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Home » Social Media Tips » Genius! List of Emoji Names, Meanings, and Art

Genius! List of Emoji Names, Meanings, and Art

Updated on: February 20, 2020 by Louise Myers 30 Comments

Genius! List of Emoji Names, Descriptions, and Art

Looking for a list of emoji names?

Or pondering the meaning of a certain emoji? ?

Maybe even hesitating to use it in case it would be misinterpreted? ?

I’ve been there! So I was thrilled to find this genius (literally) list of emoji names on genius.com.

I know this is something I’ll want to refer to often, so I’ve put right here where I can’t misplace it. 😉

You should pin this post if it’s something you’ll refer to, too! ?

Scroll down for the emoji list. It’s almost endless, so it’s near the end of this article.

Each name that appears as a link will pop up with a description and artwork. I ? it!

You’ll also find:

  • Impressive emoji facts.
  • How to learn emoji meanings from Siri.
  • Emoji guide for newbies infographic.

Yeah, this is a long one, so better get started!

This post on emoji names and meanings was originally published June 2015, and last updated February 2020.

What is the definition of emoji?

An emoji is a small digital image or icon used to express an idea or emotion.

According to Wikipedia,

Emoji are ideograms and smileys used in electronic messages and web pages. Emoji exist in various genres, including facial expressions, common objects, places and types of weather, and animals. They are much like emoticons, but emoji are actual pictures instead of typographics.

what is emoji definition
infographic from Sprout Social

Emoji facts to impress your friends

Scroll down if you just want to see the emoji list!

No longer limited to text messages, emojis are everywhere.They’re popping up in movies, marketing campaigns, Halloween costumes, and even as bank passwords.

And why not? They communicate in a flash, and are fun too.

Millennials embrace emojis as a second language – but emojis connect with other adults, too. A recent survey from Emogi discovered 75% of men and 84% of women respondents believe emojis are a better way to express their emotions than words.

92% of the online population uses emojis.

Four in five 18 to 65 year olds report using emojis on a regular basis. And people over 65 are more likely than any other age group to say it’s “always appropriate” to send emojis to a direct manager, peer, or subordinate, according to data from a survey by Adobe.

92% of the online population uses emojis
infographic from Sprout Social

How many emojis are there in total?

There are 3,178 emojis in the Unicode Standard as of Emoji 12.1.

The most recent big emoji releases were:

  • Emoji 13.0 is the new emoji list for 2020, approved on January 29, 2020 with 117 new emojis.
  • Emoji 12.0 was approved on February 5, 2019 with 230 new emojis.
  • Emoji 11.0 added 157 new emojis in June 2018.

Of the 117 new emojis approved for 2020, Pinched Fingers, Transgender Flag, and Smiling Face With Tear were the most popular on social media.

Least popular? Bucket, Placard, and Elevator.

The 2019 emojis included people with disabilities and mixed-race couples.

When was the first emoji ever created?

In 1999 Shigetaka Kurita created the first widely-used set of emoji. He was part of the team working on NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode mobile Internet platform.

In 2016, New York’s Museum of Modern Art added the original 176 emojis created in 1999 to its permanent collection. ?

When is National Emoji Day?

July 17 is World Emoji Day ?

On July 17 2002, Apple unveiled its iCal app at MacWorld 2002. The iOS calendar emoji is a daily flip calendar set to July 17, the app’s “birthday.” ?

What’s the most used emoji in the world?

According to Apple, the Face with Tears of Joy emoji is the most popular. ?

How many people use emojis?

According to a recent study by Privilege Insurance, 80% of people use emoji in communication. ?

Right now, there’s an unprecedented interest in emojis.

There was an entire book about emojis released on August 1, 2017: The Emoji Code.

As well as a movie, creatively named The Emoji Movie. 😉 Have you seen it? I saw it on Netflix 🙂

One of my favorite pastimes is playing Disney Emoji Blitz. This fun app launched on July 14, 2016.

A fast-paced match-3 game, Disney Emoji Blitz lets players match emojis to score points and unlock new Disney and Pixar emojis.

Once an emoji is collected within the game, it is also unlocked in the Disney Emoji Blitz keyboard, which can be used to send Disney and Pixar emojis to friends in messages.

With over 6 billion emojis sent around the world a day, heart-eyed Tinker Bell, unforgettable Dory, singing Ariel and grinning Genie will make conversations with friends and family more magically emotional. source

Learn Emoji Meanings from Siri banner

Learn Emoji Meanings from Siri! #iPhone Hack

Emojis are crazy and amazing all at the same time. They are the global language!

But how many times have you been stuck trying to figure out what some of the emojis actually mean? Too many 🙁

Guess no more! Siri to the rescue. Here’s the hack you can show off to all your iPhone friends.

Here’s How to Set Up Siri to Teach Emoji Language

Go to your iPhone Settings –> General –> Accessibility –> Speech.

Here's how to set up to learn emoji language from Siri!Slide the Speak Selection button to the right so it’s green.

NOTE: This won’t affect anything on your phone until you tell it to – so no worries!

When you want something spoken out loud…

  • Select the emoji you want described.
  • If you don’t see Speak, tap the right arrow in the pop-up menu.
  • Tap Speak in the pop-up.
  • Listen to Siri tell you what the emoji is!

It’s that easy.

Check out the ones that confuse you! I learned that the emoji I thought was a student studying for a test, or a flustered young man, was actually “Person Bowing Deeply.”

Inappropriate emoji use avoided!

By the way, there’s a site that offers free personal usage of emojis: EmojiOne.

List of Emoji Names, Meanings, and Art

Click names that appear as a link for a pop up with a description and artwork. Click elsewhere on the page to close the popup.

Don’t forget, after the list there’s an emoji guide for newbies infographic.

Pin this post so you’ll always have a reference to a list of emoji names and descriptions handy. Enjoy!

Read “List of Emoji Names” by Emoji on Genius

Emoji Guide for Newbies banner

Emoji Guide for Newbies

Emoji means picture character in Japanese, and they’re a quick way to communicate.

As attention spans decrease, the popularity of emojis is on the rise!

This cool infographic is compliments of WhoIsHostingThis.

What do you think – are emojis improving communication, or degrading it?

Share the emoji meaning guide with a friend, and let me know your opinions!

Emoji Guide for Newbies Infographic

emoji names descriptions and art

Filed Under: Social Media Tips Tagged With: emoji meanings, emojis, visual communication

About Louise Myers

Louise Myers is a graphic design expert whose designs have been featured by Disney, Macy's, WalMart and more. Her straightforward writing style empowers small business owners to make their own graphics for social media success!

Comments

  1. Jay says

    September 27, 2022 at 4:29 AM

    What does 💁‍♂️💕💕💕 mean from a girl

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      September 27, 2022 at 10:54 AM

      The actual meaning of the girl emoji is “information desk woman.” So it’s tough to say what the girl meant by this since it’s commonly used to express sassiness or sarcasm. I think you should ask her! Otherwise we don’t know if the hearts mean love or more like apathy 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ducky says

    June 2, 2022 at 6:11 PM

    Just came across an emoji combo somebody was asking about

    spade and anchor

    anyone have any idea? It was seen on twitter.

    Reply
    • Lacemaker427 says

      March 27, 2023 at 5:23 AM

      To me, it appears to be an insult — “dig a hole and stay there!”

      Reply
      • Louise Myers says

        March 27, 2023 at 9:42 AM

        Good insight into the emoji meaning!

        Reply
  3. NOUNW says

    May 29, 2022 at 1:45 PM

    What does 🕶🎶 mean !?!?!?!

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      May 30, 2022 at 9:55 AM

      Maybe cool music? Jazz music?

      Reply
  4. Wendy says

    January 1, 2022 at 1:57 PM

    What is the meaning of putting a ninja and a taco 🥷🌮

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      January 3, 2022 at 8:41 AM

      Is this a common combo? Sometimes people make up their own combos, for example there’s a deviant artist who calls herself taco ninja emotes.

      Ask and let us know! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Nitin says

    May 10, 2021 at 12:33 AM

    🎬📸+⭐🌟

    Reply
  6. Darren says

    August 22, 2020 at 11:59 AM

    ?‍♀️???What does this mean please

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      August 23, 2020 at 2:56 PM

      ?
      ??‍♀️

      Reply
    • W says

      October 26, 2020 at 5:41 PM

      Hi five bottle of wine ?

      Reply
    • Lacemaker427 says

      March 27, 2023 at 5:21 AM

      The movie is finally finished, and we are beyond “to-the moon” happy about it?

      Reply
  7. Marjorie says

    July 25, 2020 at 3:29 AM

    In the mockingjay emoji what is the meaning of I GOT THIS?

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      July 26, 2020 at 9:29 AM

      Sorry, this article is about iOS and Android emojis. Don’t know anything about Hunger Games emojis.

      Reply
  8. Ags says

    May 15, 2020 at 9:51 AM

    What does ?? means?

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      May 18, 2020 at 10:42 AM

      Haven’t seen that one

      Reply
  9. carol says

    January 20, 2020 at 8:22 PM

    what is meaning of the business fish “yeah’” emoji
    i found it as a comment of an obituary

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      January 21, 2020 at 8:12 AM

      Business Fish Facebook sticker: “A White Collar man with a fishy head who always find a way to skip work. But he’s also a nice-guy who used his super-power to help people in need.”

      TBH its use there may not have meant much, if anything.

      Reply
  10. Hanna Counts says

    January 10, 2020 at 5:57 AM

    What does the white book with the red symbol mean ?

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      January 10, 2020 at 10:42 AM

      I don’t have any emoji like that on iOS. No white book, envelopes though.

      Reply
  11. John says

    December 17, 2019 at 2:23 PM

    Hi can you tell me the meaning of a tulip a musical note and another tulip sent in a text

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      December 19, 2019 at 8:52 AM

      Sorry, I don’t know that one, but “tulips” are sometimes used to mean “two lips”… if that helps.

      Reply
  12. Morshed says

    December 3, 2019 at 12:11 AM

    ??
    Would you please tell me the meaning of this emoji

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      December 4, 2019 at 7:55 AM

      Unfortunately I can’t see the emoji.

      Reply
  13. Donna Nefsey says

    July 14, 2019 at 3:56 PM

    What is the meaning of a box with a x in the middle

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      July 14, 2019 at 8:26 PM

      I don’t know of an emoji like that.

      Reply
  14. Grace Martin says

    May 8, 2019 at 12:19 AM

    I have looked through several lists and can not find an emoji that captures a “Guardian angel.” I have looked for “women angel” and “women with wings” and there seems to be nothing related except the “baby angel.” I feel this would be a very symbolic emoji that I personally would use very often.

    Reply
    • Louise Myers says

      May 8, 2019 at 11:22 AM

      It’s a good idea but I’m not sure they would add one as it might not look different enough from the baby angel.

      Reply

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