Can You Unscramble These Historical Figures' Names?

By: Robin Tyler
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Unscramble These Historical Figures' Names?
Image: Mlenny/E+/gettyimages

About This Quiz

Over the course of time, history is filled with people who have played influential roles in shaping mankind. They range from world leaders to doctors and scientists, princes and princesses and many more.

In their own way, these people have contributed to how our world has developed, some in good ways, while others have had a massively negative impact, not only on their own nations but the world in general. For every Winston Churchill, there is an Adolf Hitler, someone hell-bent on making their nation the greatest and crushing everything that stands in their way.

But there are also heroes who need to be remembered as well - those who fought for civil rights and lost their lives in the process. They were men like Abraham Lincoln, an American president bold enough to abolish slavery, a decision that tore America in two, or Martin Luther King, a man who stood for civil rights 100 years later.

And then there are the brainy bunch, those who through their incredible intellectual capacity, have advanced our civilization. So the question is this. Would you be able to identify a range of historical figures from their scrambled up names?

No problem? OK, then, Gdoo, Lcuk! 

"Looraedn da niVci" is one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance era. Can you unscramble his name and identify him?
Leonardo da Vinci
Michaelangelo
Filippo Brunelleschi
Sandro Botticelli
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist, renowned mainly for his paintings, but he also made significant contributions to science, engineering, architecture, and anatomy. He is seen as the epitome of a “Renaissance Man” and he conceptualized many designs that were ahead of his time. His most famous painting is the Mona Lisa, which is housed at the Louvre in Paris.

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A prolific poet and playwright, "Waiillm Shkareaepse" lived in England. Unscramble his name and tell us who he was.
Geoffrey Chaucer
William Shakespeare
John Milton
William Blake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is regarded as the most famous playwright ever. His plays have been translated into more than 50 languages and performed across the globe. He wrote at least 37 plays and more than 150 sonnets.

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"Vmdiilar Leinn" was a communist leader in Russia who helped set up the U.S.S.R. Can you identify him?
Karl Marx
Josef Stalin
Vladimir Lenin
Yelena Dmitriyevna Stasova
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vladimir Lenin was a Russian revolutionary who led Soviet Russia from 1917 – 1924 and the Soviet Union from 1922 – 1924. He founded the Communist party and was the leader of the Bolshevik revolution. He overthrew the Russian government and was the leader of the world’s first communist state.

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"Nsloen Medanla" spent 27 years in prison before he became the president of South Africa. Who is he?
Jacob Zuma
Thabo Mbeki
Oliver Thambo
Nelson Mandela
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nelson Mandela was a South African revolutionary who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black head of state, elected after the country’s first democratic elections. Prior to his election to the presidency, he spent 27 years in prison for treason. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 (together with FW de Klerk) for his work in dismantling apartheid in South Africa.

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"Qeeun Ealibetzh II" is a royal ruler who was crowned in 1952. She is still on the throne. Can you identify her?
Margrethe II
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Letizia
Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. She has served as queen since 1952 and is Britain’s longest-serving monarch. She has had 15 Prime Ministers serve under her during her reign. In 2016, it was estimated that Elizabeth is worth $530 million!

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From being all shook up to rocking in a jailhouse, "Esivl Peylser" was the King of Rock 'n Roll. Unscramble the letters to identify him.
Elvis Presley
Duane Eddy
Bill Haley
Jerry Lee Lewis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elvis Presley was an American actor and singer, often referred to as the King of Rock ‘n Roll. He has sold more than one billion records and 20 of his singles reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts. He died from a heart attack at the age of 42, by which time he was abusing drugs and was very overweight.

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Unscramble these letters, "Dnoald Tmrup", to identify a President of the United States.
Ronald Regan
Jimmy Carter
Thomas Jefferson
Donald Trump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States of America and was previously a businessman and media personality. He has been an extremely controversial leader and has been widely criticized for many of his policies, sparking numerous protests. He is the wealthiest person ever to have assumed the presidency.

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"Aistlroet" - Unscramble the name of this Greek philosopher and scientist, please.
Plato
Socrates
Aristotle
Pythagoras
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived in the 4th Century BC. He studied under Plato and made contributions to nearly every aspect of human knowledge, including logic, biology, ethics, and aesthetics. He was the first to classify areas of knowledge and also developed a formal system for reasoning.

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"Ljiusu Ecraas" was perhaps the most famous of the Roman rulers. He was assassinated by his peers. Can you name him?
Drusus Caesar
Nero Ceasar
Augustus Ceasar
Julius Caesar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Julius Caesar was a Roman leader who lived in the 1st century BC. He conquered Gaul, fought a civil war and named himself dictator of the Roman Empire. He was famously assassinated by his own senators, who feared populist reforms.

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"oanJ fo rAc" was an unlikely French military commander who beat the English at Orléans in the early 1400s. Can you unscramble the letters to name this person?
Joan of Arc
Charles of Orléans
Count Bernard of Armagnac
Jean of Bourbon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joan of Arc led the French army to victory over the English at Orléans. She was captured by the English a year later and burned at the stake as a heretic. She was later canonized after a posthumous retrial.

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"htoCeirrphs obumsuC" was a Spanish seafarer employed by the Portuguese. He is credited with helping to discover parts of the Americas. Unscramble the letters to reveal his name!
Bartholomew Dias
Prince Henry the Navigator
Christopher Columbus
Amerigo Vespucci
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who made four voyages across the Atlantic in search of a direct route from Europe to Asia. He accidentally stumbled upon the Americas and is credited with their “discovering,” although this is now disputed. However, his journeys opened up the American continents and led to centuries of further exploration and exploitation there.

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Christians claim "Susej Cithsr" was the son of God. Can you unscramble the letters to tell us his name?
Simon Peter
Jesus Christ
Pontius Pilot
Joseph of Arimathea
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jesus was a Jewish preacher and religious leader who lived in Israel during the first century. He is the central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the son of God. He was crucified by Roman and Jewish leaders and is believed to have returned from the dead three days later.

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A famed ancient commander, "Elnxaaedr the Gtare" lived between 356 and 323 BC. Identify him, please.
Leonidas
Hannibal
Alexander the Great
Cyrus the Great
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alexander the Great was king of the ancient Greek kingdom known as Macedon. He lived in the fourth century BC. He established the largest empire of the ancient world, founding more than 70 cities, and profoundly influenced Greek and Asian culture. His empire stretched over three continents and covered about 2 million square miles. As a military commander, he was without peer and was never defeated in battle.

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"Glliaeo Glliaei" was an Italian astronomer. By unscrambling the letters, can you give us his name?
Nicolaus Copernicus
Galileo Galilei
Joseph von Fraunhofer
Martianus Capella
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer who is regarded as the “father of modern physics.” He improved the telescope, using it to discover the mountains of the moon, the spots on the sun, the four biggest moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. His discoveries provide evidence to support the theory that the earth and other planets revolve around the sun.

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"Ggeroe Wosaginhtn" - These letters unscramble to give the name of an early U.S. president. Can you tell us who it is?
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
John Adams
James Madison
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

George Washington was the first President of the United States of America, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was a military leader in the American Revolution, leading his troops to victory over Britain. He is often referred to as one of the “Founding Fathers” of America.

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One of Europe's greatest military commanders, "Nneolpoa Btrapanoe" was a ruler of France. Unscramble the letters to tell us who he is, please.
Comte d'Hautpoul
Charles de Gaulle
Napoleon Bonaparte
Louis the Sun King
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Napoleon is considered to be one of the greatest military leaders in history. He was the French emperor during the Napoleonic wars (1803 – 1815), where he won control of much of Europe. He was famously defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and exiled to St Helena, where he died.

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A renowned composer, "Liwudg van Boehveten" was born in Germany. Who are we talking about?
Ludwig van Beethoven
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Johannes Brahms
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist, often considered to be the greatest of all time. His music connects the Classical and Romantic ages of Western music and consist of innovative compositions that combine vocals and instruments and widen the scope of music. He was famously hard of hearing and many of his most famous works were composed when he was almost unable to hear at all.

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Who is "Cealhrs Dwrian," the man who gave us the Theory of Evolution?
Alfred Russel Wallace
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
Charles Darwin
Charles Lyell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. He wrote "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, which shocked Victorian England and conflicted with the Christian belief of creation. He was honored for his contribution to science by burial at Westminster Cathedral.

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Unscramble these letters, "Klra Mxra," to reveal the author of "Das Kapital" and co-author of "The Communist Manifesto."
Josef Stalin
Karl Marx
Frederich Engels
Vladimir Lenin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Karl Marx was a German philosopher who famously published "The Communist Manifesto" (together with Frederich Engels) and "Das Kapital." These writings form the foundation of Marxism and the theory of Communism. He was vehemently anti-capitalist, encouraging the working class to topple capitalism and bring about socio-economic changes.

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One of the greatest inventors of our time, to whom do the scrambled letters, "Tahoms Eodsin," refer?
Thaddeus Fairbanks
Alexander Graham Bell
Henry Ford
Thomas Edison
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thomas Edison was an American inventor who created the electric light bulb and the phonograph. He held more than 1,000 patents and was a very successful businessman. He started General Electric, which is one of the biggest corporations in the world today.

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Which historical figure do the letters "Maaondhs Gdnahi" reveal? He was a renowned social activist.
Kiran Behdi
Manasi Pradhan
Mohandas Gandhi
Mother Theresa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mohandas Gandhi was an Indian activist who successfully led the Indian Independence movement against British rule. He is famed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest to achieve social and political progress. He was assassinated by nationalists who thought he was too accommodating to his oppressors.

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The ultimate British bulldog, who was "Wntosin Ccihhrlul."
Margaret Thatcher
Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill
Tony Blair
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Winston Churchill was a British politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 – 1945 and again from 1951 – 1955. He is credited with leading Britain to victory in World War II and is one of the best-known statesmen of the 20th century. He is famous for his inspiring speeches, many of which are still quoted today.

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The Theory of Relativity was developed by "Aeblrt Eestiinn." Unscramble the letters to find out who we are talking about.
Ivan Pavlov
Albert Einstein
Max Planck
Niels Bohr
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Albert Einstein is considered to be the greatest scientist of the 20th century. His theories on relativity created a new branch of physics and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution to physics and the evolution of Quantum Theory. He was born in Germany to Jewish parents and moved to the United States after Hitler’s rise to power.

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A civil rights leader in the United States, "Mtairn Leuhtr Knig" was assassinated in 1968. To what name do these letters unscramble?
Rosa Parks
Martin Luther King
Malcolm X
Louis Farrakhan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Martin Luther King Jr. was an activist and Baptist minister who was central to the civil rights movements in the USA. He fought for equal rights for African-Americans through peaceful protest and civil disobedience. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was assassinated in 1968.

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Can you unscramble these letters, "Spethen Hianwkg," to give us the name of a theoretical physicist and cosmologist.
Michio Kaku
Erwin Schrodinger
Roger Penrose
Stephen Hawking
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist. He is best known for his theories explaining the origins of the universe which he commercialized in his book, A Brief History of Time. He suffered from motor-neuron disease, which gradually paralyzed him, although he still communicated through speech-generating devices.

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America's enemy No. 1 after 9/11, "Omsaa Bin Ldaen" was caught and killed in 2011. Unscramble the letters and identify who we are talking about?
Osama Bin Laden
Ayman al Zawahiri
Khalid al-Habib
Saif al-Adel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Osama Bin Laden founded the militant pan-Islamic organization called al-Qaeda, which declared war on the USA. His organization was responsible for the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings, the 2001 9/11 attacks as well as many other mass-casualty attacks. He was killed by the U.S. military in Pakistan in 2011.

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Widely regarded as the princess of the people, who is "Dinaa, Psceirns of Wleas"?
Princess Madeleine of Sweden
Diana, Princess of Wales
Princess Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
Princess Stephanie of Monaco
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diana, Princess of Wales was one of the most adored members of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles, heir apparent to the throne, and was widely celebrated for her charity work and the work she did to raise awareness to help people affected by AIDS, cancer, mental illness, and landmines. She died in a car crash in 1997.

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A much-loved President of the United States, who is "Brcaak Omaba"?
Richard Nixon
Barak Obama
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Gerald Ford
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barack Obama was the first black president of the United States, serving from 2009 – 2017. Before that, he was an attorney and U.S. Senator. He signed many landmark bills into law and ended U.S. military involvement in the Iraq war. He also ordered the military operation that resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden.

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The leader of Germany during World War II, "Aodlf Htelir" commited suicide in 1945. Which historical figure are we talking about?
Josef Goebbels
Adolf Hitler
Henrich Himmler
Rudolf Hess
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Adolf Hitler was a German politician and leader of the infamous Nazi party. He was dictator of Germany from 1933 – 1945 and initiated World War II by invading Poland in September 1939. He was responsible for the perpetration of the Holocaust.

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Unscramble these letters, "Jspeoh Sltain," to tell us the name of the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II, please.
Nikita Khrushchev
Josef Stalin
Leonid Brezhnev
Yuri Andropov
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joseph Stalin was a Russian politician who led the Soviet Union as dictator from 1929 – 1953. He transformed the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) from a peasant society into an industrial and military superpower. He was brutal and revolutionary, ruling by terror.

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A man with interesting ideas on human behavior, who was "Sugmind Fured"?
Leon Festinger
B. F. Skinner
Sigmund Freud
Jean Piaget
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who founded psychoanalysis as a way to treat mental illness and understand human behavior. He believed that childhood events influence our adult lives and often explain our behavior. He introduced many words through his theories which are used today, such as anal, libido, denial, repression, cathartic and neurotic.

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An author, "Cealhrs Dsenkci" famously had a character ask for more food in an orphanage. Who is he?
J.R.R. Tolkien
Charles Dickens
Geoffrey Chaucer
C.S. Lewis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Charles Dickens was a famous Victorian author who wrote many novels, including Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Great Expectations. His works were popular during his lifetime and are still widely read today. He captured the social nuances of his time and is viewed as an important social commentator of his era.

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"Araabhm Lniocln" was an American president who abolished slavery. Unscramble the letters to find out which historical figure we are talking about.
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson
Ronald Reagan
John F. Kennedy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America, serving from 1860 to 1865, when he was assassinated. He is famous for his Emancipation Proclamation, which paved the way for the abolition of slavery. His Gettysburg Address during the American Civil War is one of the most famous speeches ever made.

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"Iasac Nwteon" helped formulate the theory regarding gravity. Do you know who we are talking about?
James Clerk Maxwell
Michael Faraday
Richard Feynman
Isaac Newton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Isaac Newton was an English mathematician and scientist who is regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time. He developed the three laws of motion which govern modern physics and discovered calculus as a way to solve complex mathematical problems. He is most famous for his law of gravity, discovered when watching an apple falling from a tree.

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"Mahmaumd" was a major prophet in the religion of Islam. Decipher the letters for your answer.
ʾIsmāʿīl
Ibrāhīm
Muhammad
Nūḥ
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad is considered one of the most important Islamic prophets. He was born in Mecca in 570 and had revelations from Allah that became the basis for the Koran. He is credited with uniting Arabia under a single religion.

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