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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U8JzfGGvqzbMR1bqxywJrorBTLkpCX2xxQq4NMhfYS+jCYBdRKQwrPsJkm/Qd8L2
 9WJ0du6e5dKVXlpet2UAaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-023652.txt : 20041220
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-023652.hdr.sgml : 20041220
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041220154353
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-023652
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041220
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAISSI SOHEIL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184885

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16449
		FILM NUMBER:		041214103

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17500 CARTWRIGHT RD
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAINING DATA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000820738
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				943046892
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17500 CARTWRIGHT ROAD
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6506327100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17500 CARTWRIGHT ROAD RD
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OMNIS TECHNOLOGY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971022

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BLYTH HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820738</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAINING DATA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RDTA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184885</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAISSI SOHEIL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17500 CARTWRIGHT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92614</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Product Development</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1/4 of 70,000 shares is exercisable one year from December 16; 1/48 of 70,000 shares is exercisable each month thereafter (provides for acceleration of vesting if involuntarily terminated within 12 months after a change of control).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Soheil Raissi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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