Raiden

Raiden is the typical English transcription of Raijin, the god of thunder and lightning in Japanese (Shinto) mythology. In Japanese, the name is made up of the characters 雷 and 神 meaning “thunder” and “god, supreme being”. In Western Culture, the god is known as Raiden from “rai” (雷, thunder) + “den” (電, lightning). The god is generally depicted as a demon-like man who beats his drum (thus creating storms and the sound of thunder) or a tall man wearing a large straw hat typically seen in Asian countries (as protection from the rain). In an endearing Japanese tradition, parents tell their children to hide their navels during a thunderstorm because, according to folklore, Raijin (Raiden) will eat them! Perhaps if you sauté it in garlic and toss on a little salt and pepper, a bellybutton doesn’t taste so bad. In terms of a famous Japanese name bearer, Raiden Tameemon (1767-1825) was considered one of the greatest sumo wrestlers of all time. Raiden became more mainstream within American culture after his introduction as a character in the popular video game, Mortal Combat. Today, Raiden is a staple character in video and arcade games across America. As a male given name, Raiden is a 21st century invention and usage is more or less restricted to North America and Australia.