Rising since 1993, #432 for boys today.
Popularity of Raiden since 1993
Babies named Raiden per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 134 |
| 2000s | 1,658 |
| 2010s | 6,168 |
| 2020s | 4,721 |
Meaning & origin
Raiden entered U.S. birth records in 1993 and has since climbed steadily in popularity, reaching a peak rank of 432 in 2025 with 1 in 2,311 boys receiving the name. Its rise has been steep, particularly from the 2010s onward, driven by its association with the thunder god in Japanese mythology and its prominent use in the Mortal Kombat video game series. The name is most popular in Hawaii, Alaska, and West Virginia, reflecting a mix of cultural influences and modern naming trends. Raiden exemplifies how pop culture can propel a mythological name into the mainstream, appealing to parents seeking a strong, distinctive choice.
Raiden is derived from the Japanese kami Raijin, the god of thunder and lightning, combining 'rai' (thunder) and 'den' (lightning). The name has been used in modern contexts, including as a character in the video game series Mortal Kombat (first appearing in 1992). Its adoption as a given name in the United States began in the 1990s, likely influenced by gaming and anime culture.
Where Raiden is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Raiden” around the world
Where Raiden lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
New Zealand
12
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ray, Rai, Denny
Sibling names for Raiden
Names that share Raiden's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Raiden
Names whose popularity has moved with Raiden's over the last 50 years.
