Boy · #11,037 in 2026

Riken

Riken is a national scientific research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has about 3,000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, including the main site at Wakō, Saitama Prefecture, on the outskirts of Tokyo. Riken is a Designated National Research and Development Institute, and was formerly an Independent Administrative Institution.

Current Rank
#11,037
Peak Rank
#11,037 (2008)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2008
First Year
2008
Last Year
2008
Peak Year
#11037
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Riken

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Riken is a national scientific research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has about 3,000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, including the main site at Wakō, Saitama Prefecture, on the outskirts of Tokyo. Riken is a Designated National Research and Development Institute, and was formerly an Independent Administrative Institution.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Riken in the Taishō period A 1938 ad for Riken Vitamin A .mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border

The Story of Riken

Riken first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2008, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 6 Rikens were born — ranking #11,037 that year. As of 2026, Riken ranks #11,037 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Rikens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
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MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
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NE
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MD
DE
DC
UT
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OK
LA
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Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Riken

Phonetically similar names — useful when Riken is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Erreichen
  • Reichen
  • Reckon
  • Rican
  • Rocken
  • Richen
  • Raken
  • Ricken
  • Wrekin
  • Rauchen
  • Reken
  • Wroken

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Riken

What does the name Riken mean?
Riken is a national scientific research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has about 3,000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, including the main site at Wakō, Saitama Prefecture, on the outskirts of Tokyo. Riken is a Designated National Research and Development Institute, and was formerly an Independent Administrative Institution.
How popular is Riken in 2026?
In 2026, Riken ranks #11,037 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Riken most popular?
Riken reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking #11,037 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Riken a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Riken is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Riken?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Riken include Ensley, Mcrae, Lavont. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Ensley
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Mcrae
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👦
Lavont
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👦
Osbert
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👦
Jaimar
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👦
Jodan
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Davidjr
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About the name Riken

Riken is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2008 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Riken's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #11,037. Use the chart and map above to compare Riken's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.