23 historically significant individuals born on September 20. September 20 is the birth date of several notable individuals. Actress Sophia Loren was born in 1934, while Haitian revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines was born in 1758. Japanese politician Tarō Asō was born in 1940, as was Afghan political leader Burhanuddin Rabbani. Nigerian military ruler Sani Abacha was born in 1943.
Total Born
23
Countries
19
Top Century
20th· 15
Top Field
politician
6 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Ernesto Teodoro Moneta
1833 – 1918Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1907)
journalist
Eileen Chang
1920 – 1995Chinese-born American essayist, novelist, and screenwriter
autobiographer
Sophia Loren
1934 – PresentItalian actress who became an international film icon, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Two Women' (1961) and starring in classics like 'Marriage Italian Style.'
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (15)
12th C.20th C.
20th Century
15Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Eileen Chang
journalistnovelist
Chinese-born American essayist, novelist, and screenwriter
Sophia Loren
autobiographerbeauty pageant contestant
Italian actress who became an international film icon, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Two Women' (1961) and starring in classics like 'Marriage Italian Style.'
Tarō Asō
diplomateconomist
Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2009 and Deputy Prime Minister multiple times, known for his business background and leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Manuel Zelaya
politician
Honduran president from 2006 to 2009 who was removed from power in a military coup. He later returned from exile and founded the opposition LIBRE party.
Juan Pablo Montoya
Formula One driverracing automobile driver
Racing driver who won the Indianapolis 500 twice and seven Formula One races during his career with Williams and McLaren.
Burhanuddin Rabbani
pedagoguepolitician
Afghan academic and politician who served as President of Afghanistan from 1992 to 2001 during the civil war period, leading the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.
HG
Hannibal Muammar Gaddafi
entrepreneurpolitician
Fifth son of Muammar Gaddafi known for his business ventures and international legal troubles before the 2011 revolution.
Safura Alizadeh
saxophonistsinger
Pop singer who represented Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with "When the Music Dies" and plays saxophone professionally.
Robert Koren
association football coachassociation football player
Former Slovenian midfielder who captained West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League and earned over 60 caps for Slovenia.
Henrik Larsson
association football coachassociation football player
Swedish footballer who scored over 240 career goals playing for clubs including Celtic and Barcelona, and represented Sweden in major tournaments.
Ghassan Massoud
actorfilm actor
Acclaimed Syrian actor best known internationally for portraying Saladin in Ridley Scott's 'Kingdom of Heaven' (2005).
SA
Sani Abacha
military personnelpolitician
Nigerian military dictator who ruled from 1993 until his death in 1998. His regime was marked by severe human rights abuses and international isolation, including the execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Victor Ponta
lawyerpolitician
Romanian politician and lawyer who served as Prime Minister of Romania from 2012 to 2015. He led the Social Democratic Party and was later convicted on corruption charges.
Omar Abdulrahman
association football player
Attacking midfielder considered one of Asia's best players, who has represented the UAE national team in multiple AFC Asian Cups.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
amateur wrestlerjudoka
Undefeated UFC lightweight champion who retired with a 29-0 record after defeating Conor McGregor in 2018. The Dagestani fighter was known for his dominant grappling style and strict adherence to Islamic principles.
19th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Ernesto Teodoro Moneta
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1907)
18th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Jean-Jacques Dessalines
politician
Former slave who led Haiti to independence and became its first ruler as Emperor Jacques I from 1804 to 1806. He was assassinated after declaring himself emperor and implementing harsh labor policies.
Sir Richard Griffith, 1st Baronet
civil engineergeologist
Irish geologist and mining engineer (1784-1878)
Frédéric Sauvage
engineeroperator
French boat builder
17th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Eustachio Manfredi
astronomermathematician
Italian mathematician, astronomer and poet (1674–1739)
Moritz Hoffmann
anatomistphysician
German physician (1621-1698)
15th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Bernardo Accolti
playwrightpoet
Italian poet
12th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Ibn Asakir
historianIslamic jurist
Islamic scholar and historian (1105–1176)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on September 20?
Sophia Loren, the Italian actress and international film icon, is widely considered the most famous person born on September 20, 1934. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress and became one of the most recognizable stars in cinema history.
What political leaders were born on September 20?
Several political figures share this birthday, including Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's founding father and first emperor born in 1758, and Tarō Asō, former Prime Minister of Japan born in 1940. Nigerian military ruler Sani Abacha and Afghan politician Burhanuddin Rabbani were also born on this date in the 1940s.
Are there any historical figures born on September 20?
Yes, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, born September 20, 1758, is a significant historical figure from this date. He was a leader in the Haitian Revolution and became Haiti's first ruler after independence from France.