- Jan 1 Caspar Cruciger, German church reformer
- Jan 17 Pius V [Antonio Ghislieri], Italian Pope (1566-72) who excommunicated Elizabeth I of England and arranged the formation of the Holy League (Battle of Lepanto), born in Bosco, Duchy of Milan (d. 1572)
- Mar 31 Guru Angad Dev, second Sikh guru (d. 1552)
- Jun 2 George/Joris van Egmont, bishop of Utrecht
- Jul 18 Heinrich Bullinger, Swiss religious reformer, born in Bremgarten, Switzerland (d. 1575)
- Aug 6 Matthew "Nosey" Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, born in Norwich, England (d. 1575)
- Nov 13 Philip I (the Generous), Landgrave of Hesse and important early protestant ruler, born in Marburg, Landgraviate of Hesse, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1567)