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) Peter Aaron 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 Dimitrie Cantemir, ruler of Moldavia, historian, writer, and music composer Antioch Kantemir, poet and Russian ambassador Constantin Brancoveanu, Prince of Wallachia (1688–1714)
Modern era Tudor Vladimirescu Prince Gheorghe Bibescu Prince Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza King Carol I of Romania King Ferdinand I of Romania King Carol II of Romania King Michael I of Romania Queen Elizabeth of Romania Queen Marie of Romania
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
National Peasants' Party 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
National Liberal Party (1875–1950)
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
National Liberal Party (after 1990) 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, former director of the Romanian Intelligence Service Klaus Iohannis, former President of Romania (2014-2025), 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, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004–2007), former head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service (2007–2012) Renate Weber, former lawyer, former MEP, currently Romanian Ombudsman
Romanian Communist Party Gheorghe Apostol, General Secretary Alexandru Bârlădeanu, Marxian economist and statesman Emil Bobu Emil Bodnăraș Silviu Brucan Elena Ceaușescu, wife of Nicolae Ceaușescu Nicolae Ceaușescu, General Secretary Miron Constantinescu Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, General Secretary and Prime Minister Petru Groza, Prime Minister Corneliu Mănescu Manea Mănescu, Prime Minister Ion Gheorghe Maurer, Prime Minister Paul Niculescu-Mizil Ana Pauker Constantin Pîrvulescu Leonte Răutu Vladimir Tismăneanu Ana Toma
Democratic Liberal Party Teodor Baconschi, former Foreign Affairs Minister Traian Băsescu, former President of Romania and president of the Democratic Liberal Party Emil Boc, former Prime Minister and president of the Democratic Liberal Party Vasile Blaga, former Internal Affairs Minister and president of the Democratic Liberal Party Daniel Funeriu, former Education Minister Monica Macovei, former Justice Minister Theodor Paleologu, former Culture Minister
Social Democratic Party 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 Bogdan Aurescu, judge of the International Court of Justice Antoine Bibesco Adrian Cioroianu, historian Eugen Filotti Grigore Gafencu Constantin Karadja Corneliu Mănescu Teodor Meleșcanu Alexandru Paleologu, essayist and literary critic Vasile Pușcaș, historian Savel Rădulescu Nicolae Titulescu, professor of law and former President of the General Assembly of the League of Nations (1930–32) Constantin Vișoianu
Arts
Architecture
Dance Iris Barbura, dancer and choreographer Alina Cojocaru, ballerina Eugenia Popescu-Județ, ballerina, dance teacher, choreographer, manuscript specialist
Fashion Ioana Ciolacu, awarded fashion designer Maria Lucia Hohan Narcisa Pheres
Photography Costică Acsinte Iosif Berman Alexandra Croitoru Samoilă Mârza
Painters
Sculpture Constantin Brâncuși Oscar Han Ion Irimescu Ion Jalea Ana Lupaș Cornel Medrea Paul Neagu Mihai Olos Dimitrie Paciurea Dumitru Pasima Milița Petrașcu Marilena Preda-Sânc Frederic Storck Marian Zidaru
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, 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