34 historically significant individuals born on February 2. February 2 marks the birth of several historical figures. Notable individuals born on this day include Irish author James Joyce (1882), famous for his modernist works like "Ulysses," Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (1882), and Abdullah I of Jordan (1882), the founding king of modern Jordan. Other figures born on this date are Mongolian revolutionary leader Damdin Sükhbaatar (1893) and Vietnamese political leader Do Muoi (1917).
Total Born
34
Countries
28
Top Century
20th· 17
Top Field
association football player
5 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Dale T. Mortensen
1939 – 2014Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2010)
author
James Joyce
1882 – 1941Irish modernist author who revolutionized literature with experimental novels 'Ulysses' and 'Finnegans Wake.' His stream-of-consciousness technique and linguistic innovations profoundly influenced 20th-century fiction.
actor
Shakira
1977 – PresentColombian pop star who has sold over 80 million records worldwide and won multiple Grammy Awards for hits like 'Hips Don't Lie.'
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (17)
19th (12)
10th C.20th C.
20th Century
17Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Dale T. Mortensen
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2010)
Shakira
actorchoreographer
Colombian pop star who has sold over 80 million records worldwide and won multiple Grammy Awards for hits like 'Hips Don't Lie.'
Elseid Hisaj
association football player
Albanian left-back who has played for major European clubs including Napoli and Lazio while representing Albania internationally.
Ivan Perišić
association football player
Croatian winger known for his pace and crossing ability, who has played for major clubs including Inter Milan and Bayern Munich while earning over 100 international caps.
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
statesperson
French politician who served as President of France from 1974 to 1981 and was instrumental in European integration efforts during the late 20th century.
Valeri Karpin
association football coachassociation football player
Estonian-Russian footballer who played as a midfielder for clubs including Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo, earning 72 caps for the Russian national team.
Do Muoi
communistminister
Vietnamese communist politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 1991 to 1997, leading the country during a period of significant economic liberalization. He oversaw the implementation of doi moi reforms that transformed Vietnam's economy.
Bárbara Mori
film actormodel
Uruguayan-born Mexican actress and model best known for her starring role in the telenovela Rubí and various Mexican films.
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Zbyněk Hejda
historianlinguist
Czech poet and translator (1930–2013)
Than Shwe
military leadermilitary officer
Senior General who ruled Myanmar as head of the military junta from 1992 to 2011, maintaining one of the world's most repressive military regimes.
Gerard Piqué
association football playerbusinessperson
Spanish center-back who won multiple Champions League titles with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, later becoming a successful businessman.
Miguel Obando y Bravo
Catholic bishopCatholic priest
Nicaraguan Catholic cardinal who served as Archbishop of Managua from 1970 to 2005 and was elevated to cardinal in 1985. He was a prominent mediator during Nicaragua's civil conflicts.
Eric Arturo Delvalle
politician
Panamanian politician who served as President of Panama from 1985 to 1988 during a turbulent period in the country's political history.
Andrej Kiska
entrepreneurmanager
Slovak entrepreneur and philanthropist who served as the 4th President of Slovakia from 2014 to 2019. He founded the Good Angel foundation, one of Slovakia's largest charitable organizations.
Claudio Morel Rodríguez irala
association football player
Paraguayan defender who played for clubs including Estudiantes and Gimnasia La Plata during his professional career.
Park Geun-hye
politician
South Korea's first female president who served from 2013 to 2017 before being impeached and removed from office over a corruption scandal.
Dorcus Inzikuru
long-distance runnermarathon runner
Ugandan steeplechaser who won gold in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki. She became the first Ugandan woman to win a world championship title in athletics.
19th Century
12Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
James Joyce
authorjournalist
Irish modernist author who revolutionized literature with experimental novels 'Ulysses' and 'Finnegans Wake.' His stream-of-consciousness technique and linguistic innovations profoundly influenced 20th-century fiction.
Abdullah I of Jordan
monarch
Founding ruler of Transjordan and later Jordan (1921-1951), he established the Hashemite Kingdom and led the Arab Legion during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
military officer
Greek prince and military officer who was exiled from Greece and became the father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Antonio Segni
diplomatpolitician
4th President of Italy (1891-1972)
Arnold Bürkli
architectengineer
Swiss engineer (1833-1894)
François-Alphonse Forel
anatomistlimnologist
Swiss scientist (1841-1912)
Maria Bakunin
biologistchemist
Italian chemist and biologist
Damdin Sükhbaatar
military personnelpolitician
Mongolian revolutionary hero who founded the Mongolian People's Army in 1921 and led the struggle for independence from Chinese rule.
Stanislas Bormans
archivisthistorian
Belgian archivist and historian
Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho
journalistliterary critic
Portuguese writer
Tomé de Barros Queirós
capitalistpolitician
Portuguese politician (1872-1925)
Gédéon Bordiau
architecturban planner
Belgian architect (1832-1904)
18th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Giovanni Battista Audiffredi
astronomerlibrarian
Italian astronomers
Jacques Philippe Marie Binet
astronomermathematician
French mathematician (1786-1856)
17th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Johannes Schefferus
archaeologisthistorian
Swedish academic (1621–1679)
Mexican writer and bishop (1696-1763)
10th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Elias of Nisibis
archbishoplinguist
East Syriac archbishop, writer and scholar
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on February 2?
James Joyce, the renowned Irish author who wrote classics like Ulysses and Dubliners, is widely considered the most famous person born on February 2, 1882. His works revolutionized modern literature and continue to influence writers today.
Are there any royalty born on February 2?
Yes, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark was born on February 2, 1882, and Abdullah I of Jordan was also born on the same date in 1882. Prince Andrew was the father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
How many notable people were born on February 2?
A total of 19 notable people throughout history were born on February 2. This includes literary figures like James Joyce, royalty such as Prince Andrew of Greece, and political leaders like Abdullah I of Jordan.