The Most Popular Meme on YouTube, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the meme you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 2, 2024 06:43
When humor and creativity collide on YouTube, memes emerge as the champions of entertainment, often capturing the essence of pop culture moments and societal quirks. These chuckle-inducing concepts spread rapidly, echoing through the corridors of internet interaction. Identifying the most popular meme provides not only a snapshot of contemporary internet culture but also serves as a barometer for what content resonates with the digital populace at any given moment.
By participating in the ranking process, users contribute to a broader understanding of trends and preferences across varying demographics. This dynamic ranking offers insights into what styles of humor and themes are currently prevailing in the digital community. As votes are cast and favorites are chosen, the list remains a constant indicator of the pulse of the online meme culture, reflecting both fleeting interests and lasting impressions.
What Is the Most Popular Meme on YouTube?
-
177votes
Nyan Cat
Chris TorresThis meme features a pixelated cat with a Pop-Tart body flying through space with a rainbow trail. It gained popularity in 2011 and became an internet sensation.Nyan Cat is an internet meme featuring a cartoon cat with a Pop-Tart for a body, flying through space, leaving a rainbow trail behind it. The meme became popular in 2011 and is often associated with catchy music in the background. It gained significant attention due to its quirky and absurd nature.- Year of creation: 2011
- Main medium: Animated GIF
- Popularity peak: 2011-2012
- Music: Composed by Daniwell-P/Momone Momo
- Featured on: YouTube, Reddit, and various internet forums
Nyan Cat in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular meme sound
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular cat meme
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular cat video on YouTube
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular image on the Internet
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular meme of all time
-
232votesThis meme features the Korean pop artist, Psy, performing a catchy dance in his music video. It went viral in 2012 and became the first video on YouTube to reach one billion views.Gangnam Style is a South Korean music video that became a global sensation. It was released in July 2012 and quickly gained popularity for its catchy music and unique dance moves. The video features the artist PSY and is a satirical take on the luxurious lifestyle and culture of the Gangnam District in Seoul.
- Views: Over 3.8 billion views
- Likes: Over 17 million likes
- Dislikes: Over 1.5 million dislikes
- Duration: 4 minutes and 13 seconds
- Release Date: July 15, 2012
Gangnam Style in other rankings- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous song in the world
-
323votes
Christopher Clabaugh · Public domainHarlem Shake
Filthy Frank (George Miller)This meme involves groups of people dancing wildly to the song "Harlem Shake" by Baauer. It gained popularity in 2013 and spawned numerous parody videos.The Harlem Shake is a viral internet meme that became extremely popular in early 2013. It involves a short video where a group of people dance to the song 'Harlem Shake' by Baauer. The video typically starts with one person (often wearing a mask or helmet) dancing alone while others in the background go about their daily activities. Then, when the beat drops, the video cuts to a chaotic scene where everyone starts dancing in silly and exaggerated ways.- Origin: Created by Filthy Frank as part of a comedy skit in 2013
- Song: 'Harlem Shake' by Baauer
- Duration: Typically around 30 seconds
- Format: Short video clip
- Internet Popularity: Went viral in early 2013, with thousands of videos being uploaded
Harlem Shake in other rankings- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular meme of all time
-
417votesThis meme involves tricking people into clicking on a link that leads to the music video for Rick Astley's song "Never Gonna Give You Up." It gained popularity in 2008 and is still used today.Rickrolling is a popular Internet prank that involves tricking someone into clicking a hyperlink that leads them to the music video for the song 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley. This prank gained widespread recognition in the mid-2000s and has since become a meme on the Internet.
- Origin: Started on the imageboard website 4chan in 2007
- Music Video: 'Never Gonna Give You Up' released in 1987
- Viral Status: One of the most successful and well-known Internet memes
- Meme Format: Embedding the video's hyperlink in deceptive or misleading ways
- Prank Variations: Used to misdirect users to the video without their consent
-
510votesThis meme features a Shiba Inu dog with broken English captions in Comic Sans font. It gained popularity in 2013 and has become a staple in internet culture.Doge is a popular character in the game Crossy Road. It is based on the internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog with captions written in broken English. The Doge character in the game is a pixelated version of the meme, with a playful and cute appearance.
- Species: Shiba Inu
- Appearance: Pixelated and cute
- Unlocked: Available from the start or can be unlocked through gameplay
- Movement: Hops and jumps forward
- Special Ability: Leaves a rainbow trail while moving
-
69votesThis meme features the Russian singer Eduard Khil performing a nonsensical song called "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home." It gained popularity in 2010 and has been used in various remixes and parodies.The 'Trololo' is a popular meme on YouTube that features a video of Eduard Khil, a Russian singer, performing a catchy and humorous non-lexical vocable song. The video gained viral popularity due to its unique and humorous nature.
- Video Release Date: 1976
- Viral Surge: Occurred in 2009
- Origin: Russian television show performance
- Lyrics: Non-lexical vocables (nonsensical syllables)
- Lyrics Meaning: The song's lyrics have no specific meaning but convey a cheerful tone.
-
712votes
Chocolate Rain
Tay ZondayThis meme features the singer Tay Zonday performing his song "Chocolate Rain" in a deep voice. It gained popularity in 2007 and has been parodied and remixed numerous times.Chocolate Rain is a viral video that gained immense popularity on YouTube. It features a young man named Tay Zonday singing an original song about racial inequality and social issues, with a deep and unique voice. The video became a sensation due to the catchy and memorable chorus, as well as Zonday's distinct vocal delivery.- Video Length: 4 minutes and 52 seconds
- Upload Date: April 22, 2007
- Total Views (as of July 2021): over 133 million
- Likes: over 771 thousand
- Dislikes: over 29 thousand
-
812votes
Keyboard Cat
Charlie SchmidtThis meme features a video of a cat playing a keyboard while wearing a blue shirt. It gained popularity in 2007 and has been used in various remixes and parodies.Keyboard Cat is a viral internet meme and video that features a cat named Fatso playing an upbeat tune on a keyboard. The video is often paired with humorous captions or used as a reaction image in various contexts.- Video length: 0:56
- Upload date: June 7, 2007
- Total views: over 123 million
- Cat's name: Fatso
- Musical style: upbeat and catchy
Keyboard Cat in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular cat video on YouTube
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular cat meme
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous cat on YouTube
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous cat actor
-
99votes
Numa Numa
Gary BrolsmaThis meme features a video of a man named Gary Brolsma lip-syncing to the song "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone. It gained popularity in 2004 and has been parodied and remixed numerous times.Numa Numa is a viral video meme on YouTube featuring Gary Brolsma enthusiastically lip-syncing and dancing to the song 'Dragostea Din Tei' by the Moldovan pop group O-Zone. The video became immensely popular for its infectious energy and the charismatic performance of Brolsma.- Title: Numa Numa
- Song: Dragostea Din Tei
- Artist: O-Zone
- Year: 2004
- Views (as of November 2021): Over 178 million
Numa Numa in other rankings- Position 6 of 10 in Most random song
-
106votes
Double Rainbow
Paul 'Bear' VasquezThis meme features a video of a man named Paul Vasquez reacting to a double rainbow in the sky. It gained popularity in 2010 and has been parodied and remixed numerous times.The 'Double Rainbow' video is a viral sensation on YouTube that features a man's overwhelming reaction to witnessing a double rainbow in the sky. The video documents his astonishment and awe, as he exclaims his excitement and wonders at the beauty of the natural phenomenon.- Upload Date: January 8, 2010
- Video Length: 3 minutes and 29 seconds
- Views: 48 million+
- Likes: 470,000+
- Dislikes: 5,600+
Missing your favorite meme?
Graphs
Discussion
Ranking factors for popular meme
-
View countThe number of views on the video is a strong indicator of the meme's popularity. More views mean the meme has been shared and seen by more people.
-
Engagement rateThe number of likes, comments, and shares are essential to gauge the engagement of the audience. High engagement suggests that people are enjoying and actively interacting with the meme.
-
ViralityIf a meme has been picked up by multiple channels, influences, or news outlets and generated multiple spin-offs and variations, it shows the meme is trendy and has a widespread impact.
-
Search volumeAnalyze the search trends and volume of the meme on search engines such as Google or YouTube. Higher search interest indicates higher popularity.
-
Time relevanceThe meme's age is essential, as more recent memes will naturally have fewer views, but the growth rate of the views is critical. Newer memes with a high growth rate showcase their current popularity.
-
Social media presenceSee how frequently the meme is shared and mentioned on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, etc. High share and mention rates signal high popularity.
-
Cultural impactA highly popular meme will have a lasting cultural impact, generating discussions, debates, and references in various media outlets, such as TV shows, movies, and articles.
-
ShareabilityMemes that are easily shareable and can be adapted to different contexts and audiences tend to be more popular.
-
User-generated contentMonitor the number of user-generated content and adaptations of the meme. This shows the meme's influence on the audience and how much it resonates with them.
-
Duration of popularityConsider how long the meme has been popular and continuously relevant in the public sphere. Consistent popularity over time indicates a highly successful and influential meme.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular meme on YouTube. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Meme is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2834 views
- 204 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Meme once every 24 hours. The rank of each Meme is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular meme on youtube
Memes have become an integral part of internet culture, and YouTube has played a significant role in popularizing them. From the "Rickroll" phenomenon to the "Harlem Shake" and "Gangnam Style" dance crazes, YouTube has been home to some of the most viral memes of all time. But, which meme takes the crown as the most popular on YouTube? With thousands of polls and rankings on StrawPoll, we can't wait to find out what our users think!
Explore other rankings
Check out some of the other recommended rankings on StrawPoll and make your voice heard.
