We almost have the same.

1.)Scorpion
2.)Sub-Zero
3.)Liu Kang
4.)Raiden
5.)Kitana

If we are just going by iconic in pop culture over the years these 5 should be recognizable by all Shao Kahn is to but I picture people knowing these 5 before him first.

1) Scorpion
2) Sub-Zero
3) Liu Kang
4) Raiden
5) Johnny Cage

This topic is more predictable than Titanic.

Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Liu Kang, and Goro or Shao Kahn.

1. Scorpion
2. Sub-Zero
3. Liu Kang
4. Raiden
5. Shao Kahn

I don't know why everyone thus far has put Scorpion at number one...? Excluding UMK3, MKT and MKA as it should be, Subby was in one more game than Scorpy.

1) Sub-Zero
2) Scorpion
3) Shan Tsung
4) Raiden
5) Liu Kang

Scorpion
Sub-Zero
Liu kang
Raiden
Mileena

@Tazer_Gunshot:

Even though Subby was in one more game, I still don't think he's more popular than Scorpion. Scorpion has always been the unofficial mascot for the MK series, but now he's the actual mascot for NetherRealm studios. "GET OVER HERE!!" is a famous line that even people who don't play video games know.

This list is all subjective, but I think Scorpion is without a doubt the most popular character in the series by far and I think most people would agree.

1. Scorpion
2. Sub-Zero
3. Raiden
4. Kitana
5. Liu Kang/Reptile?

Actually, he hasn't, Sub-Zero wasn't in Mortal Kombat 1, that was Noob Saibot, Noob Saibot also hasn't appeared in Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance, making Sub-Zero not in every game.

- Sub Zero
- Scorpion
- Kitana
- Mileena
- Raiden

IMO Scorpion and Subby are equally famous.
Because even if you're not a gamer (let alone an MK fan) and you come across Scorpion, you'd still manage to know there's an "Ice ninja dude counterpart" in the same game.
You either know both or neither (It's like Ryu and Ken). The only difference between the two is that Ed Boon likes Scorpion more.