The cyanine compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (I) below and suitable as an optical recording material used in a recording layer of optical recording media on which recording and play-back are conducted with laser beam. The cyanine compound of the present invention particularly exhibits appropriate thermal decomposition behavior to attain sensitivity compatible with high-speed recording. (In the formula, each of ring A and ring B represents an optionally substituted benzene or naphthalene ring; each of R1 and R2 independently represents a C1-4 alkyl group or an optionally substituted benzyl group; at least one of R1 and R2 is an optionally substituted benzyl group; X represents O, S, or NY; each of Y, Y1, and Y2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-30 organic group; Z represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a cyano group; Anm- represents an m-valent anion; m represents an integer of 1 or 2; and p represents a coefficient to keep an electric charge neutral.)