18 historically significant individuals born on May 31. May 31 marks the birth of several historical figures from different time periods and areas. Notable individuals born on this day include Philip II of Spain (1527), a Habsburg monarch who ruled during a peak of Spanish power; Walt Whitman (1819), an American poet known for "Leaves of Grass"; and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Chien-Shiung Wu (1912), who worked on nuclear physics. Other figures born on May 31 include Iraqi politician Ayad Allawi (1945) and Belarusian journalist Svetlana Alexievich (1948), who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Total Born
18
Countries
13
Top Century
20th· 12
Top Field
scientist
6 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (12)
16th C.21st C.
21st Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Benjamin Šeško
association football player
Slovenian striker who plays for RB Leipzig and is considered one of Europe's most promising young talents. At just 21 years old, he has already become a key player for both club and country with his pace and clinical finishing.
Iga Świątek
tennis player
Polish tennis player
20th Century
12Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Peter Howitt
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2025)
Robert Schrieffer
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1972)
Maurice Allais
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1988)
Louis J. Ignarro
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1998)
William D. Nordhaus
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2018)
Chien-Shiung Wu
nuclear physicistphysicist
Chinese-American nuclear physicist who conducted the Wu experiment in 1956, which proved that parity is not conserved in weak nuclear interactions. Despite her crucial experimental work confirming the theory, she was excluded from the 1957 Nobel Prize awarded to her male colleagues.
Svetlana Alexievich
historianjournalist
Belarusian journalist and oral historian who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature for her documentary style works about Soviet and post-Soviet life.
Viktor Orbán
association football playerjurist
Hungarian politician serving as Prime Minister since 2010, known for his authoritarian governance style and opposition to EU immigration policies.
Ayad Allawi
politicianpsychiatrist
Neurologist and politician who served as Iraq's first post-Saddam Prime Minister from 2004 to 2005, leading the interim government. He founded the Iraqi National Accord party and played a key role in opposition to Saddam Hussein while in exile.
Khil Raj Regmi
judgepolitician
Nepalese Chief Justice who served as interim Prime Minister of Nepal from 2013 to 2014. He led the country during a critical transition period following the failure to draft a new constitution.
Dina Boluarte
lawyerpolitician
Peru's first female president who assumed office in December 2022 after Pedro Castillo's impeachment and removal. She previously served as Vice President under Castillo.
Protase Rugambwa
Catholic bishopCatholic priest
Roman Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Tabora since 2018, previously serving as Bishop of Kigoma from 2009.
19th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Saint-John Perse
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Literature (1960)
Walt Whitman
essayistjournalist
American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)
18th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Faustin Hélie
criminalistjudge
French jurist (1799-1884)
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Philip II of Spain
ruler
King of Spain, Portugal, Naples and Sicily; King consort of England, lived 1527-1598
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on May 31?
Walt Whitman, the American poet known for 'Leaves of Grass,' was born on May 31, 1819. His work changed American poetry and made him a celebrated literary figure.
Are there any famous scientists born on May 31?
Chien-Shiung Wu, born on May 31, 1912, was a physicist known for her work on the Manhattan Project and the Wu experiment. She contributed to nuclear physics and challenged key assumptions about particle physics.
What historical rulers were born on May 31?
Philip II of Spain, born on May 31, 1527, was a powerful European monarch. He ruled during a time when Spain controlled a vast empire across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.