HistoryData

Famous Birthdays on May 2

May 1May 3

19 historically significant individuals born on May 2. May 2 is the birth date of several notable individuals from various fields including politics, entertainment, film, and activism. Noteworthy figures born on this date include Zionist leader Theodor Herzl (1860), Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray (1921), North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (1944), Nicaraguan activist Bianca Jagger (1945), and actor Dwayne Johnson (1972). These individuals have made cultural, political, and artistic contributions across different times and continents.

Total Born
19
Countries
14
Top Century
20th· 10
Top Field
association football player
4 individuals

Headline Figures

journalist
Theodor Herzl

Theodor Herzl

1860 – 1904

Austro-Hungarian journalist and playwright who founded the modern Zionist movement and organized the First Zionist Congress in 1897. His vision of a Jewish homeland laid the groundwork for the establishment of Israel.

children's writer
Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray

1921 – 1992

Acclaimed filmmaker who directed the Apu Trilogy and won the Academy Honorary Award in 1992. He revolutionized Indian cinema with his realistic storytelling style and is considered one of the greatest directors in world cinema history.

boxer
Imane Khelif

Imane Khelif

1999 – Present

Olympic boxer who won gold in the women's welterweight division at the 2024 Paris Olympics amid significant controversy.

Birth Distribution by Century

20th (10)
19th (4)
13th C.20th C.

20th Century

10
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
children's writerfilm critic
Acclaimed filmmaker who directed the Apu Trilogy and won the Academy Honorary Award in 1992. He revolutionized Indian cinema with his realistic storytelling style and is considered one of the greatest directors in world cinema history.
Imane Khelif
Imane Khelif
boxer
Olympic boxer who won gold in the women's welterweight division at the 2024 Paris Olympics amid significant controversy.
Maynor Figueroa
Maynor Figueroa
association football player
Honduran left-back who played over 180 Premier League matches for Wigan Athletic and Hull City. He earned more than 150 caps for the Honduras national team between 2003-2018.
Amado Guevara
Amado Guevara
association football coachassociation football player
Honduran attacking midfielder who captained the national team at the 2010 World Cup and earned 131 caps. He played professionally in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls and Chivas USA.
Derek Boateng
Derek Boateng
association football player
Ghanaian defensive midfielder who played for clubs including Fulham and AIK Stockholm, earning over 40 caps for the Ghana national team.
David Beckham
David Beckham
association football playerblogger
English footballer who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the England national team, becoming one of the most recognizable athletes worldwide. He was known for his crossing ability and free-kick technique during his playing career.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson
American football playerCanadian football player
American actor and professional wrestler (born 1972)
Bianca Jagger
Bianca Jagger
actormodel
Nicaraguan-British human rights activist, actress, and former wife of Mick Jagger who has campaigned extensively for environmental and social justice causes worldwide.
KY
Kim Yong-il
politician
Technocrat who served as Premier of North Korea from 2007 to 2010, overseeing economic policy during a period of international sanctions and food shortages.
Tina Maze
Tina Maze
alpine skier
Slovenian alpine skier who won two Olympic gold medals and became one of the most successful female ski racers in history. She claimed 26 World Cup victories and two overall World Cup titles before retiring in 2017.

19th Century

4
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
journalistlawyer
Austro-Hungarian journalist and playwright who founded the modern Zionist movement and organized the First Zionist Congress in 1897. His vision of a Jewish homeland laid the groundwork for the establishment of Israel.
Elijah McCoy
Elijah McCoy
engineerfirefighter
American engineer (1844–1929)
Lyuben Karavelov
Lyuben Karavelov
encyclopédistesjournalist
Bulgarian writer (1834–1879)
Jurgis Baltrušaitis
Jurgis Baltrušaitis
actordiplomat
Lithuanian poet and translator (1873–1944)

18th Century

1
Gerhard Schøning
Gerhard Schøning
archivisthistorian
Norwegian historian

16th Century

2
Étienne Pascal
Étienne Pascal
juristmathematician
French mathematician and tax collector
Giovanni Branca
Giovanni Branca
architectengineer
Italian architect and engineer (1571-1645)

15th Century

1
Julius Caesar Scaliger
Julius Caesar Scaliger
classical scholarphilosopher
Italian scholar, physician and philosopher (1484-1558)

13th Century

1
Louis IX of France
Louis IX of France
Miles Christianusmonarch
King of France from 1226 to 1270 (1214–1270)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on May 2?
Dwayne Johnson, known as 'The Rock,' is likely the most famous person born on May 2, 1972. The former WWE wrestler turned Hollywood actor is one of the world's biggest movie stars.
What celebrities have birthdays on May 2?
Notable celebrities born on May 2 include Dwayne Johnson (1972), Bianca Jagger (1945), and filmmaker Satyajit Ray (1921). Other figures include Theodor Herzl (1860) and Kim Jong-il (1944).
Are there any historical figures born on May 2?
Yes, Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism, was born on May 2, 1860. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was also born on this date in 1944.