List of Romanians facts for kids

This is a list of some of the most prominent Romanians. It contains historical and important contemporary figures (athletes, actors, directors etc.).

Most of the people listed here are of Romanian ethnicity, whose native tongue is Romanian. There are also a few mentioned who were born in Romania and can speak Romanian, though not of Romanian ethnicity.

Historical and political figures

Medieval

• Alexander I the Good (1375–1432), Domn of Moldavia (1400–1432)
• Basarab I the Founder (1270–1352), first independent Domn of Wallachia (1310–1352)
• Michael the Brave (1558–1601), Domn of Wallachia (1593–1601), Domn of Moldavia (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania (1599–1600)
• Mircea I the Elder (1355–1418), Domn of Wallachia (1386–1394, 1397–1418)
• Neagoe Basarab V (1459–1521), Domn of Wallachia (1512–1521)
• Nicolaus Olahus (1493–1568), Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Kingdom of Hungary
• Stephen III the Great (1433–1504), Domn of Moldavia (1457–1504)
• Vlad II Dracul (before 1395–1447), Domn of Wallachia (1436–1442, 1443–1447)
• Vlad III the Impaler (1431–1477), Domn of Wallachia (1448, 1456–1462, 1476–1477)

Renaissance Age

• Dimitrie Cantemir, ruler of Moldavia, historian, writer, and music composer
• Antioch Kantemir, poet and Russian ambassador
• Constantin Brancoveanu, Prince of Wallachia (1688–1714)

Modern era

• Tudor Vladimirescu
• Prince Gheorghe Bibescu
• Prince Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei
• Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza
• King Carol I of Romania
• King Ferdinand I of Romania
• King Carol II of Romania
• King Michael I of Romania
• Queen Elizabeth of Romania
• Queen Marie of Romania

Politicians and militarymen

• Ion Antonescu, Prime Minister and Conducător (Leader) during World War II
• Corneliu Codreanu, founder and charismatic leader of the Iron Guard
• Alexandru Averescu, general and politician
• Nicolae Bălcescu, historian, revolutionary
• Antoine Bibesco, diplomat, writer
• Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, Prime Minister during the 1907 Romanian Peasants' revolt
• Lascăr Catargiu
• Constantin Cristescu, general, Chief of Staff
• Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea, former mayor of Bucharest
• Ion Dragalina, general
• Petre Dumitrescu, general
• Octavian Goga, writer, former Prime Minister
• Avram Iancu, revolutionary in 1848 Revolution
• Take Ionescu, Prime Minister in interbellum Romania
• Mugur Isărescu, economist and member of the Club of Rome, former Prime Minister
• Mihail Lascăr, World War II general, Minister of Defense
• Mihail Manoilescu, economist and Foreign Minister
• Alexandru Marghiloman, Prime Minister during World War I
• Gheorghe G. Mironescu, Prime Minister in interbellum Romania
• David Praporgescu, general
• Constantin Prezan, general in World War I, Marshal of Romania
• Nicolae Rădescu, Prime Minister during World War II
• Radu R. Rosetti, general
• Ecaterina Teodoroiu, soldier and heroine during World War I

National Peasants' Party

• Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania
• Corneliu Coposu, politician, National Peasants' Party
• Doina Cornea, noted dissident and intellectual, National Peasants' Party
• Iuliu Maniu, politician, one of the creators of the National Peasants' Party
• Ion Mihalache, politician, National Peasants' Party
• Ion Rațiu, politician, National Peasants' Party
• Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, politician, Prime Minister of Romania, National Peasants' Party
• Radu Vasile, economist and politician, former Prime Minister

National Liberal Party (1875–1950)

• Dinu Brătianu, president of the National Liberal Party, arrested and imprisoned without trial by the communists, dying in 1950, probably at Sighet Prison
• Ion C. Brătianu, Prime Minister of Romania
• Ion I. C. Brătianu, politician, one of the founders of the Liberal movement in Romania, Prime Minister, son of Ion C. Brătianu
• Vintilă Brătianu, politician, Prime Minister of Romania, son of Ion C. Brătianu
• Ion G. Duca, Prime Minister, assassinated by Iron Guard
• Ion Ghica, mathematician, diplomat, Prime Minister
• Mihail Kogălniceanu, lawyer, historian, publicist, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs
• C. A. Rosetti, publicist, Mayor of Bucharest
• Dimitrie Sturdza, president of the National Liberal Party and president of the Romanian Academy

National Liberal Party (after 1990)

• Crin Antonescu, former leader of the party (2009–2014)
• Radu Câmpeanu, first leader of the party after the 1989 revolution
• Neagu Djuvara, former historian
• Eduard Hellvig, current director of the Romanian Intelligence Service
• Klaus Iohannis, current President of Romania, former leader of the party (2014)
• Mircea Ionescu-Quintus, leader of the party (1993–2001)
• Nicolae Manolescu, literary critic
• Siegfried Mureșan, MEP and current spokesman of the European People's Party (EPP)
• Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, former Prime Minister, former leader of the party (2004–2009)
• Cătălin Predoiu, lawyer, former Justice Minister
• Theodor Stolojan, former Prime Minister, leader of the party (2002–2004)
• Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004–2007), head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service (2007–2012)
• Renate Weber, former lawyer, current MEP

Romanian Communist Party

• Gheorghe Apostol, General Secretary
• Alexandru Bârlădeanu
• Emil Bobu
• Emil Bodnăraș
• Silviu Brucan
• Elena Ceaușescu, wife of Nicolae Ceaușescu
• Nicolae Ceaușescu, General Secretary
• Miron Constantinescu
• Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, General Secretary and Prime Minister
• Petru Groza, Prime Minister
• Corneliu Mănescu
• Manea Mănescu, Prime Minister
• Ion Gheorghe Maurer, Prime Minister
• Paul Niculescu-Mizil
• Ana Pauker
• Constantin Pîrvulescu
• Leonte Răutu
• Vladimir Tismăneanu

Democratic Liberal Party

• Teodor Baconschi, former Foreign Affairs Minister
• Traian Băsescu, former President of Romania and president of the Democratic Liberal Party
• Emil Boc, former Prime Minister and president of the Democratic Liberal Party
• Vasile Blaga, former Internal Affairs Minister and president of the Democratic Liberal Party
• Daniel Funeriu, former Education Minister
• Monica Macovei, former Justice Minister
• Theodor Paleologu, former Culture Minister

Social Democratic Party

• Ana Birchall, current Justice Minister
• Titus Corlățean, former Foreign Affairs Minister
• Cristian Diaconescu, former Foreign Affairs Minister
• Mircea Geoană, former Foreign Minister, former president of the Social Democratic Party and current deputy secretary general of NATO
• Ion Iliescu, former President of Romania, former president of the Social Democratic Party
• Adrian Năstase, former Prime Minister, former president of the Social Democratic Party
• Victor Ponta, former Prime Minister, former president of the Social Democratic Party

Diplomats

• Bogdan Aurescu
• Antoine Bibesco
• Adrian Cioroianu, historian
• Eugen Filotti
• Grigore Gafencu
• Constantin Karadja
• Corneliu Mănescu
• Teodor Meleșcanu
• Alexandru Paleologu, essayist and literary critic
• Vasile Pușcaș, historian
• Savel Rădulescu
• Nicolae Titulescu, professor of law and former President of the General Assembly of the League of Nations (1930–32)
• Constantin Vișoianu

Arts

Architecture

Dance

• Iris Barbura, dancer and choreographer
• Alina Cojocaru, ballerina
• Eugenia Popescu-Județ, ballerina, dance teacher, choreographer, manuscript specialist

Fashion

• Ioana Ciolacu, awarded fashion designer
• Maria Lucia Hohan
• Narcisa Pheres

Photography

• Costică Acsinte
• Iosif Berman
• Alexandra Croitoru
• Samoilă Mârza

Sculpture

• Constantin Brâncuși
• Oscar Han
• Ion Irimescu
• Ion Jalea
• Ana Lupaș
• Cornel Medrea
• Paul Neagu
• Mihai Olos
• Dimitrie Paciurea
• Milița Petrașcu
• Marilena Preda-Sânc
• Marian Zidaru

Writing

• Vasile Alecsandri, poet and playwright
• Lucian Blaga, philosopher, poet, playwright
• Ion Luca Caragiale
• Andrei Codrescu, poet and essayist
• Nichita Danilov, poet, essayist, novelist
• Nae Ionescu, philosopher, writer, logician
• Virgil Nemoianu, essayist, literary critic, philosopher of culture
• Horia-Roman Patapievici, writer, philosopher, essayist
• Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu, philologist, linguist
• Ion Pillat, poet, publicist, academic
• Andrei Pleșu, writer, philosopher, essayist, journalist
• Dumitru Radu Popescu, novelist, essayist, playwright
• Marin Sorescu, poet, playwright
• Nichita Stănescu, poet and playwright
• Petre Țuțea
• Vasile Voiculescu, poet, writer, playwright

Philosophers

• Petre Andrei, philosopher
• Lucian Blaga, philosopher, poet, playwright
• Emil Cioran, essayist, philosopher
• Vasile Conta, philosopher
• Mircea Eliade, philosopher
• Mircea Florian, philosopher
• Nae Ionescu, orthodox philosopher
• Stéphane Lupasco, philosopher
• Constantin Noica, philosopher
• Theodor Paleologu, politician, philosopher
• Camil Petrescu, essayist, philosopher, writer
• Dumitru D. Roșca, philosopher, professor
• Petre Țuțea, philosopher
• Tudor Vianu, philosopher of culture, critic, writer

Poets

Writers

Literary critics

• George Călinescu
• Matei Călinescu
• Paul Cernat
• Mihai Cimpoi
• Șerban Cioculescu
• Pompiliu Constantinescu
• Ovid S. Crohmălniceanu
• Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea
• Garabet Ibrăileanu
• Virgil Ierunca
• Eugen Lovinescu
• Titu Maiorescu
• Nicolae Manolescu
• Ovidiu Papadima
• Edgar Papu
• Ovidiu Pecican
• Perpessicius

Historians

• Gheorghe I. Brătianu
• George Călinescu
• Constantin Daicoviciu
• Nicolae Densușianu
• Constantin C. Giurescu
• Neagu Djuvara
• Adrian Cioroianu
• Dinu C. Giurescu, Member of the American Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences and Member of the Romanian Academy since 2002.
• Nicolae Iorga
• Vasile Pârvan
• A. D. Xenopol
• Alexandru Zub

Journalists

• Teodor Brateș, radio host and television journalist
• Ion Cristoiu
• Eugen Filotti, journalist, Director of the Press
• Leonard Miron, journalist and Romanian National TV presenter
• Cristian Tudor Popescu, journalist and science-fiction writer
• Pamfil Șeicaru, journalist (Gândirea, Bucovina) member of Romanian Parliament, Director of Curentul

Linguists

• Eugenio Coșeriu
• Iorgu Iordan
• I.C. Massim
• Emil Petrovici

Music

See also Music of Romania, especially for contemporary pop musicians.

Composers

• Ana-Maria Avram, composer
• Pascal Bentoiu, composer
• Tiberiu Brediceanu, composer and conductor
• Nicolae Bretan, opera composer
• Eduard Caudella, composer
• Paul Constantinescu, composer
• Dimitrie Cuclin, composer
• Constantin Dimitrescu, composer, cellist
• Sabin Dragoi, composer
• Iancu Dumitrescu, composer, conductor, musicologist
• George Enescu, composer, violinist, pianist, conductor, teacher
• Iosif Ivanovici
• Dinu Lipatti
• Liviu Marinescu, composer
• Octavian Nemescu, composer
• Ștefan Niculescu, composer
• Nonna Otescu, composer
• Anton Pann, composer
• Ciprian Porumbescu, composer
• Horațiu Rădulescu, composer
• Octave Octavian Teodorescu, composer
• Cornel Trailescu, composer
• Iannis Xenakis, composer born in Romania

Musicians

• Dan Andrei Aldea, rock guitarist, composer, singer
• Christian Badea, conductor
• Lucian Ban, jazz composer & pianist
• Carla's Dreams, singer-, musician
• Sergiu Celibidache, orchestra conductor
• Nicole Cherry, singer
• Connect-R, rapper
• Marius Constant, originator of the Twilight Zone theme
• Marin Constantin, conductor
• Nicu Covaci, rock guitarist, composer, vocalist
• Michael Cretu, musician founder of (Enigma)
• Grigoraș Dinicu, violinist, composer
• Adrian Erlandsson, drummer (At the Gates), Swedish with Romanian background
• Daniel Erlandsson, drummer (Arch Enemy), Swedish with Romanian background
• George Georgescu, orchestra conductor
• Valeriu Găină, guitarist
• Tudor Gheorghe, musician, composer and singer
• Nicolae Guță, singer
• Clara Haskil, pianist
• Hugo Jan Huss, orchestra conductor and violinist
• Antonia Iacobescu, singer
• Inna, singer-songwriter, dancer
• Ovidiu Lipan, drummer (Phoenix)
• Dinu Lipatti, pianist, composer
• Radu Lupu, pianist
• Ion Marin, conductor
• Cristi Minculescu, rock singer and composer
• Jonel (Ionel) Perlea, conductor
• Valentin Radu, conductor
• Florin Salam, singer
• Constantin Silvestri, orchestra conductor and composer
• Alexandra Stan, singer, musician, entertainer, model, dancer
• Laura Stoica, pop-rock singer and composer
• Octave Octavian Teodorescu, composer, vanguard rock musician, multi-instrumentist (guitars, keyboards, programmable instruments)
• Cristian Vasile, tango singer
• Dorin Liviu Zaharia, composer and singer
• Gheorghe Zamfir, pan flute musician

Classic

• Zeno Costa, tenor
• Ileana Cotrubaș, soprano
• Hariclea Darclée, soprano
• Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
• Dinu Lipatti, pianist and composer
• Radu Lupu, pianist
• Nelly Miricioiu, soprano
• Mariana Nicolescu, soprano
• Mihaela Ursuleasa, pianist
• Leontina Vaduva, soprano
• Virginia Zeani, soprano

Folk and derivatives

• Maria Tănase, Romanian popular music singer

Instruments

• Alexander Bălănescu, violinist
• Ion Miu, cimbalom player
• Johnny Răducanu, jazz pianist
• Ion Voicu, violinist
• Gheorghe Zamfir, panpipes player

Pop and techno

• Nicoleta Alexandru, pop and techno singer
• Loredana Groza, pop singer
• Gabriela and Mihaela Modorcea, twins sisters comprising the duo Indiggo

Film and theatre

Religion

• Teoctist Arăpașu, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Arsenie Boca
• Daniel Ciobotea, incumbent Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Miron Cristea, first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Iuliu Hossu, Greek-Catholic bishop of the Cluj-Gherla Diocese and later cardinal
• Justinian Marina, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Iustin Moisescu, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Nicodim Munteanu, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Lucian Mureșan, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan bishop, later (and incumbent) Major Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia
• Dumitru Stăniloae, priest, translated the Philokalia into Romanian
• Vasile Suciu, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan bishop of the Archdiocese of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia
• Alexandru Todea, Greek-Catholic Metropolitan bishop of the Archdiocese of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia and later cardinal
• Lucian Turcescu, Orthodox theologian teaching at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada), president of the Canadian Society of Patristic Studies, 2004–2008
• Richard Wurmbrand, pastor, author of Tortured for Christ

Sports

Swimming

• David Popovici

Athletics

• Iolanda Balaș, high jump
• Violeta Beclea-Szekely
• Paula Ivan
• Lia Manoliu, discus thrower
• Doina Melinte, 3000 m
• Gabriela Szabo

Basketball

• Ernie Grunfeld (born 1955), NBA guard/forward & GM, Olympic champion
• Tal Karpelesz (born 1990), Israeli-Romanian basketball player
• Gheorghe Mureșan

Boxing

• Lucian Bute
• Adrian Diaconu
• Leonard Doroftei
• Florian Munteanu
• Mihai Leu
• Francisc Vaștag
• Victor Zilberman, Olympic welterweight boxer, bronze medal

Canoe

• Leon Rotman, sprint canoer, 2-time Olympic champion (C-1 10,000 meter, C-1 1,000-meter) and bronze (C-1 1,000-meter), 14 national titles

Football

Gymnastics

Ivey

• Julia Ionescu
• Victor Zega

Rowing

• Constanța Burcică
• Georgeta Damian
• Elena Georgescu
• Doina Ignat
• Elisabeta Lipă
• Ivan Patzaichin
• Viorica Susanu

Tennis

Other sports

• Laura Badea (born 1970), Romanian fencer and Olympic champion in foil competition
• Luminița Dinu-Huțupan handball player
• Mathew Dumba (born 1994), NHL ice hockey player
• Alina Dumitru, Olympic judo champion
• Yohan Kende (born 1949), Israeli Olympic swimmer
• Alina Popa, IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Angelica Rozeanu (Adelstin; 1921–2006), Romanian-Israeli 17-time world table tennis champion; ITTF Hall of Fame
• Andre Spitzer (1945–1972), Israel's 1972 Summer Olympics fencing coach and victim of the Munich massacre
• Timea Toth (born 1968), Romanian-born Israeli Olympic swimmer

Science

Astronomy

• Cristiana Dumitrache

Biology

• Grigore Antipa, hydrobiologist
• Ana Aslan, geriatrics researcher
• Victor Babeș, biologist
• Dimitrie Brândză, botanist
• Ioan Cantacuzino, microbiologist
• Melania Cristescu, biologist
• Wilhelm Knechtel, botanist
• Nicolae Leon, biologist
• Gheorghe Marinescu, neurologist
• Nicolae Minovici, forensic scientist
• Mina Minovici, forensic scientist
• George Emil Palade, 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner
• Constantin Parhon, endocrinologist
• Nicolae Paulescu, discovered insulin
• Emil Racoviță, biologist and speleologist

Chemistry

• Lazăr Edeleanu, chemist
• Henrik Kacser, physical chemist
• Costin Nenițescu, founder of the Romanian school of Organic Chemistry
• Nicolae Teclu, inventor of the Teclu gas burner

Physicians

• Raed Arafat, founder of SMURD (a Syrian-born Palestinian refugee living in Romania since 1981)
• Bazil Assan, engineer, explorer and economist
• Adrian Bejan, namesake of the Bejan number
• Gheorghe Benga, physician and molecular biologist
• Alexandru Ciurcu, inventor, with M.M. Just Buisson, of the first reactive engine
• George Constantinescu, inventor
• Leon Dănăilă, neurosurgeon
• Daniel David, professor, psychologist, and psychotherapist
• Carol Davila, physician
• Anastase Dragomir, inventor of the parachute cell, predecessor of the ejection seat
• Dimitrie Gerota, anatomist, physician, radiologist, urologist
• Rodrig Goliescu, inventor of the first airplane with a tubular fuselage
• Iuliu Hațieganu, internist doctor
• Petrache Poenaru, inventor
• Elie Radu, architect, engineer
• Anghel Saligny, engineer
• Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen, engineer
• David Wechsler, psychologist

Aerospace

• Elie Carafoli, aeronautics engineer
• Henri Coandă, aircraft designer and discoverer of the Coandă effect of fluidics
• Aurel Vlaicu, flight pioneer
• Traian Vuia

Astronauts

• Dumitru Prunariu, Romania's first and only cosmonaut

Mathematics

Physics

• Réka Albert
• Emanoil Bacaloglu, physicist, chemist and mathematician
• Victor Albert Bailey, physicist (Romanian on his mother's side)
• Radu Dan Constantinescu, physicist, President of the Balkan Physical Union
• Peter George Oliver Freund, physicist
• Mihai Gavrilă, theoretical quantum physicist, professor, Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy
• Horia Hulubei, atomic physicist, professor, Member of the Romanian Academy
• Theodor V. Ionescu, plasma physicist, professor, Member of the Romanian Academy
• Ștefania Mărăcineanu
• Alexandru Marin, physicist, professor
• Victor Mercea
• Florentina I. Mosora, biophysicist and nuclear medicine professor, Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium
• Horațiu Năstase
• Ioan-Iovitz Popescu
• Alexandru Proca, theoretical physicist, Member of the Romanian Academy
• Ștefan Procopiu, theoretical physicist, Member of the Romanian Academy
• Șerban Țițeica, theoretical physicist, founder of the Romanian modern school of theoretical physics, Member of the Romanian Academy

Computer science

• Andrei Alexandrescu, computer scientist
• Mihai Nadin, computer scientist
• Ștefan Odobleja, scientist, precursor of cybernetics
• Mihai Pătrașcu, computer scientist
• Ion Stoica, computer scientist
• Victor Toma, computer engineer, born in Romanian Bessarabia
• Matei Zaharia, computer scientist

Others

• Dionisie Ghermani (1922–2009), professor, writer, philanthropist, and political activist
• Dimitrie Gusti, sociologist
• Ernest Krausz (1931–2018), Israeli professor of sociology and President at Bar Ilan University
• David Mitrany (1888–1975), political theorist
• George Pomutz (1818–1882), ethnic Romanian United States general in the Civil War, and a diplomat
• Emil Racoviță, polar explorer
• Emilia Săulea (1904–1998), geologist and paleontologist.
• Ruxandra Sireteanu (1945—2008), neuroscientist
• Henri Stahl, stenographer
• Henri H. Stahl, cultural anthropologist, ethnographer, sociologist, social historian

Polymaths

• Simion Bărnuțiu, jurist, priest, politician, publicist, lawyer, writer, professor
• Matila Ghyka, famous polymath, mathematician and author
• Mihail Kogălniceanu, lawyer, historian, publicist, politician, cultural peacemaker
• Bogdan Suceavă, mathematician, novelist, journalist, professor of mathematics at California State University, Fullerton

Business

• Octav Botnar, Nissan UK chairman, billionaire
• Iosif Constantin Drăgan, gas tycoon, billionaire and academic
• John DeLorean, US car industry executive, engineer, inventor of Pontiac GTO Muscle car and DeLorean
• Dinu Patriciu, former CEO of Rompetrol
• Dan Petrescu, businessman and billionaire
• Anastasia Soare billionaire, the CEO and founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills

Military

Miscellaneous

• Ana Cumpănaș (a.k.a. Anna Sage), the "Woman in Red" who helped FBI catch John Dillinger
• Iana Matei, activist and founder of Reaching Out

List of Romanians who were born outside present-day Romania

This is a list of Romanians who were born outside present-day Romania.

Austria

• Victor Babeș, physician, biologist, bacteriologist

Republic of Moldova

• Ștefan Baștovoi, orthodox monk
• Maria Cebotari, opera singer
• Emil Constantinescu, president of Romania (1996–2000)
• Eugenio Coșeriu, linguist
• Paul Goma, writer
• Lia Manoliu, athlete
• Adrian Păunescu, poet, politician

Russia

• Alexander Kolchak, partially Romanian, descendant of Iliaș Colceag, Russian Admiral; Supreme Ruler of Russia (White Guard State) (1918–1920)

Serbia

• Zoran Lilić, president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 1993–1997
• Baba Novac, captain under Mihai Viteazul and hajduk
• Vasko Popa, poet
• Emil Petrovici, linguist

Ukraine

• Alexandru Averescu, prime minister of Romania (1918, 1920–1921, 1926–1927)
• Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, philologist, writer
• Lucian Pintilie, film director, screenwriter
• Sofia Rotaru, singer
• Nicolae Văcăroiu, prime minister of Romania (1992–1996)
• Sofia Vicoveanca, singer

See also

• List of Romanian inventors and discoverers
• List of Romanian-Americans
• List of Aromanians
• List of people by nationality