Who is the most famous person in the world? This question was posed by Alia Hoyt, contributing writer to How Stuff Works. A poll from 2009 addressed this same question and found that achieving even a basic level of fame where people would recognize your name is “1 in 62,986. This is just a little better than the odds of being struck and killed by lightning, at 1 in 83,930.”1
So, if you were hoping to be remembered forever, things aren’t looking good for you!
The article tried to scale down the scope of recognition by suggesting different categories. For instance, the most famous person on social media would NOT be anyone named Kardashian, which might come as a surprise. Instead, the honor of name recognition goes to soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 477 million followers and counting.
As for the most famous historical figure, the honor goes to Mahatma Gandhi. His popularity beat out people like Queen Elizabeth, Adolph Hitler, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The most recognizable entertainer who has deceased is Michael Jackson while the most recognizable living entertainer is Peter Jackson, director of Lord of the Rings. Nobody asked me in this poll because I would have said that I had no idea who Peter Jackson is!
Sadly, the person considered the most influential and has the most recognizable name of all names is Muhammad, the prophet and central figure of Islam. Muhammad was the most popular baby name in 2021 and the most popular name globally. Other polls,
though, place Jesus as the most recognized name.
Ecclesiastes 2:16 says, “For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.”
If you don’t believe this, just take a drive through one of the local cemeteries. Read the headstones. How many of those people do you remember? The older the headstone, the less likely the individual is known.
It’s true that they might have a familiar last name. In our county, there are several last names that have been in the area for many generations. Given time, though, that name will be forgotten.
I am the last of my family name. There are no more MacFarlanes running around out there to ensure that the name continues. When I die, that’s it. It’s over. The name ends. And I’ve never once felt an ounce of sadness about that.
There is only one name that matters and that is the name of our God. Exodus 3:15 says, “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”
Frequently, the Psalmist give us a reminder as found in Psalms 135:13. “Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.” This is a name that is to be “blessed” and “praised” forever (Psalm 145:1-2). And it is the name wherein His children will walk forever (Micah 4:5).
Rather than trying to build a name for ourselves, let’s try to exalt the name that needs no building. Let’s magnify that name so that others will know. And, let’s remind everyone of the truth of Acts 4:12. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
1https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/most-famous-person.htm
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