Fun Facts About the Name Raiden
- More than 13 thousand babies named Raiden: U.S. records list 13,132 babies given the name Raiden from 1880 through 2025. Even 460 girls received the name Raiden - about 1 girl for every 28 boys.
What Does the Name Raiden Mean?
Raiden is a Japanese name meaning "thunder and lightning." It is written with the kanji 雷 (rai), "thunder," and 電 (den), "lightning" or "electricity." Both characters and their readings were borrowed from Chinese, where they are pronounced léi and diàn; in native Japanese vocabulary the same ideas are usually expressed by the words kaminari (thunder) and inazuma (lightning). The compound therefore names the two phenomena together rather than describing a single quality, and by extension it is applied to the storm deity who produces them. The thunder god is also widely called Raijin (雷神, literally "thunder god") or Kaminari-sama, so Raiden functions as a descriptive title for the deity as well as a word for the weather it commands.
Raiden Name History & Origins
As a Japanese word, raiden has long served as a name for thunder and lightning and for the god who controls them. The deity is depicted in Japanese art and folklore as a demon-like figure who beats drums to make thunder, often paired with the wind god Fūjin; the pairing appears in well-known paintings and temple sculpture, including the famous screens and statues associated with the Sanjūsangen-dō temple in Kyoto and the Kennin-ji temple, where the two gods are shown together.
The word also came into use in Japan as a surname and as a personal or professional name. The most famous historical bearer is the sumo wrestler Raiden Tameemon (1767 - 1825), whose ring name Raiden was taken from the thunder god; he is remembered as one of the strongest wrestlers in the sport's history.
In the English-speaking world, Raiden appears mainly as a given name. Modern recognition often comes through Japanese pop culture: the Mortal Kombat video game series has featured a thunder god character named Raiden since 1992, and the Metal Gear series introduced a protagonist called Raiden in 2001. These are notable uses rather than the origin of the name, which existed in Japanese long before.
How Popular is the Name Raiden?
Raiden recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2022. Its best rank was #352 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,498 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2024 | #5,245 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #4,632 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #4,270 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2021 | #5,524 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2020 | #3,893 | 37 | 0.0023% |
| 2019 | #4,322 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2018 | #4,748 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2017 | #5,149 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2016 | #3,694 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2015 | #5,265 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2014 | #6,930 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #6,957 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #6,520 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #8,110 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #10,304 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #8,362 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #12,368 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #13,635 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #10,452 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #18,154 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #13,488 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #432 | 739 | 0.0433% |
| 2024 | #449 | 702 | 0.0409% |
| 2023 | #423 | 750 | 0.0439% |
| 2022 | #352 | 934 | 0.0535% |
| 2021 | #383 | 843 | 0.0482% |
| 2020 | #403 | 745 | 0.0432% |
| 2019 | #381 | 824 | 0.0459% |
| 2018 | #424 | 727 | 0.0400% |
| 2017 | #400 | 800 | 0.0432% |
| 2016 | #424 | 740 | 0.0390% |
| 2015 | #471 | 633 | 0.0330% |
| 2014 | #479 | 594 | 0.0309% |
| 2013 | #527 | 505 | 0.0267% |
| 2012 | #534 | 489 | 0.0258% |
| 2011 | #534 | 477 | 0.0251% |
| 2010 | #639 | 378 | 0.0197% |
| 2009 | #671 | 364 | 0.0184% |
| 2008 | #780 | 285 | 0.0140% |
| 2007 | #944 | 210 | 0.0101% |
| 2006 | #1,023 | 180 | 0.0088% |
| 2005 | #1,126 | 146 | 0.0073% |
| 2004 | #1,089 | 146 | 0.0074% |
| 2003 | #1,146 | 132 | 0.0067% |
| 2002 | #1,419 | 92 | 0.0047% |
| 2001 | #1,739 | 66 | 0.0034% |
| 2000 | #2,566 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1999 | #2,331 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1998 | #2,383 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1997 | #4,013 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #3,372 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #6,838 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #9,904 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #7,423 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Raiden Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Raiden's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Raiden's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.