- Feb 1 Edward Coke, English Chief Justice and politician (defended common law), born in Mileham, Norfolk, England (d. 1634)
- Feb 8 Agrippa d'Aubigné, French poet and soldier (d. 1630)
- Feb 19 Melchior Klesl, Austrian cardinal and statesman (d. 1630)
- Feb 28 Jost Bürgi [Jobst Bürg], Swiss clockmaker and mathematician, born in Lichtensteig, Switzerland (d. 1632)
- Apr 15 Pietro Cataldi, Italian mathematician, born in Bologna, Italy (d. 1626)
- Jun 18 Gabriello Chiabrera, Italian poet, born in Savona, Italy (d. 1637)
- Jul 18 Rudolf II von Habsburg, Emperor of Germany (1576-1612), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1612)
- Aug 14 Paolo Sarpi, Italian church historian and statesman, born in Venice (d. 1623)
- Aug 24 Lavinia Fontana, Italian painter, born in Bologna, Italy (d. 1614)
- Oct 6 Matteo Ricci, Italian Jesuit missionary (China), born in Macerata, Italy (d. 1610)
- Dec 30 Simon Forman, English occultist and astrologer (d. 1611)