| 100% | NINIAN | 6 | Saint and first known apostle of Scotland who built a stone church at Whithorn |
| 31% | IVANI | 5 | Person who built the first stone Cathedral of the Archangel in Moscow and was also the first person to be buried there |
| 26% | CZECH | 5 | Nationality of a poet and playwright who became the first president of his country |
| 26% | SAENS | 5 | Camille Saint-___ , Parisian composer and musical prodigy who gave his first recital at age ten |
| 25% | ELEANOR | 7 | First name on a headstone at the graveyard of St. Peter's Church that inspired a Beatles song |
| 25% | HUCKLEBERRY | 11 | ___ Finn, a fictional character who first appeared in 51a and is a friend of the protagonist |
| 25% | FLAVIA | 6 | ___ Bujor, "The Prophecy of the Stones" author who published her first book when she was a teen |
| 25% | VVEBDUBOIS | 10 | Historian, essayist and civil rights leader who was the first African American to receive a doctorate at Harvard |
| 25% | OREO | 4 | "Biscuit" first produced in Chelsea, Manhattan in 1912 and sold at the price of 25 cents a pound |
| 25% | WITE | 4 | Saint whose relics were accidentally discovered in 1900 at the Church of the Holy Cross and St. Candida in Dorset, UK |
| 24% | RIHANNA | 7 | Barbadian singer of "Unfaithful" fame who has won multiple Grammy awards and has a statue at Madame Tussauds, London |
| 24% | HOLLANDTAYLOR | 13 | "Two and a Half Men" actress who came out of the closet in 2015 at age 72: 2 wds. |
| 24% | TREAT | 5 | Reward for a pup who obeys the commands at the starts of 17-, 23-, 39-, 47-, and 61-Across |
| 24% | TUAREG | 6 | Muslim who might wander all over North Africa and is member of a group sometimes known as the "Blue People" |
| 24% | DOM | 3 | I may be made of brick, stone, or wood, and usually lack a front door. Who am I in Poland? |
| 24% | SHAKIRA | 7 | Colombian singer of "El Dorado" fame who has won multiple Grammy awards and has a statue at Madame Tussauds, Hollywood |
| 24% | BAIN | 4 | Donald who wrote a 1963 "memoir" seen in the first words of 17-, 30-, 46- and 60-Across |
| 24% | AGATES | 6 | A stage built of stones |
| 24% | MARCOPOLO | 9 | Venetian explorer, who is known to be the first to have detailed accounts of travel to, and about China: 2 wds. |
| 23% | BRUCE | 5 | ___ Smith, defensive end who was selected first overall draft pick by the Bills and is a record holder of 200 career sacks |
| 23% | LOLITA | 6 | About whom Nabokov said "She was like the composition of a beautiful puzzle - its composition and its solution at the same time" |
| 23% | STEPHEN | 7 | First martyr of the Christian Church, Saint __ |
| 23% | OLGA | 4 | First saint of the Russian Orthodox Church |
| 23% | TOMHIDDLESTON | 13 | "Loki" star who was a schoolmate of 15-Across and 32-Across at Eton College: 2 wds. |
| 23% | PIT | 3 | Stone at the center of a fruit |
| 23% | ENGINEER | 8 | A person who designs and builds machines |
| 23% | ALLEN | 5 | Bart ___, member of the Extended DC Universe who is known for his speed and agility and was also a sidekick of the Flash |
| 23% | BEYONCE | 7 | Former member of Destiny's Child who is known for her solo hits like "Irreplaceable" and "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" |
| 23% | MARTHAGRAHAM | 12 | American dancer who was the first dancer to perform at the White House and to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2 wds. |
| 23% | DEB | 3 | Haaland who facilitated the first apology by a U.S. President for forced assimilation of Indigenous children at government boarding schools (October, 2024) |