Ordering sources by "times people have written about them" makes a pretty good allsorts selection of interesting celestial objects. I've excluded background galaxies/quasars from this list to focus on stars or stellar remnants. A few dozen of the brightest stars in Earth's night sky are not represented in Gaia EDR3 data; these, where they appear in the list, have dashes for their Gaia designation.
(Reference counts are SIMBAD's as of January 2022. Gaia designations are from EDR3.)
Gaia designation | Designation | RefCount | Primary Category | Spectral Type --------------------+-----------------------------+----------+------------------------+-------------------------- 3403818172572314624 | Crab Pulsar | 4,993 | Pulsar | 2059383668236814720 | Cygnus X-1 | 4,071 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O9.7Iabpvar ----------------- | Vega | 2,573 | Delta Scuti variable | A0Va 5350358584482202880 | Eta Carinae | 2,308 | Emission-line star | OBepec ----------------- | Arcturus | 2,209 | Red Giant Branch star | K1.5IIIFe-0.5 4293406612283985024 | X Aquilae X-1 | 2,006 | High Mass X-ray Binary | A7Ib: 1338822021487330304 | HZ Herculis | 1,977 | Low Mass X-ray Binary | B3/6ep 5938658156448950528 | V821 Arae | 1,899 | High Mass X-ray Binary | ----------------- | Procyon | 1,806 | Spectroscopic binary | F5IV-V+DQZ 5164707970261890560 | Ran | 1,775 | BY Draconis variable | K2V 4337352305320149760 | Zeta Ophiuchi | 1,764 | Balmer emission star | O9.2IVnn 4792774797545800832 | Beta Pictoris | 1,761 | High proper motion | A6V 5401795662560500352 | TW Hydrae | 1,709 | T Tauri type star | K6Ve 4328198145165324800 | V818 Scorpii | 1,563 | Low Mass X-ray Binary | Oev ----------------- | Betelgeuse | 1,543 | Red supergiant star | M1-M2Ia-Iab 2493390319631956352 | Mira Ceti | 1,477 | Mira Ceti variable | M5-9IIIe+DA ----------------- | Sirius | 1,449 | Spectroscopic binary | A0mA1Va 5620657678322625920 | Vela X-1 | 1,413 | High Mass X-ray Binary | B0.5Ia 48192969034959232 | T Tauri | 1,358 | T Tauri type star | K0IV/Ve 3017364063330718080 | Parenago 1891 | 1,331 | Spectroscopic binary | O7Vp C 3314312226646863488 | HL Tauri | 1,304 | Orion type variable | K5 1972957892448494592 | SS Cygni | 1,246 | Cataclysmic variable | K5V ----------------- | Aldebaran | 1,209 | Long period variable | K5+III ----------------- | Alpha Centauri | 1,193 | Spectroscopic binary | G2V ----------------- | Algol | 1,175 | Eclipsing binary | B8V ----------------- | Fomalhaut | 1,170 | Double/multiple star | A4V 426558460884582016 | Gamma Cassiopeiae | 1,162 | Balmer emission star | B0.5IVpe 2452378776434477184 | Tau Ceti | 1,155 | High proper motion | G8V ----------------- | Capella | 1,152 | Spectroscopic binary | G3III: 2061242908036996352 | P Cygni | 1,148 | Blue supergiant star | B1-2Ia-0ep 3263936692671872384 | V711 Tauri | 1,143 | RS Cvn variable | K2:Vnk 1633325248915154176 | Cat's Eye Nebula | 1,141 | Planetary nebula + WR | [WC] 5534788672055388032 | Naos | 1,122 | BY Draconis variable | O4I(n)fp 2835207319109249920 | Helvetios | 1,106 | High proper motion | G2IV 5853498713190525696 | Proxima Centauri | 1,105 | Eruptive variable | M5.5Ve 1952859683185470208 | V1341 Cygni | 1,101 | Low Mass X-ray Binary | A9III 5884099221246440064 | V381 Normae | 1,085 | High Mass X-ray Binary | K3III ----------------- | Pollux | 1,070 | High proper motion | K0IIIb 674214551557961984 | U Geminorum | 1,069 | Cataclysmic variable | DA 3118721026600835328 | V616 Monocerotis | 1,064 | High Mass X-ray Binary | K3V-K7V 1779546757669063552 | V376 Pegasi | 1,033 | Variable star | F9V 704967037090946688 | Copernicus | 1,031 | High proper motion | K0IV-V 5337498593446516480 | Krzeminski's Star | 1,021 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O9III/Veq 2985789113026163584 | ZZ Leporis | 1,010 | Planetary nebula | O7fp 2832463659640297472 | V342 Pegasi | 1,001 | Ellipsoidal variable | F0+VkA5mA5 6794047652729201024 | AU Microscopii | 982 | Low-mass star | M1VeBa1 156917493449670656 | AB Aurigae | 981 | Herbig Ae/Be star | A0Ve 1872046609345556480 | V1803 Cygni | 981 | BY Draconis variable | K5V 2116226254706461568 | DQ Herculis | 979 | Cataclysmic variable | M3+Ve 6889338034837425920 | HD 200516 | 976 | Planetary nebula | 151262700852297728 | DG Tauri | 975 | Orion type variable | K6Ve 174362585455566464 | V353 Aurigae | 973 | Pre-planetary nebula | C-rich 4660766641264343680 | AB Doradus | 969 | T Tauri type star | K0V 4174878674679897344 | RS Ophiuchi | 963 | Symbiotic star | K5.5/M0IIIe 5877748442128924544 | Toliman | 944 | High proper motion | K1V 168450545792009600 | X Persei | 932 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O9.5III 4070355800839765248 | Ve 1-6 | 931 | Herbig Ae/Be star | A1Vep 2123837555230207744 | AM Herculis | 928 | Cataclysmic variable | M4.5 2032744769234150016 | Campbell's Star | 928 | Planetary nebula + WR | [WC9] 1244571953471006720 | Tau Bootis | 925 | Rotationally variable | F7IV-V 6628874205642084224 | Helical Nebula central star | 918 | Planetary nebula | DAO.5 348020482735930112 | Titawin | 913 | High proper motion | F9V 3441207615229815040 | V725 Tauri | 912 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O9/B0III/Ve 1809844934461976832 | WZ Sagittae | 912 | Cataclysmic variable | DAepv 2090687795056051328 | Sheliak | 904 | Eclipsing binary | B8.5Ib-II 2125982599343482624 | RR Lyrae | 892 | RR Lyrae variable | A8-F7 612958873284344448 | R Leonis | 889 | Mira Ceti variable | M7-9e 6268770373590148224 | HD 140283 | 888 | Peculiar star | F9VkA5mA1 238540495056450048 | GK Persei | 886 | Nova | K1IV 3796442680948579328 | Zavijava | 883 | High proper motion | F9V 6044420729667868928 | Paikauhale | 881 | | B0.2V ----------------- | Alnilam | 874 | Blue supergiant star | B0Ia C 1460229442589223424 | Beta Comae Berenices | 865 | High proper motion | F9.5V ----------------- | Regor | 862 | Wolf-Rayet star | WC8+O7.5III-V C 3269362645115584640 | Kappa1 Ceti | 842 | BY Draconis variable | G5V 6048602103663486592 | Alniyat | 841 | Beta Cephei variable | O9.5(V)+B7(V) ----------------- | Altair | 840 | Delta Scuti variable | A7Vn ----------------- | Spica | 839 | Beta Cephei variable | B1V 1934263333784036736 | EV Lacertae | 839 | Eruptive variable | M4.0V 892348454394856064 | Castor C | 836 | BY Draconis variable | M0.5VeFe-2 168726523212358272 | Zeta Persei | 826 | Variable star | B1Ib ---------------- | Regulus | 824 | High proper motion | B8IVn 2135550755683407232 | 16 Cygni B | 824 | High proper motion | G3V 3399063235755057792 | Chi1 Orionis | 819 | RS CVn variable | G0V 4686397666038575104 | 2dFS 3235 | 817 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O9.7Ia+ 5930753870442684544 | V801 Arae | 817 | Low Mass X-ray Binary | 5140693571158946048 | UV Ceti | 816 | Eruptive variable | M6V ----------------- | Mirfak | 815 | Variable star | F5Ib 4789864076732331648 | PSR J0437-47 | 813 | Pulsar | DC 219375904303684224 | Menkib | 809 | Double/multiple star | O7.5III(n)((f)) 5668874905325843456 | HD 90255 | 808 | Planetary nebula | 2090486618786534784 | HD 175353 | 805 | Planetary nebula | DA(O?) 3723554268436602240 | HD 122563 | 790 | Peculiar star | G8:III:Fe-5 1827242816201846144 | Wolf 864 | 781 | BY Draconis variable | K2V 5976382915813535232 | 4U 1700-37 | 779 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O6Iafcp 3195919528989223040 | 40 Eridani A | 771 | Eruptive variable | K0V 1224565824009709312 | R Coronae Borealis | 768 | R CrB variable | G0Iep 3326740865570982400 | 15 Monocerotis | 768 | Balmer emission star | O7V+B1.5/2V 3216486443742786048 | Sigma Orionis | 766 | Young Stellar Object | O9.5V 4034171629042489088 | CF Ursae Majoris | 765 | High proper motion | K1V_Fe-1.5 2165295912482637312 | V1500 Cygni | 761 | Nova | 1897151272994229120 | NC 55 | 759 | Hot subdwarf | sdO2VIIIHe5 2419576358847950592 | R Aquarii | 756 | Symbiotic star | M6.5-8.5e 3220756843825383936 | Mintaka | 755 | Eclipsing binary | B0III+O9V 789430249033567744 | KV Ursae Majoris | 755 | High Mass X-ray Binary | K5V-M1V 2922367976673391232 | WR 6 | 753 | Wolf-Rayet star | WN4b 112440873718983680 | CEL 302 | 752 | High proper motion | G2VFe-3 2130088038314195200 | CH Cygni | 750 | Symbiotic star | M7IIIab+Be 615943806835727872 | HD 84937 | 747 | High proper motion | F8Vm-5 3017190546641718144 | Hatysa | 745 | Spectroscopic binary | O9IIIvar 156430817820015232 | RW Aurigae | 745 | T Tauri type star | K1/5e+K5e 4472051344537031808 | HD 166802 | 743 | Planetary nebula + WR | [WC] 777254360337133312 | Chalawan | 742 | High proper motion | G1-VFe-0.5 ----------------- | Rigel | 741 | Blue supergiant star | B8Iae 3001477146793228288 | Red Rectangle | 731 | Proto-planetary nebula | B9Ib/II 1908095850396090880 | 10 Lacertae | 730 | Double/multiple star | O9V ----------------- | Deneb | 726 | Evolved supergiant | A2Ia 4472832130942575872 | StKM 2-1355 | 724 | BY Draconis variable | M4V ----------------- | Antares | 720 | Red supergiant star | M0.5Iab+B3V: ----------------- | Dschubba | 711 | Spectroscopic binary | B0.3IV 2135352396915239808 | HD 186924 | 709 | Planetary nebula | O6fp 3402918982515591168 | Tianguan | 708 | Balmer emission star | B1IVe_shell 865037169677723904 | Caldwell 39 | 706 | Planetary nebula | O6f 5233604915060520576 | KR Muscae | 705 | Balmer emission star | A0VaekB8_lB 2135550755683405952 | 16 Cygni A | 705 | Double/multiple star | G1.5Vb 1962909425622345728 | AR Lacertae | 703 | RS CVn variable | K0IVe+G5IV 2200153454733285248 | Delta Cephei | 701 | Classical Cepheid | F5Iab:+B7-8 2855095251072482432 | II Pegasi | 698 | RS CVn variable | K2+IVeFe-1 2272185759996420992 | Alfirk | 696 | Beta Cephei variable | B0.5IIIs ----------------- | Mirzam | 696 | Beta Cephei variable | B1II-III 1474194339773131648 | RS Canum Venaticorum | 695 | RS CVn variable | F6IV+G8IV 3740176925743994752 | 70 Virginis | 692 | High proper motion | G4Va 2061291595788070656 | V444 Cygni | 690 | Wolf-Rayet star | WN5+O6II-V 1944073004732961152 | R Cassiopeiae | 689 | Mira Ceti variable | M6.5-9e 1872046574983497216 | 61 Cygni B | 687 | Eruptive variable | K7V 5234956524083372544 | GU Muscae | 684 | High Mass X-ray Binary | K3V-K7V 524677469790488960 | Cassiopeia Gamma-1 | 683 | High Mass X-ray Binary | B0.2Ve 1244946371540479616 | Muphrid | 675 | Spectroscopic binary | G0IV 2635476908753563008 | TRAPPIST-1 | 674 | Low-mass star | M7.5e 118986060277836160 | UX Arietis | 674 | RS CVn variable | K0IV 2034702312280673792 | Chi Cygni | 674 | S star | S6-9/1-2e 147818450613367424 | AA Tauri | 673 | Orion type variable | K5Ve 2081261372633822592 | V1687 Cygni | 673 | Wolf-Rayet star | WC7p+O5 2769202742740232960 | Algenib | 673 | Beta Cephei variable | B2IV 1220110705972528512 | T Coronae Borealis | 673 | Symbiotic star | M3IIIe_sh 164551162164119424 | RY Tauri | 671 | Orion type variable | K1IV/Ve C 1273423791421021568 | Nusakan | 670 | Alpha2 CVn variable | F2VpSrCrEuSi 4594497769766809216 | Mu Herculis A | 669 | Double/multiple star | G5IV 6185040879503491584 | EX Hydrae | 666 | Cataclysmic variable | M5-6V 2199904449710846720 | Lambda Cephei | 664 | Blue supergiant star | O6.5I(n)fp 762815470562110464 | Zkh 149 | 664 | Eruptive variable | M2+V 3864972938605115520 | Wolf 359 | 662 | Eruptive variable | dM6 4110236324513030656 | GF Star | 661 | Symbiotic star | M6IIIe 1517698716348324992 | Cor Caroli | 657 | Alpha2 CVn variable | A0VpSiEu 1939115478598580352 | Lambda Andromedae | 653 | RS CVn variable | G8IVk 4240272953377646592 | Eta Aquilae | 650 | Classical Cepheid | F6Iab+B9.8V 482818271843093376 | Alpha Camelopardis | 646 | Blue supergiant star | O9Ia 1022096392749670016 | W Ursae Majoris | 644 | Eclipsing binary | G2Vn 2202630001603369856 | Erakis | 643 | Red supergiant star | M2-Ia 4757068874690668160 | X LMC X-3 | 643 | High Mass X-ray Binary | B2.5Ve 4226332451596335616 | AE Aquarii | 640 | Cataclysmic variable | K3-5IV/V ----------------- | Polaris | 636 | Classical Cepheid | F8Ib 172650748928103552 | V518 Persei | 634 | High Mass X-ray Binary | M4.5V 781164326766404736 | EGGR 71 | 633 | Hot subdwarf | sdOp 164832740220756608 | BP Tauri | 629 | Orion type variable | K5/7Ve 6050943410590451456 | HD 147933 | 626 | Double/multiple star | B2IV+B2V 3507879565090229888 | 61 Virginis | 624 | High proper motion | G6.5V 4468557611984384512 | 70 Ophiuchi | 623 | Double/multiple star | K0-V 4660300345280168192 | 2E 1368 | 623 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O8III 6177092406867764352 | W Hydrae | 618 | Mira Ceti variable | M7.5-9e ----------------- | Hamal | 614 | High proper motion | K2-IIIbCa-1 425040000962559616 | Achird | 613 | High proper motion | F9V 5338220285385672064 | AG Carinae | 608 | Wolf-Rayet star | WN11h 1323427759184545536 | Rho Coronae Borealis | 605 | High proper motion | G0+VaFe-1 156907907082740480 | GM Aurigae | 603 | Orion type variable | K3Ve 2145277550935525760 | BY Draconis | 601 | BY Draconis variable | K4Ve+K7.5Ve 537481007814722688 | V400 Cephei | 599 | Planetary nebula + WR | [WC8] 2756363608023588864 | Iota Piscium | 598 | High proper motion | F7V 5210507882302442368 | Z Chamaeleontis | 598 | Catclysmic variable | M5.5 2261614264931057664 | Alsafi | 598 | High proper motion | K0V 3303343395568710016 | IK Tauri | 595 | Mira Ceti variable | M7-11 2633603478379307904 | Feige 110 | 592 | Hot subdwarf | sdO8VIIIHe5 4657637156283982336 | 2E 1522 | 590 | High Mass X-ray Binary | O8(f)p 6147117727029871360 | 2E 2788 | 587 | High proper motion | A0V 1510374147844219904 | Alkaid | 586 | High proper motion | B3V 1284257623084916480 | Sigma Bootis | 585 | High proper motion | F4VkF2mF1 4025850731201819392 | 61 Ursae Majoris | 585 | High proper motion | G8V 216718178536050176 | Atik | 584 | Double/multiple star | B1III ----------------- | Scheat | 583 | Long-period variable | M2.5II-III 6322070093095493504 | Wolf 562 | 580 | BY Draconis variable | M3V 1299564195037054592 | NGC 6210 | 579 | Planetary nebula + WR | Of/[WR] 4323764712422936704 | Chi Ophiuchi | 577 | Balmer emission star | B2Vne 1827256624493300096 | 2E 4308 | 574 | Planetary nebula | DAO.6 3314282402395528192 | DM Tauri | 571 | Orion type variable | M2Ve 4683897617110115200 | Beta Hydri | 571 | High proper motion | G0V 4069737050648231424 | VX Sagittarii | 570 | Red supergiant star | M8.5Ia 2281778105594488192 | Errai | 567 | Spectroscopic binary | K1III-IVCN1 2067518817314952576 | Sadr | 566 | Variable star | F8Ib 5164120762333028736 | Rana | 566 | | K0+IV 205499655242974464 | Almaaz | 566 | Eclipsing binary | A9Ia 48026706558487040 | Ain | 565 | Double/multiple star | G9.5IIICN0.5 3109444657456300288 | V651 Monocerotis | 561 | Planetary nebula | A5V 1534011998572555776 | Chara | 559 | Double/multiple star | G0V ----------------- | Denebola | 558 | Delta Scuti variable | A3Va 157010573981545344 | SU Aurigae | 558 | Orion type variable | G2IIIne 4017860992519744384 | Zkh 164 | 558 | High proper motion | M3V 5242787486412627072 | OY Carinae | 556 | Cataclysmic variable | 2181756563616247552 | V1974 Cygni | 554 | Nova | 2009481748875806976 | Zkh 348 | 553 | Eruptive variable | K3V 3011968416163350272 | Saiph | 553 | Blue supergiant star | B0.5Ia 5994826707951507200 | HD 142527 | 551 | Herbig Ae/Be star | F6III 4430238051199001216 | Lambda Serpentis | 551 | High proper motion | G0-V 1776289248313154688 | Ross 270 | 550 | Spectroscopic binary | sdF8 3366754155291545344 | Mekbuda | 549 | Classical Cepheid | G1Ib 2802397960855105920 | 54 Piscium | 547 | High proper motion | K0.5V 3046019775884203392 | Z Canis Majoris | 547 | Herbig Ae/Be star | B5/8eq+F5/7 4307450193249412352 | R Aquilae | 546 | OH/IR star | M6.5-9e 405987526029851264 | Phi Persei | 546 | Balmer emission star | B1.5V:e-shell