Raijin
A masculine Japanese name meaning "thunder god" or "god of thunder".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Raijin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Raijin today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Raijin births was 2023 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Raijin. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Raijin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2023
7 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,536
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Raijin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Raijin by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Raijin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Raijin
Raijin is a Japanese name that originates from the Japanese word for the Shinto god of thunder, lightning, and storms. The name is derived from the Japanese words "rai" meaning thunder and "jin" meaning god or deity.
The name Raijin has its roots in ancient Japanese mythology and folklore, where Raijin was revered as a powerful and fearsome deity. He was often depicted as a terrifying figure with a fierce expression, holding a drumstick and a drum representing the sound of thunder.
In Japanese mythology, Raijin was believed to be one of the most important deities, responsible for controlling the weather and bringing rain to the land. His powerful thunderclaps were seen as both a blessing and a warning, and he was often invoked during times of drought or natural disasters.
While the name Raijin is not commonly found in ancient Japanese texts or historical records, it has been used as a name for individuals throughout Japanese history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), when a skilled swordsmith named Raijin was known for crafting exceptional blades.
In the 17th century, a famous Japanese sculptor named Raijin Tannyu (1638-1721) gained recognition for his intricate carvings and wooden sculptures depicting various deities and mythological figures. His works are still celebrated today as masterpieces of Japanese art.
Another notable figure with the name Raijin was a Japanese samurai warrior named Raijin Masao (1756-1834), who served under the Tokugawa shogunate and was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), a Japanese painter named Raijin Hokusai (1760-1849) became famous for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints, which depicted scenes from everyday life and nature. His iconic work, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," is considered a masterpiece of Japanese art and is widely recognized around the world.
In more recent times, a Japanese professional wrestler named Raijin Ichiban (born 1972) gained popularity in the late 20th century for his impressive physique and fearsome persona in the ring, drawing inspiration from the mythological thunder god.
People
Raijin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Raijin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Raijin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Raijin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Raijin going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Raijin a common name?
We classify Raijin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Raijin most popular?
The single biggest year for Raijin was 2023, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Raijin is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Raijin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Raijin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Raijin in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Raijin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Raijin in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Raijin can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Raijin as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Raijin on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.