List of Latvians

• Rainis (real name: Janis Plieksans, 1865-1929), the most distinguished Latvian writer of all time who is the author of a number of poetry collections. Rainis is also acknowledged as the "Man of the 20th Century of Latvia".
• Peteris Vasks - contemporary composer
• Raimonds Pauls - popular composer, best known in Russia
• Jukums Vacietis - the first commander of Soviet Army
• Mikhail Tal (1936-1992) - the 8th World Chess Champion
• Uljana Semjonova (1952), tallest female basketball player in the Olympic history, 3-time World Champion
• Janis Lusis (1939), the only athlete (javelin) in Latvia to have a complete Olympic medal set (gold, silver, bronze).
• Sandis Ozolinsh - ice hockey player (NHL), defense
• Arturs Irbe - ice hockey player (NHL), goalkeeper
• Arvids Blumentals - the prototype for the Paul Hogan film Crocodile Dundee
• Gunars Birkerts - one of the most famous architects in the World
• Mariss Jansons - conductor
• Baiba Skride - a starlet violinist
• numerous opera soloists, such as Inese Galante (soprano) and Egils Silins (bass)
• Mark Rothko - a famous painter, expressionist