This is a partial list of famous Polish, Polish-speaking/writing people, and people born in Poland.

Science

Mathematicians

• Stefan Banach (1892-1945), mathematician
• Karol Borsuk (1905-1982), mathematician
• Samuel Dickstein (1851-1939), mathematician
• Samuel Eilenberg (1913-1998), mathematician
• Witold Hurewicz (1904-1956), mathematician
• Mark Kac (1914-1984), mathematician
• Krystyna Kuperberg (1944-), mathematician
• Kazimierz Kuratowski (1896-1980), mathematician
• Jan Łukasiewicz (1878-1956), mathematician
• Benoit Mandelbrot (1924-), mathematician
• Józef Marcinkiewicz (1910-1940), mathematician
• Stanisław Mazur (1905-1981), mathematician
• Wladyslaw Orlicz (1903-1990), mathematician
• Emil Leon Post (1897-1954), mathematician
• Marian Rejewski (1905-1980), mathematician and cryptologist
• Stanislaw Saks (1897-1942), mathematician
• Wacław Sierpiński (1882-1969), mathematician
• Hugo Steinhaus (1887-1972), mathematician
• Alfred Tarski (1901-1983), mathematician
• Stanislaw Ulam (1909 - 1984), mathematician
• Józef Hoene-Wroński (1778-1853), mathematician and philosopher
• Kazimierz Zarankiewicz (1902-1959) mathematician
• Antoni Zygmund (1900 - 1992) mathematician

Others

• Henryk Arctowski (1871-1958), scientist, explorer
• Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), astronomer
• Maria Curie-Skłodowska (1867-1934), scientist, Nobel Prize winner (twice), first female Nobel prize winner
• Jan Czekanowski (1882-1965), anthropologist
• Jan Czerski (1845-1892), geographer and geologist
• Ignacy Domeyko (1802-1889), geologist
• Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736), physicist
• Kazimierz Funk (1884-1967), biochemist
• Tomasz Górecki , archaeologist
• Rudolf Gundlach (1894-1957), inventor of tank periscope
• Mirosław Hermaszewski (b. 1941), the first Polish astronaut
• Johannes Hevelius (Jan Heweliusz) (1611-1687), astronomer
• Józef Hofmann (1876-1967), pianist, inventor of windscreen wipers and car springs
• Roman Ingarden (1893-1970), philosopher
• Antoni Kepinski (1918-1972), psychiatrist
• Janusz Korczak (1878-1942), pedagogist
• Jan Kubary (1846-1896), anthropologist
• Marcin Kubiak , astronomer
• Ignacy Łukasiewicz (1822-1882), founder of the world petroleum industry
• Henryk Magnuski (1909-1978), engineer, inventor of the Walkie-talkie
• Bronisław Malinowski (1884-1942), anthropologue and ethnologue
• Kazimierz Michałowski (1901-1981), archaeologist
• Ralph Modjeski (1861-1940), engineer
• Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski (Andreas Fricius Modrevius) (1503-1572), political theorist and philosopher
• Karol Myśliwiec , archaeologist
• Bohdan Paczyński (1940-) astronomer
• Bronisław Piłsudski (1866-1918), anthropologist
• Sylwester Porowski (living), chemist
• Joseph Rotblat (1908), physicist, Nobel Peace Prize in 1995
• Romuald Schild , archaeologist
• Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 - 1860), philosopher
• Marian Smoluchowski (1872-1917), physicist
• Avraham Stern (1768-1842), engineer
• Pawel Strzelecki (1797-1873), explorer
• Andrzej Udalski , astronomer
• Rudolf Weigl (1883-1957), biologist and the inventor of the typhus vaccine
• Piotr Wilniewczyc (1887-1960), arms constructor
• Witelo (1230-?), scientist
• Paweł Włodkowic (1370-1435), scholar and laywer
• Edmund Wnuk-Lipinski (1944-), sociologist
• Aleksander Wolszczan (1946-), astronomer
• Zygmunt Wróblewski (1845-1888), physicist
• Ludwik Zamenhof (1859-1917), linguist

Music

• Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849)
• Krzysztof Penderecki (1933–)
• Wojciech Kilar (1932–)
• Karol Lipiński (1790–1861)
• Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994)
• Zbigniew Preisner (1955–)
• Henryk Górecki (1933–)
• Arthur Rubinstein (1887–1982), pianist
• Karol Szymanowski (1882–1937)
• Władysław Szpilman (1911–2000), pianist
• Henryk Wieniawski (1835–1880)
• Wanda Landowska (1879–1959), harpsichordist
• Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860–1941), pianist

Literature

• Jan Brzechwa (1900–1966), poet
• Joseph Conrad (Teodor Józef Korzeniowski) (1857–1924), English writer
• Lucyna Cwierczakiewiczowa (1829–1901), the first Polish cook book author
• Johannes Dantiscus (Jan Dantyszek) (1485–1548), Latin poet and Prince-Bishop of Warmia
• Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz (1898–1939), novelist
• Jacek Dukaj (b. 1974), science-fiction writer
• Witold Gombrowicz (1904–1969), novelist and drama writer
• Zbigniew Herbert (1924–1998), poet
• Ryszard Kapuściński (b. 1932), writer and journalist
• Jan Kochanowski (1530–1584), poet
• Tadeusz Konwicki (b1926-)
• Jerzy Kosiński (1933–1991)
• Zofia Kossak-Szczucka (1890–1968)
• Stanisław Lem (b. 1921), science-fiction writer, essayist, philosopher
• Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855), poet
• Czesław Miłosz, Polish poet, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1980 (June 30, 1911 – August 14, 2004)
• Cyprian Kamil Norwid (1821–1883), poet
• Krzysztof Piesiewicz (b. 1945), screenwriter and politician
• Bolesław Prus (1847–1912), novelist, short-story writer, journalist
• Władysław Reymont (1867–1925), writer, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1924
• Marcel Reich-Ranicki (b. June 2, 1920), literary critic
• Andrzej Sapkowski (b. 1948), fantasy writer
• Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846–1916), writer, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905
• Wisława Szymborska (b. 1923), Polish poet, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996
• Bruno Schulz (1892–1942), writer
• Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz (“Witkacy”) (1885–1939), writer and painter
• Stanisław Witkiewicz (1851–1915), writer, painter and art theoretician
• Stanisław Wyspiański, (1869–1907), painter and writer
• Franciszek Zabłocki (1754–1821), comic dramatist and satirist
• Janusz A. Zajdel (1938–1995), science-fiction writer

Philosophers

• Leszek Kołakowski, (b. 1927), philosopher
• Michał Sedziwój, (1566-1636), alchemist, philosopher
• Edward Stachura, (1937-1979), philosopher

Arts

• Magdalena Abakanowicz (born 1930), sculptor
• Daniel Chodowiecki (1726-1801), painter
• Jerzy Grotowski (1933-1999), theatre reformer
• Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980), painter
• Zbigniew Lengren (1919 - 2003), cartoonist and illustrator
• Jan Matejko (1838-1893), painter
• Nikifor Krynicki (1895-1968), painter
• Wacław Niżyński (Vaslav Nijinsky) (1890–1950), ballet dancer and choreographer
• Napoleon Orda (1807-1883), painter

Entertainment

• Józef Arkusz (1921-1996), film director
• Eugeniusz Bodo (1899-1943), singer and actor
• Zbigniew Cybulski (1927-1967), actor
• Ewa Demarczyk (1941-), actress, poetry singer
• Katarzyna Figura (1962-), actress
• Samuel Goldwyn (1882-1974), American film producer
• Agnieszka Holland (1948-), film director
• Jacek Kaczmarski (1957-2004), protest songwriter and singer
• Jan Kiepura (1902-1966), singer and actor
• Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996), film director
• Kazimierz Kutz (1929-), film director
• Bogusław Linda (1952-), actor
• Helena Modrzejewska (1840-1909), actress known as Helena Modjeska
• Pola Negri (1894-1987), actress
• Joanna Pacula (1957-), actress
• Ludwika Paleta (1978-), Mexican actress
• Roman Polański (1933-), film director and actor
• Wojciech Pszoniak (1942-), actor of Comedie Francaise
• Daniel Olbrychski (1945-), actor
• Jerzy Owsiak (1953-), broadcaster
• Izabella Scorupco (1970-), actress
• Jerzy Skolimowski (1938-), film director
• Ladislas Starevich (1882-1965) properly: Wladyslaw Starewicz, film director, stop-motion animator
• Andrzej Wajda (1926-), film director
• Andrzej Zulawski (1940-), film director

Royalty

• Swiatoslawa (Gunhild) (967-1014), daughter of Mieszko I of Poland, mother of Canute the Great, king of England, Denmark and Norway
• Boleslaus the Brave (966/967-1025), first king of Poland
• Henry II the Pious (?-1241), senior duke of Poland, commander of Polish forces in Battle of Legnica
• Casimir IV the Jagiellonian (1427-1494), king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania, victor in Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466)
• Jan III Sobieski (John III of Poland) (1629-1696), king of Poland and Great Duke of Lithuania, victor at the Battle of Vienna
• Stanislaw Leszczynski, (Stanislaus I of Poland) (1677-1766), king of Poland and prince of Lorraine
• Maria Leszczynska, wife of Louis XV king of France
• Ladislaus III, (Władysław III Warneńczyk, Ulászló I), 1424-1444, king of Poland and Hungary
• Aleksandra Lisowska (Khourrem) (~1510 - 1558), (wife of Suleiman the Magnificent)

Sports

• Waldemar Baszanowski (1935-), weightlifter
• Zbigniew Boniek (1956 -), soccer forward
• Mariusz Czerkawski (1972 -), ice hockey player
• Kazimierz Deyna (1947-1989), soccer player
• Jerzy Dudek (1973 -), soccer goalkeeper
• Wojtek Fibak (1952 -), tennis player
• Malgorzata Glinka (1978 -), volleyball player
• Robert Gadocha (1946 -), soccer player
• Tomasz Gollob (1971 -), speedway driver
• Andrzej Golota (1968 -), boxer
• Jerzy Gorgon (1949 -), soccer player
• Andrzej Grubba (1958 -), table tennis player
• Zenon Jaskula (1962 -), cycler
• Otylia Jedrzejczak (1983 -), swimmer
• Henryk Kasperczak (1946 -), soccer player
• Robert Korzeniowski (1968 -), athlete
• Jerzy Kukuczka (1948 - 1989), climber
• Jerzy Kulej (1940 -), boxer
• Janusz Kusocinski (1907 - 1940), athlete
• Mateusz Kusznierewicz (1975 -), yachtman
• Grzegorz Lato (1950 -), soccer player
• Andrzej Laszczak (1976 -), luger
• Wlodzimierz Lubanski (1947 -), soccer player
• Adam Malysz (1977 -), ski jumper
• Waldemar Marszalek (1942 -), powerboating racer
• Dariusz Michalczewski (1968 -), boxer
• Stan Musial (1920 -), baseball player
• Artur Partyka (1969 -), high jumper
• Jerzy Pawlowski (1932 -), fencer
• Mariusz Pudzianowski (1979 -), strongman
• Wanda Rutkiewicz (1943 - 1992), climber
• Tadeusz Slusarski (1950 - 1998), pole vaulter
• Andrzej Szarmach (1950 -) soccer player
• Irena Szewinska (1946 -), sprinter
• Ryszard Szurkowski (1946 -), cycler
• Jan Tomaszewski (1948 -), soccer goalkeeper
• Damian Waniczek (1981 -), luger
• Krzysztof Wielicki (1950 -), climber
• Andrzej Wronski (1965 -), wrestler
• Sobieslaw Zasada (1930 -), rally driver

Military

• Józef Bem (1794-1850), military commander, commander-in-chief of Hungarian army (1849)
• Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (1560-1621), military commander, victor from Kircholm
• Jarosław Dąbrowski (1836-1871), military commander during the January Uprising and the Paris Commune
• Henryk Dembiński (1791-1864), military commander in the November Uprising and the Hungarian uprising of 1849
• Józef Haller (1873-1960), politician, commander of the Polish Army in France during WWI
• Tadeusz Komorowski (1895-1966), commander of the Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising
• Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746-1817), commander and revolutionist
• Stanisław Maczek (1892-1994), commander of the Polish Armoured Division, later C-i-C of the Polish forces in exile after WWII
• Stanisław Sosabowski (1892-1967), commander of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, which saw action at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden
• Kazimierz (Casimir) Pułaski, military commander
• Stefan Rowecki (1895-1944?), military commander, commander-in-chief of the Home Army
• Edward Śmigły-Rydz (1886-1941), military commander, successful in the Polish-Bolshevik war, C-i-C of the Polish Army in the September Campaign
• Aleksander Lisowski (1575-1616), commander of Lisowczycy
• Stanisław Żółkiewski (1547-1620), chancellor of Poland, military commander, conqueror of Moscow

Politics and diplomacy

• Zbigniew Brzezinski (1928-), political scientist, advisor of US president Jimmy Carter
• Krzysztof Grzymułtowski (1620-1687), diplomat and voivod of Poznań, author of the Eternal Peace Treaty with Russia
• Wojciech Korfanty (1873-1939), leader Silesians during Third Silesian Uprising
• Aleksander Kwasniewski (1954-), President of Poland
• Tadeusz Mazowiecki (1927-), politician, former polish prime minister
• Jozef Pilsudski (1867-1935), statesman, politician and marshall
• Adam Rapacki | ^ja (1909-1970), politician
• Lech Walesa (born 1943), trade unionist who started dismantling of the Soviet bloc

People who resisted Holocaust

• Mordechaj Anielewicz (1919 - 1943) Military Leader of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
• Henryk Slawik (1894 - 1944) Polish diplomat
• Jan Karski
• Zofia Kossak-Szczucka
• Irena Sendlerowa

Religion

• John Paul II (1920-2005), the Pope
• Jacob Frank, (1726-1791)
• Maksymilian Maria Kolbe, (1894-1941)
• Faustyna Kowalska, (1905-1938)
• Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, (1901-1981)

Others

• Benedict the Pole (Benedictus Polonus, Benedykt Polak), (1200-1280), explorer
• Florian Ceynowa
• Max Factor (1877-1938), producer of cosmetics
• Ryszard Kuklinski (1930-2004), CIA masterspy during the Cold War
• Marek Kaminski (1964-), adventure traveller
• Miguel Najdorf (1910-1997), chess player
• Krystyna Skarbek (1915-1952), SOE heroine of WW II
• Janusz Zurakowski, WW II fighter pilot and Avro Arrow test pilot
• Paul Austin (born 1967), TPF specialist and poet

Controversial persons

• Feliks Dzierzynski (1877-1926), Cheka founder
• Ignacy Hryniewiecki (1855-1881), murderer of Tsar Alexander II of Russia

Legendary persons

• John of Kolno (Jan z Kolna, Johannes Scolnus or Scolvus), (semi?)legendary explorer and discoverer of America before Columbus (1476)

See also

• Polish literature
• List of Polish composers
• List of Polish painters
• List of Polish language poets
• Polish theater
• Cinema of Poland
• Music in Poland
• List of Silesians
• List of Polish Americans
• List of Polish Jews
• List of Slavs
• List of people by nationality
• List of people by EU state