From groundbreaking leaders to cultural icons, American women have played a powerful role in shaping history. This list honors 100 of the most famous women whose names, achievements, and legacies continue to inspire generations.
The 100 Most Famous American Women of All Time
| No. | Name | Occupation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eleanor Roosevelt | First Lady, Activist | Redefined the role of First Lady; championed human rights |
| 2 | Rosa Parks | Civil Rights Icon | Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and civil rights movement |
| 3 | Oprah Winfrey | Media Mogul | Broke racial and gender barriers in media |
| 4 | Susan B. Anthony | Suffragist | Led the fight for women’s right to vote |
| 5 | Michelle Obama | Former First Lady, Advocate | Role model for women; promoted health and education |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actress, Icon | Symbol of pop culture and beauty in 20th-century America |
| 7 | Hillary Clinton | Secretary of State, Senator | First female presidential nominee of a major party |
| 8 | Harriet Tubman | Abolitionist | Led enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad |
| 9 | Taylor Swift | Singer-Songwriter | Influential pop star with global cultural impact |
| 10 | Beyoncé | Singer, Entertainer | Empowered women and Black culture through music |
| 11 | Maya Angelou | Poet, Memoirist | Gave voice to the Black experience and female empowerment |
| 12 | Amelia Earhart | Aviator | First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic |
| 13 | Kamala Harris | Vice President | First female, Black, and South Asian VP |
| 14 | Serena Williams | Tennis Champion | Revolutionized women’s tennis with power and success |
| 15 | Gloria Steinem | Feminist, Writer | Leader of the 2nd wave of feminism |
| 16 | Aretha Franklin | Singer | Queen of Soul; voice of civil rights |
| 17 | Lucille Ball | Comedian, Actress | Pioneered female roles in comedy and TV production |
| 18 | Dolly Parton | Singer, Philanthropist | Country legend and generous advocate for education |
| 19 | Elizabeth Cady Stanton | Suffragist | Early leader in women’s rights movement |
| 20 | Madonna | Pop Icon | Constantly redefined music and female image in pop |
| 21 | Barbara Walters | Journalist | First woman to anchor evening news in America |
| 22 | Sally Ride | Astronaut | First American woman in space |
| 23 | Sojourner Truth | Abolitionist | Powerful voice for abolition and women’s rights |
| 24 | Barbara Jordan | Congresswoman | First Black Southern woman in Congress; Watergate speaker |
| 25 | Betty White | Actress, Comedian | Beloved TV pioneer with a 70+ year career |
| 26 | Condoleezza Rice | Secretary of State | First Black female Secretary of State |
| 27 | Billie Jean King | Tennis Legend | Fought for gender equality in sports |
| 28 | Katherine Johnson | Mathematician | Key NASA figure in orbital mechanics |
| 29 | Elizabeth Blackwell | Doctor | First woman to receive a U.S. medical degree |
| 30 | Judy Garland | Actress, Singer | Hollywood icon best known for The Wizard of Oz |
| 31 | Nancy Pelosi | Speaker of the House | First female Speaker of the House |
| 32 | Angela Davis | Scholar, Activist | Icon of Black power and prison reform movements |
| 33 | Whitney Houston | Singer, Actress | One of the best-selling and most awarded singers in history |
| 34 | Emily Dickinson | Poet | Influential and original American poet |
| 35 | Maya Lin | Architect | Designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial |
| 36 | Toni Morrison | Novelist | First Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 37 | Louisa May Alcott | Author | Wrote the classic novel Little Women |
| 38 | Rachel Carson | Biologist | Sparked environmental movement with Silent Spring |
| 39 | Jane Addams | Reformer | Founded Hull House; Nobel Peace Prize winner |
| 40 | Simone Biles | Gymnast | Most decorated gymnast in history |
| 41 | Ida B. Wells | Journalist | Early anti-lynching crusader |
| 42 | Betty Friedan | Author | Wrote The Feminine Mystique; launched feminist movement |
| 43 | Laura Bush | First Lady | Advocated for literacy and women’s rights worldwide |
| 44 | Margaret Sanger | Birth Control Advocate | Founded Planned Parenthood |
| 45 | Meghan Markle | Actress, Duchess | Influential modern royal and activist |
| 46 | Sheryl Sandberg | Tech Executive | Wrote Lean In, promoted women in leadership |
| 47 | Barbara Bush | First Lady | Championed literacy; mother of a president |
| 48 | Florence Griffith Joyner | Olympian | Fastest woman in history; Olympic gold medalist |
| 49 | Ella Fitzgerald | Singer | First Lady of Song; jazz legend |
| 50 | Billie Holiday | Singer | Iconic jazz and blues vocalist |
| 51 | Bette Davis | Actress | Known for intense roles and long career |
| 52 | Sylvia Plath | Poet, Novelist | Influential voice in confessional poetry |
| 53 | Zora Neale Hurston | Author, Folklorist | Harlem Renaissance figure; wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God |
| 54 | Meg Whitman | Tech CEO | Led eBay and HP; one of most powerful women in business |
| 55 | Carly Fiorina | Tech CEO, Politician | First woman to lead a Fortune 20 company |
| 56 | Lady Gaga | Singer, Actress | Reinvented pop stardom and promotes mental health |
| 57 | Mia Hamm | Soccer Player | Paved the way for women’s soccer popularity |
| 58 | Anna Wintour | Vogue Editor | Global fashion influencer |
| 59 | Grace Hopper | Computer Scientist | Developed first compiler; led to modern programming |
| 60 | Georgia O’Keeffe | Artist | Mother of American modernism |
| 61 | Abigail Adams | First Lady | Early advocate for women’s rights and education |
| 62 | Shirley Chisholm | Congresswoman | First Black woman to run for President |
| 63 | Mary Lou Retton | Gymnast | First American woman to win all-around gold |
| 64 | Harper Lee | Author | Wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, American classic |
| 65 | Wilma Rudolph | Olympian | Overcame polio to become track legend |
| 66 | Frances Perkins | Labor Secretary | First woman in a U.S. cabinet position |
| 67 | Dorothea Lange | Photographer | Documented Great Depression struggles |
| 68 | Phyllis Schlafly | Conservative Activist | Opposed ERA, shaped conservative feminism |
| 69 | Ariana Grande | Pop Singer | Vocal powerhouse with a large global following |
| 70 | Katie Couric | Journalist | Broke barriers as anchor of CBS Evening News |
| 71 | Diane Sawyer | Journalist | Pioneering woman in broadcast journalism |
| 72 | Rachael Ray | Chef, Host | Popularized quick home cooking |
| 73 | Hedy Lamarr | Inventor, Actress | Co-invented frequency hopping technology |
| 74 | Anna Sui | Fashion Designer | Blended rock and vintage into American fashion |
| 75 | Vera Wang | Designer | Revolutionized bridal fashion |
| 76 | Frances Willard | Reformer | Led the temperance and women’s suffrage movements |
| 77 | Sarah Palin | Governor | First female Republican VP nominee |
| 78 | Jeannette Rankin | Congresswoman | First woman elected to Congress |
| 79 | Madeleine Albright | Secretary of State | First woman in the role; shaped foreign policy |
| 80 | Janet Reno | Attorney General | First female U.S. Attorney General |
| 81 | Lisa Leslie | Basketball Player | Pioneered WNBA; Olympic gold medalist |
| 82 | Christa McAuliffe | Teacher, Astronaut | Died in Challenger disaster; symbol of teacher-heroes |
| 83 | Gwendolyn Brooks | Poet | First Black Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry |
| 84 | Helen Keller | Author, Advocate | Overcame deaf-blindness to become global inspiration |
| 85 | Linda Ronstadt | Singer | Versatile Grammy-winning performer |
| 86 | Elizabeth Warren | Senator | Known for consumer protection advocacy |
| 87 | Amy Coney Barrett | Supreme Court Justice | Youngest woman on U.S. Supreme Court |
| 88 | Frances Cleveland | First Lady | Youngest First Lady in U.S. history |
| 89 | Joan Baez | Singer, Activist | Voice of peace and civil rights |
| 90 | Clara Barton | Nurse, Humanitarian | Founded the American Red Cross |
| 91 | Beverly Cleary | Children’s Author | Created beloved characters like Ramona Quimby |
| 92 | Julia Child | Chef, TV Host | Introduced French cooking to U.S. audience |
| 93 | Mariah Carey | Pop Star | Iconic voice, songwriter with many #1 hits |
| 94 | Anne Bradstreet | Poet | First published American woman poet |
| 95 | Edith Wharton | Author | First woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction |
| 96 | Toni Braxton | Singer | Grammy-winning R&B legend |
| 97 | Coretta Scott King | Civil Rights Activist | Continued MLK’s legacy for peace and equality |
| 98 | Julia Ward Howe | Author, Activist | Wrote Battle Hymn of the Republic; advocate for abolition |
| 99 | Grace Coolidge | First Lady | Advocated for deaf education |
| 100 | Laverne Cox | Actress, Advocate | First openly trans Emmy nominee; trans rights activist |
Read more: The 100 Most Famous American Men of All Time
In conclusion,
These 100 remarkable women have shaped the course of American history through their courage, talent, and influence. Their legacies continue to inspire and empower generations to come.
Hello! I’m Emma Carter, born in 1990, and a passionate child development specialist. Alongside my work, I have a deep love for helping parents discover beautiful and meaningful baby names. I believe a name is more than just a label — it’s the beginning of a child’s story. I draw inspiration from languages, cultures, traditions, and even the hidden meanings behind names to help find the perfect fit for every little one’s bright future.