The Weeknd
1990Canadian R&B singer whose album "After Hours" topped charts worldwide and featured the hit single "Blinding Lights," which became one of the most-streamed songs ever.
Famous Birthdays on February 16
11 notable people were born on February 16.
Several historically significant figures share February 16 as their birth date. Notable individuals born on this day include French writer Octave Mirbeau (1848), Dutch botanist Hugo de Vries (1848), South Vietnamese general Duong Van Minh (1916), Chinese leader Hua Guofeng (1921), and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il (1941). These individuals are linked to literature, science, and political leadership across different continents and centuries.
20th Century9 people
Kim Jong-il
1941 – 2011Second Supreme Leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011, known for his "Songun" military-first policy and for directing several films before assuming power.
Duong Van Minh
1916 – 2001South Vietnamese general who served as the last president of South Vietnam for three days in April 1975 before surrendering to North Vietnamese forces. He led the coup that overthrew Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963 and later became head of state during the final collapse of South Vietnam.
politicianVietnam
Diego Godín
1986Uruguayan centre-back who captained both Atlético Madrid and the national team, earning over 160 international caps and winning the 2011 Copa América.
association football playerUruguay
Hua Guofeng
1921 – 2008Mao Zedong's designated successor who briefly led China as Chairman of the Communist Party from 1976 to 1981 before being outmaneuvered by Deng Xiaoping. His short tenure marked the transition period between the Mao era and China's economic reform period.
politicianChina
Cathy Freeman
1973Australian sprinter who became the first Aboriginal Australian to win an individual Olympic gold medal, claiming victory in the 400 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Her triumph on home soil, where she lit the Olympic flame, became one of the most celebrated moments in Australian sporting history.
Eckhart Tolle
1948German-born spiritual teacher and bestselling author of "The Power of Now" and "A New Earth," influential in contemporary spirituality and mindfulness movements.
Hasheem Thabeet
1987Professional basketball center who was selected second overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, becoming the highest-drafted African-born player at the time.
basketball playerTanzania
Oussama Mellouli
1984Olympic champion swimmer who won gold in the 1500m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver in the 10km open water at London 2012.
swimmerTunisia
19th Century2 people
Hugo de Vries
1848 – 1935Dutch botanist and geneticist who rediscovered Mendel's laws of heredity and developed the mutation theory of evolution in the early 1900s.
Octave Mirbeau
1848 – 1917French writer and anarchist known for his satirical novels and plays that critiqued bourgeois society and social conventions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on February 16?
Kim Jong-il, the former Supreme Leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011, is likely the most recognized person born on February 16, 1941. He was the son of North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung and father of current leader Kim Jong-un.
What world leaders were born on February 16?
Kim Jong-il (1941), who ruled North Korea for 17 years, and Duong Van Minh (1916), who was the last President of South Vietnam, were born on February 16. Hua Guofeng (1921), who briefly led China after Mao Zedong's death, was also born on this date.
Are there any famous writers or scientists born on February 16?
French writer Octave Mirbeau (1848), known for his novels and plays like 'The Diary of a Chambermaid,' was born on February 16. Dutch botanist Hugo de Vries (1848), who rediscovered Mendel's laws of heredity and developed mutation theory, was also born on the same date.