| 100% | ADOLPHE | 7 | Luxembourg grand duke in whose name an annual art prize is awarded |
| 36% | TRACKANDFIELD | 13 | Sport that gives out an annual award named for Jesse Owens, whose 100th birthday will be celebrated on September 12: 3 wds. |
| 34% | NOMINEE | 7 | One whose name is on an award shortlist |
| 34% | OSCAR | 5 | Uncle for whom an annual award is supposedly named |
| 32% | MIMI | 4 | Opera character whose name might be heard in an opera singer's warm-up |
| 32% | HARPO | 5 | "The Color Purple" character whose name spelled backward is an actress in the same movie |
| 31% | LANDONDONOVAN | 13 | US soccer great whose name was added to the MLS MVP Award in 2015: 2 wds. |
| 31% | ASICS | 5 | Shoe company whose name is an acronym for a Latin expression about health in mind and body |
| 30% | BILLRUSSELL | 11 | Hall-of-Fame Celtics center whose name was added to the NBA Finals MVP Award in 2009: 2 wds. |
| 29% | RUBEGO/IDLDBERG | 15 | Only person whose first and last name together is listed as an adjective in Merriam-Webster |
| 29% | MERIT | 5 | Pulitzer Prize is awarded for this in literature |
| 29% | TEDWILLIAMS | 11 | Hall-of-Fame Red Sox left fielder whose name was added to the MLB All-Star MVP Award in 2002: 2 wds. |
| 29% | HENRI | 5 | Grand duke of Luxembourg beginning in 2000 |
| 29% | ITO | 3 | Judge whose last name, with an added space, can also fill in the blank in "Who am ___ judge?" |
| 29% | MATTHEWQUIRK | 12 | 30-Across novelist whose first novel, "The 500," was nominated for an Edgar Award in 2012 (2 wds.) |
| 28% | EDASNER | 7 | Much-awarded actor whose name is an anagram of ENDEARS |
| 28% | ABBA | 4 | Band whose name is an acronym |
| 28% | SAAB | 4 | Car whose name is an acronym |
| 28% | IKEA | 4 | Store whose name is an acronym |
| 28% | STAR | 4 | One whose name is in lights |
| 28% | NOBELPRIZE | 10 | Annual award given to outstanding achievers, which was presented to Obama, whose birthday it is today, in the Peace category: 2 wds. |
| 28% | IKEA | 4 | International retailer whose name is an acronym |
| 28% | OHHENRY | 7 | Candy bar whose name is an exclamation |
| 28% | AHA | 3 | Pop group whose name is an exclamation |
| 28% | FOX | 3 | TV channel whose name is an animal |
| 28% | SWEETARTS | 9 | Candy whose name is an oxymoronic portmanteau |
| 28% | OSU | 3 | Rhythm game whose name is an exclamation |
| 28% | IKEA | 4 | Furniture giant whose name is an acronym |
| 28% | AFLAC | 5 | Insurance company whose name is an acronym |
| 28% | JOE | 3 | Jonas Brother whose name is an alliteration |