Here is Our List of the Top 50 Most Well-Known Memes and Their Histories
Memes have become a fundamental part of internet culture, reflecting our humor, social commentary, and shared experiences. Here is a list of the top 50 most well-known memes and the history behind each:
- Doge
- A Shiba Inu dog with captions in Comic Sans font expressing internal monologue in broken English. Originated from a 2010 photo and became popular in 2013.
- Distracted Boyfriend
- A stock photo from 2015 showing a man checking out another woman while his girlfriend looks on disapprovingly. It symbolizes distraction and infidelity.
- Success Kid
- A 2007 photo of a baby clenching a fistful of sand with a determined expression. Used to signify triumph and success.
- Grumpy Cat
- A cat named Tardar Sauce with a permanently grumpy expression. Rose to fame in 2012 and became a symbol of displeasure.
- Pepe the Frog
- A cartoon frog from Matt Furie’s comic series “Boy’s Club.” Became an internet meme around 2008 but was later appropriated by various groups.
- Bad Luck Brian
- A yearbook photo of a teenage boy with braces. Used to describe unfortunate or embarrassing situations. Originated in 2012.
- Roll Safe
- A still from the web series “Hood Documentary” showing actor Kayode Ewumi pointing to his temple, symbolizing flawed logic or clever thinking.
- Philosoraptor
- An image of a Velociraptor with thoughtful captions pondering deep, philosophical questions. Emerged around 2008.
- Condescending Wonka
- A still of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka from the 1971 film, used to deliver sarcastic and patronizing commentary.
- Mocking SpongeBob
- A screenshot of SpongeBob SquarePants mocking someone with alternating capitalization to indicate sarcasm. Became popular in 2017.
- Success Kid
- A toddler with a clenched fist and determined expression, symbolizing success or victory. Originated from a 2007 photo.
- Overly Attached Girlfriend
- A screenshot from a YouTube video featuring a girl with wide eyes and a creepy smile, used to depict obsessive behavior. Went viral in 2012.
- Ermahgerd
- A photo of a girl with braces holding Goosebumps books, captioned with “ermahgerd” (oh my God) and other exaggerated speech. Originated in 2012.
- Hide the Pain Harold
- A stock photo of a man with a forced smile and pained expression. Used to depict hidden anguish. Became popular around 2011.
- Arthur’s Fist
- A clenched fist from the children’s TV show “Arthur,” symbolizing frustration or anger. Gained popularity in 2016.
- Woman Yelling at a Cat
- A meme combining a screenshot of a woman from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” yelling and a confused cat at a dinner table. Popular in 2019.
- Is This a Pigeon?
- A screenshot from the anime “The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird,” featuring a character mistaking a butterfly for a pigeon. Used to express confusion or misidentification.
- Expanding Brain
- A series of images showing progressively “enlightened” brain activity, used to illustrate various levels of thought or intelligence.
- Two Buttons
- A comic of a man sweating while trying to choose between two buttons. Represents difficult decisions. Emerged around 2014.
- Drake Hotline Bling
- A still from Drake’s “Hotline Bling” music video, used in a two-panel format to show preference for one thing over another. Became a meme in 2015.
- Change My Mind
- A photo of Steven Crowder sitting at a table with a sign that reads, “Change My Mind.” Used to present controversial opinions. Went viral in 2018.
- Epic Handshake
- A scene from the movie “Predator” showing a muscular handshake. Used to highlight unexpected agreements or alliances.
- Left Exit 12 Off Ramp
- A highway sign meme where the car veers off to the left exit, representing abrupt changes in plans or preferences.
- One Does Not Simply
- A still of Boromir from “The Lord of the Rings” with the caption, “One does not simply walk into Mordor.” Used to emphasize difficulty.
- First World Problems
- Images of people crying with captions about trivial problems experienced in affluent societies. Popularized in 2011.
- Ancient Aliens
- A screenshot of Giorgio Tsoukalos from the TV show “Ancient Aliens,” used to suggest implausible explanations for events.
- Distracted Boyfriend
- A stock photo of a man checking out another woman while his girlfriend looks on disapprovingly. Symbolizes distraction and infidelity.
- Y U NO
- A character with a frustrated expression and the caption “Y U NO” followed by a demand. Originated from an anime series and popularized around 2010.
- Surprised Pikachu
- A still of Pikachu with a shocked expression from the Pokémon anime. Used to mock fake or obvious surprise.
- Keanu Reeves (You’re Breathtaking)
- A moment from E3 2019 where Keanu Reeves responds to a fan by saying, “You’re breathtaking!” Used to express admiration.
- Evil Kermit
- A scene from “The Muppets” with Kermit the Frog talking to his dark-robed doppelganger. Used to depict internal conflict.
- Mocking SpongeBob
- A screenshot of SpongeBob SquarePants mocking someone with alternating capitalization to indicate sarcasm. Became popular in 2017.
- Success Kid
- A toddler with a clenched fist and determined expression, symbolizing success or victory. Originated from a 2007 photo.
- Hide the Pain Harold
- A stock photo of a man with a forced smile and pained expression. Used to depict hidden anguish. Became popular around 2011.
- Ancient Aliens
- A screenshot of Giorgio Tsoukalos from the TV show “Ancient Aliens,” used to suggest implausible explanations for events.
- The Most Interesting Man in the World
- A Dos Equis beer advertisement featuring a distinguished older man with the tagline, “I don’t always [X], but when I do, [Y].”
- Kermit Drinking Tea
- A still of Kermit the Frog sipping tea with the caption “But that’s none of my business,” used to imply hypocrisy or indifference.
- Confused Nick Young
- A screenshot of NBA player Nick Young with question marks around his head, used to express confusion or disbelief.
- Mocking SpongeBob
- A screenshot of SpongeBob SquarePants mocking someone with alternating capitalization to indicate sarcasm. Became popular in 2017.
- Salt Bae
- A video of chef Nusret Gökçe sprinkling salt in a flamboyant manner. Used to signify adding flair to something. Went viral in 2017.
- Hide the Pain Harold
- A stock photo of a man with a forced smile and pained expression. Used to depict hidden anguish. Became popular around 2011.
- Ancient Aliens
- A screenshot of Giorgio Tsoukalos from the TV show “Ancient Aliens,” used to suggest implausible explanations for events.
- Is This a Pigeon?
- A screenshot from the anime “The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird,” featuring a character mistaking a butterfly for a pigeon. Used to express confusion or misidentification.
- Expanding Brain
- A series of images showing progressively “enlightened” brain activity, used to illustrate various levels of thought or intelligence.
- Two Buttons
- A comic of a man sweating while trying to choose between two buttons. Represents difficult decisions. Emerged around 2014.
- First World Problems
- Images of people crying with captions about trivial problems experienced in affluent societies. Popularized in 2011.
- Distracted Boyfriend
- A stock photo of a man checking out another woman while his girlfriend looks on disapprovingly. Symbolizes distraction and infidelity.
- Success Kid
- A toddler with a clenched fist and determined expression, symbolizing success or victory. Originated from a 2007 photo.
- Bad Luck Brian
- A yearbook photo of a teenage boy with braces. Used to describe unfortunate or embarrassing situations. Originated in 2012.
- Pepe the Frog
- A cartoon frog from Matt Furie’s comic series “Boy’s Club.” Became an internet meme around 2008 but was later appropriated by various groups.
The Impact of Memes
Memes have become a cornerstone of digital communication, reflecting the shared humor and cultural nuances of the online community. They provide a way for people to connect, express themselves, and comment on the world around them in a relatable and often humorous manner. The democratization of meme creation has allowed for a wide range of voices and perspectives, contributing to the dynamic and ever-evolving