21 historically significant individuals born on January 17. January 17 has been the birth date for 15 notable individuals in various areas such as literature, politics, science, and entertainment. Prominent figures born on this day include Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca in 1600, American polymath Benjamin Franklin in 1706, Mexican president Luis Echeverría in 1922, French-Italian singer Dalida in 1933, and Kenyan Olympic runner Kip Keino in 1940.
Total Born
21
Countries
13
Top Century
20th· 15
Top Field
diplomat
3 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
GS
George J. Stigler
1911 – 1991Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1982)
scientist
Katalin Karikó
1955 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2023)
banker
Davíð Oddsson
1948 – 2026Icelandic politician who served as Prime Minister for nearly 14 years from 1991 to 2004, making him one of the longest-serving prime ministers in Icelandic history. He later served as mayor of Reykjavík and Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (15)
18th (4)
16th C.20th C.
20th Century
15Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
GS
George J. Stigler
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1982)
Katalin Karikó
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2023)
Davíð Oddsson
bankerdiplomat
Icelandic politician who served as Prime Minister for nearly 14 years from 1991 to 2004, making him one of the longest-serving prime ministers in Icelandic history. He later served as mayor of Reykjavík and Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland.
Dalida
dancerfilm actor
Egyptian-born singer who became a major international star in France and across Europe, selling over 170 million records worldwide.
Luis Echeverría
diplomatjurist
Mexican politician who served as the 57th President of Mexico from 1970 to 1976. His presidency was marked by leftist economic policies and the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre during his previous role as Interior Secretary.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
association football playergovernor
Mexican forward known for his creative playing style and technical skills, who won multiple league titles and represented Mexico in three World Cups. After retiring, he entered politics and was elected Governor of Morelos in 2018.
Jim Carrey
film actorfilm producer
Canadian-American comedian and actor who became famous on "In Living Color" and starred in blockbuster comedies like "The Mask" and "Dumb and Dumber".
Héctor Moreno
association football player
Mexican center-back who has played for top European clubs and captained the Mexico national team. He has participated in multiple World Cups and is known for his leadership and defensive prowess.
René Préval
politician
Haitian politician who served two non-consecutive terms as President of Haiti from 1996-2001 and 2006-2011. He was the first president to serve two full terms and transfer power peacefully.
Tiësto
disc jockeymusic executive
Dutch DJ and producer who became one of the world's highest-paid electronic dance music artists and was named DJ Magazine's number one DJ multiple times.
Maia Chiburdanidze
athletechess player
Women's World Chess Champion from 1978 to 1991 who became the youngest-ever world champion at age 17.
JJ
Jaime Rodríguez Jiménez
association football coachassociation football player
Former Salvadoran footballer and coach who represented the national team and later managed several clubs in Central America.
Kip Keino
athletics competitorlong-distance runner
Kenyan middle-distance runner who won Olympic gold medals in 1968 and 1972 and is considered one of the greatest athletes in Kenyan history.
Tabaré Vázquez
oncologistphysician
Oncologist who served as Uruguay's President twice (2005-2010, 2015-2020) and was the first left-wing president in the country's history.
Muhammad Ali
boxer
American boxer (1942–2016)
18th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Robert Hare
chemistinventor
American chemist (1781-1858)
Thaddeus Fairbanks
businesspersoninventor
American inventor (1796–1886)
Benjamin Franklin
diplomatpolitician
American polymath and statesman (1706–1790)
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Jean-Baptiste Masui
engineer
Belgian engineer
17th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Guarino Guarini
architectengineer
Italian mathematician and architect (1624-1683)
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Pedro Calderón de la Barca
Catholic priestmilitary personnel
Spanish dramatist (1600-1681)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on January 17?
Benjamin Franklin, born on January 17, 1706, is a key figure among America's founding fathers during the American Revolution. He was a polymath known for his work in science, politics, diplomacy, and philosophy.
What celebrities were born on January 17?
Celebrities born on January 17 include French-Egyptian singer Dalida (1933) and Kenyan Olympic champion Kip Keino (1940). Other notable figures are Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1600) and Mexican president Luis Echeverría (1922).
How many famous people share the birthday January 17?
At least 15 notable people were born on January 17, spanning politics, literature, entertainment, and sports.