, conductor
- Nicu Covaci, rock guitarist, composer, vocalist
- Michael Cretu, musician founder of (Enigma)
- Grigoraș Dinicu, violinist, composer
- Adrian Erlandsson, drummer (At the Gates), Swedish with Romanian background
- Daniel Erlandsson, drummer (Arch Enemy), Swedish with Romanian background
- George Georgescu, orchestra conductor
- Valeriu Găină, guitarist
- Tudor Gheorghe, musician, composer and singer
- Nicolae Guță, singer
- Clara Haskil, pianist
- Hugo Jan Huss, orchestra conductor and violinist
- Antonia Iacobescu, singer
- Inna, singer-songwriter, dancer
- Ovidiu Lipan, drummer (Phoenix)
- Dinu Lipatti, pianist, composer
- Radu Lupu, pianist
- Ion Marin, conductor
- Cristi Minculescu, rock singer and composer
- Anca Parghel, jazz singer and composer
- Jonel (Ionel) Perlea, conductor
- Valentin Radu, conductor
- Florin Salam, singer
- Constantin Silvestri, orchestra conductor and composer
- Alexandra Stan, singer, musician, entertainer, model, dancer
- Laura Stoica, pop-rock singer and composer
- Octave Octavian Teodorescu, composer, vanguard rock musician, multi-instrumentist (guitars, keyboards, programmable instruments)
- Cristian Vasile, tango singer
- Dorin Liviu Zaharia, composer and singer
- Gheorghe Zamfir, pan flute musician
Classic
- Zeno Costa, tenor
- Ileana Cotrubaș, soprano
- Hariclea Darclée, soprano
- Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
- Dinu Lipatti, pianist and composer
- Radu Lupu, pianist
- Nelly Miricioiu, soprano
- Mariana Nicolescu, soprano
- Mihaela Ursuleasa, pianist
- Leontina Vaduva, soprano
- Virginia Zeani, soprano
Folk and derivatives
Instruments
Pop and techno
Film and theatre
See main article: List of Romanian actors.
- Mircea Albulescu, actor
- Ștefan Bănică Jr., actor
- Monica Bârlădeanu, actress
- Radu Beligan, actor, director
- Joana Benedek, actress
- Ion Luca Caragiale, playwright
- Ion Caramitru, actor
- Ion Cojar, acting teacher, founder of the Romanian method acting school
- Gheorghe Dinică, actor
- Maria Filotti, actress
- Marcel Iureș, actor
- Cătălin Mitulescu, film director
- Maia Morgenstern, actress
- Cristian Mungiu, director of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days[5]
- Jean Negulescu, film director, Oscar nominee
- Sergiu Nicolaescu, film director
- Amza Pellea, actor
- Florin Piersic, actor
- Florian Pittiș, actor
- Alina Plugaru, pornographic actress
- Elvira Popescu, actress
- Corneliu Porumboiu, film director
- Cristi Puiu, film director
- Victor Rebengiuc, actor
- Edward G. Robinson, actor
- Alec Secăreanu, actor
- Sebastian Stan, actor
- Saviana Stănescu, playwright
- Constantin Tănase, cabaretist, comic and poet, shot by the soviet army of occupation in Bucharest, in 1945
- Grigore Vasiliu Birlic, actor
- Johnny Weissmuller, actor
Religion
- Teoctist Arăpașu, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Arsenie Boca
- Daniel Ciobotea, incumbent Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Miron Cristea, first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Iuliu Hossu, Greek-Catholic bishop of the Cluj-Gherla Diocese and later cardinal
- Justinian Marina, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Iustin Moisescu, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Nicodim Munteanu, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Lucian Mureșan, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan bishop, later (and incumbent) Major Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia
- Dumitru Stăniloae, priest, translated the Philokalia into Romanian
- Vasile Suciu, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan bishop of the Archdiocese of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia
- Alexandru Todea, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan bishop of the Archdiocese of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia and later cardinal
- Lucian Turcescu, Orthodox theologian teaching at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada), president of the Canadian Society of Patristic Studies, 2004–2008
- Richard Wurmbrand, pastor, author of Tortured for Christ
Sports
See also: List of Romanian sportspeople.
Swimming
Athletics
Basketball
Boxing
Canoe
- Ivan Patzaichin
- Leon Rotman, sprint canoer, 2-time Olympic champion (C-1 10,000 meter, C-1 1,000-meter) and bronze (C-1 1,000-meter), 14 national titles
Football
Gymnastics
Ivey
- Julia Ionescu
- Victor Zega
Rowing
Tennis
Other sports
Science
Astronomy
Biology
- Grigore Antipa, hydrobiologist
- Ana Aslan, geriatrics researcher
- Victor Babeș, biologist
- Dimitrie Brândză, botanist
- Ioan Cantacuzino, microbiologist
- Melania Cristescu, biologist
- Wilhelm Knechtel, botanist
- Nicolae Leon, biologist
- Gheorghe Marinescu, neurologist
- Nicolae Minovici, forensic scientist
- Mina Minovici, forensic scientist
- George Emil Palade, 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner
- Constantin Parhon, endocrinologist
- Nicolae Paulescu, discovered insulin
- Emil Racoviță, biologist and speleologist
Chemistry
Physicians
- Raed Arafat, founder of SMURD (a Syrian-born Palestinian refugee living in Romania since 1981)
- Bazil Assan, engineer, explorer and economist
- Adrian Bejan, namesake of the Bejan number
- Gheorghe Benga, physician and molecular biologist
- Alexandru Ciurcu, inventor, with M.M. Just Buisson, of the first reactive engine
- George Constantinescu, inventor
- Leon Dănăilă, neurosurgeon
- Daniel David, professor, psychologist, and psychotherapist
- Carol Davila, physician
- Anastase Dragomir, inventor of the parachute cell, predecessor of the ejection seat
- Dimitrie Gerota, anatomist, physician, radiologist, urologist
- Rodrig Goliescu, inventor of the first airplane with a tubular fuselage
- Iuliu Hațieganu, internist doctor
- Petrache Poenaru, inventor
- Elie Radu, architect, engineer
- Anghel Saligny, engineer
- Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen, engineer
- David Wechsler, psychologist
Aerospace
Astronauts
Mathematics
Physics
- Réka Albert
- Emanoil Bacaloglu, physicist, chemist and mathematician
- Victor Albert Bailey, physicist (Romanian on his mother's side)
- Radu Dan Constantinescu, physicist, President of the Balkan Physical Union
- Peter George Oliver Freund, physicist
- Mihai Gavrilă, theoretical quantum physicist, professor, Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy
- Horia Hulubei, atomic physicist, professor, Member of the Romanian Academy
- Theodor V. Ionescu, plasma physicist, professor, Member of the Romanian Academy
- Ștefania Mărăcineanu
- Alexandru Marin, physicist, professor
- Victor Mercea
- Florentina I. Mosora, biophysicist and nuclear medicine professor, Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium
- Horațiu Năstase
- Ioan-Iovitz Popescu
- Alexandru Proca, theoretical physicist, Member of the Romanian Academy
- Ștefan Procopiu, theoretical physicist, Member of the Romanian Academy
- Șerban Țițeica, theoretical physicist, founder of the Romanian modern school of theoretical physics, Member of the Romanian Academy
Computer science
Others
- Dionisie Ghermani (1922–2009), professor, writer, philanthropist, and political activist
- Dimitrie Gusti, sociologist
- Ernest Krausz (1931–2018), Israeli professor of sociology and President at Bar Ilan University
- David Mitrany (1888–1975), political theorist
- George Pomutz (1818–1882), ethnic Romanian United States general in the Civil War, and a diplomat
- Emil Racoviță, polar explorer
- Emilia Săulea (1904–1998), geologist and paleontologist.
- Ruxandra Sireteanu (1945—2008), neuroscientist[7]
- Henri Stahl, stenographer
- Henri H. Stahl, cultural anthropologist, ethnographer, sociologist, social historian
Polymaths
- Simion Bărnuțiu, jurist, priest, politician, publicist, lawyer, writer, professor
- Matila Ghyka, famous polymath, mathematician and author
- Mihail Kogălniceanu, lawyer, historian, publicist, politician, cultural peacemaker
- Bogdan Suceavă, mathematician, novelist, journalist, professor of mathematics at California State University, Fullerton
Business
- Octav Botnar, Nissan UK chairman, billionaire
- Iosif Constantin Drăgan, gas tycoon, billionaire and academic
- John DeLorean, US car industry executive, engineer, inventor of Pontiac GTO Muscle car and DeLorean
- Dinu Patriciu, former CEO of Rompetrol
- Dan Petrescu, businessman and billionaire
- Anastasia Soare billionaire, the CEO and founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills
Miscellaneous
List of Romanians who were born outside present-day Romania
This is a list of Romanians who were born outside present-day Romania.
Austria
Republic of Moldova
Russia
Serbia
Ukraine
- Alexandru Averescu, prime minister of Romania (1918, 1920–1921, 1926–1927)
- Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, philologist, writer
- Lucian Pintilie, film director, screenwriter
- Sofia Rotaru, singer
- Nicolae Văcăroiu, prime minister of Romania (1992–1996)
- Sofia Vicoveanca, singer
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Stoica, Vasile. The Roumanian Question: The Roumanians and their Lands. 1919. Pittsburgh Printing Company. Pittsburgh. 19.
- Book: Gombrich . E. H. . The Story of Art . 2006 . Phaidon . 978-0714847030 . 450 . 16th.
- Book: Bloom . Harold . The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages . 1994 . Harcourt Brace & Company . NY/San Diego/London . 978-1-57322-514-4 . 556.
- [:ro:Dinu C. Giurescu]
- News: The 21st Century's 100 greatest films . 28 March 2021 . BBC.
- Web site: Jews in Sports: Basketball . Jewish Virtual Library. 25 May 2010.
- Ganea. Constanþa. Ruxandra Sireteanu-Constantinescu (1945-2008). Curierul de Fizica. 63. 1. 2009. 18. RO.
