Popular Meme Templates: The Ultimate Guide (2025 Edition)

Meta Description: Discover the most popular meme templates in 2025, from trending social media hits to timeless classics. Learn origins, usage ideas, and how to create your own viral memes.

Alternative SEO Titles:

Top Meme Templates of 2025: Trending & Evergreen Classics Explained
Popular Meme Templates You Should Know in 2025 (With Examples)
Viral Meme Templates 2025: A Complete Guide to Trends & Classics

Introduction

In 2025, meme templates are the building blocks of online humor, cultural commentary, and viral content. Whether you’re a creator, marketer, or casual scroller, knowing the latest and most popular templates gives you the power to join conversations in real-time—and make your posts resonate.

This guide covers the top 20 trending meme templates of August 2025 alongside evergreen classics that never go out of style. We’ll break down their origins, why they work, how to use them effectively, and where to find them.

If you want to explore more meme-making strategies, check out our in-depth guide on creating viral memes from scratch (link to your pillar page on meme creation).

What Are Meme Templates?
Why Meme Templates Matter in 2025
Top 20 Trending Meme Templates (August 2025)
- Monkey Puppet (Awkward Side-Eye)
- Disaster Girl – Calm in Chaos
- Chill Guy
- Define Aura
- Drawn On Eyebrow
- Delulu Memes
- Hand-shake Meme
- Sleeping to Save Money
- This Sleeping Cat
- Anti-Social Girl
- Player 001 Meme
- Hard to Swallow Pills
- Get Ready With Me (GRWM)
- I Am the Manager/Karen
- Burning House Meme
- How It Started vs. How It’s Going
- Truth Hurts
- That’s Awesome, Congratulations
- Polarizing Hook
- Win Moment / POV “You Found It”
Evergreen Meme Templates Everyone Should Know
How to Use Meme Templates Effectively
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Best Tools & Resources for Meme Templates
FAQs About Meme Templates
Conclusion & Next Steps

1. Monkey Puppet (Awkward Side-Eye)

Origin: Stills from the Japanese children’s show Okaasan to Issho, featuring the puppet “Kobuta.”
Why It’s Popular: Universally relatable for awkward, “caught-in-the-act” moments.
How to Use: Ideal for highlighting guilty behavior, unexpected confrontations, or passive-aggressive interactions.
Example Caption: “When you remember you left the oven on halfway to work.”
Pro Tip: Pair with short captions to maximize comedic timing.

2. Disaster Girl – Calm in Chaos

Origin: 2005 image of Zoë Roth smiling in front of a burning house during a fire department drill.
Why It’s Popular: Perfect blend of chaos and calm—works for ironic, sarcastic humor.
How to Use: Replace background or context to exaggerate situations where you’re “fine” amidst disaster.
Example Caption: “Me watching my bank account after online shopping.”

3. Chill Guy

Origin: Still frame from a 2014 YouTube vlog turned meme for care-free reactions.
Why It’s Popular: Fits into humor about indifference or breaking social norms.
Example Caption: “Me arriving 30 minutes late with Starbucks.”

4. Define Aura

Origin: TikTok and Instagram “vibe check” trend showcasing personality or style energy.
Why It’s Popular: Allows people to express aesthetic identity through images.
Example Caption: “Walking into Monday meetings in my Sunday mood.”

5. Drawn On Eyebrow

Origin: Viral photos of exaggerated eyebrow makeup.
Why It’s Popular: Plays on over-dramatic reactions or disbelief.
Example Caption: “When someone says they’ve never seen Shrek.”

6. Delulu Memes

Origin: Slang “delulu” (delusional) from K-pop fandom culture.
Why It’s Popular: Self-aware, humorous overconfidence.
Example Caption: “Manifesting that I’m rich and famous by December.”

7. Hand-shake Meme

Origin: Clip art style drawing of two hands shaking.
Why It’s Popular: Great for comparing unlikely alliances.
Example Caption: “Night owls & early birds – loving breakfast food.”

8. Sleeping to Save Money

Origin: Still from a stock photo shoot.
Why It’s Popular: Relatable financial humor.
Example Caption: “My weekend plans: free, indoors, unconscious.”

9. This Sleeping Cat

Origin: Twitter image of a curled-up cat.
Why It’s Popular: Pairs laziness with relatable moments.
Example Caption: “Me ignoring my alarm for the 5th time.”

Origin: Viral video of someone bailing on social plans.
Why It’s Popular: Fits into introvert humor.
Example Caption: “Me one hour before dinner plans: ‘Actually…’”

11. Player 001 Meme

Origin: Netflix’s Squid Game character Oh Il-nam.
Why It’s Popular: Contrasts enthusiasm vs. dread.
Example Caption: “Friday me vs. Monday me.”

12. Hard to Swallow Pills

Origin: Stock photo of a pill bottle with editable label.
Why It’s Popular: Communicating harsh truths humorously.
Example Caption: “Hard to swallow pill: Nobody cares about your KD ratio.”

13. Get Ready With Me (GRWM)

Origin: TikTok influencer content trend.
Why It’s Popular: Adaptable for both genuine and satirical prep videos.
Example Caption: “GRWM for a trip to the fridge.”

14. I Am the Manager/Karen

Origin: Stereotype of entitled customer demanding authority.
Why It’s Popular: Used for retail humor or social commentary.
Example Caption: “The Wi-Fi is slow. I’d like to speak to the manager.”

15. Burning House Meme

Origin: Often overlaps with Disaster Girl but uses general burning-building imagery.
Why It’s Popular: Symbolizes calm acceptance in chaos.
Example Caption: “I’ll fix it later.”

16. How It Started vs. How It’s Going

Origin: Twitter split-image trend.
Why It’s Popular: Side-by-side comparisons exaggerate transformation.
Example Caption: “How it started: salad diet. How it’s going: cake for breakfast.”

17. Truth Hurts

Origin: Meme format for blunt revelations.
Why It’s Popular: Quick setup for relatable pain points.
Example Caption: “Truth hurts: Your dog doesn’t know it’s his birthday.”

18. That’s Awesome, Congratulations

Origin: TikTok reaction trend.
Why It’s Popular: Comedic understatement.
Example Caption: “Me hearing you won the lottery: That’s awesome. Me hearing you got fries: OMG.”

19. Polarizing Hook

Origin: Social media clickbait trend.
Why It’s Popular: Sparks engagement through overreaction.
Example Caption: “When they had the audacity to eat my chips.”

20. Win Moment / POV ‘You Found It’

Origin: “POV” trend on TikTok & Instagram.
Why It’s Popular: Captures thrill of discovery.
Example Caption: “POV: You found \$20 in your old coat.”

Evergreen Meme Templates Everyone Should Know

While trending memes change every few months, certain classic meme templates remain relevant because they’re endlessly adaptable. Knowing these ensures you can always join in online conversations, even outside trend cycles.

1. Distracted Boyfriend

Origin: 2015 stock photo by Antonio Guillem.
Why It’s Evergreen: The visual metaphor of temptation and shifting attention works across humor, relationships, work, and pop culture.
Usage Tip: Replace the “boyfriend,” “girlfriend,” and “other woman” labels with concepts relevant to your niche.

2. Drake Hotline Bling

Origin: Stills from Drake’s Hotline Bling music video (2015).
Why It’s Evergreen: Simple yes/no contrast makes it perfect for preference-based jokes.
Usage Tip: Works for product comparisons, lifestyle choices, or cultural trends.

3. Expanding Brain

Origin: 2017 image series showing brains lighting up progressively.
Why It’s Evergreen: Humorous exaggeration of “higher thinking” or absurd logic.
Usage Tip: Build a 4-frame progression from obvious to ridiculous.

4. Change My Mind

Origin: Steven Crowder sitting at a table with a sign reading “Change My Mind.”
Why It’s Evergreen: Invites opinion-based humor or sarcastic debates.
Usage Tip: Use for polarizing statements, relatable truths, or mock-hill-to-die-on opinions.

5. Two Buttons

Origin: Cartoon of a man sweating while deciding between two buttons.
Why It’s Evergreen: Represents decision-making struggles.
Usage Tip: Works well for procrastination humor or ironic “both are bad” choices.

6. Surprised Pikachu

Origin: Screenshot from Pokémon anime episode 10 (1997).
Why It’s Evergreen: Captures shock or mock surprise in any scenario.
Usage Tip: Pair with a predictable cause-and-effect statement.

7. Success Kid

Origin: 2007 photo of toddler clenching fist in determination.
Why It’s Evergreen: Symbolizes victory, achievement, or overcoming odds.
Usage Tip: Works great for positive and uplifting humor.

8. Is This a Pigeon?

Origin: Scene from the anime The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird (1991).
Why It’s Evergreen: Misidentification humor in a single image.
Usage Tip: Use when someone completely misunderstands a concept.

9. The Scroll of Truth

Origin: Comic strip by artist Tate Parker.
Why It’s Evergreen: Great for delivering harsh truths or unpopular opinions.
Usage Tip: Make the reveal panel your punchline.

10. Roll Safe

Origin: Screenshot of actor Kayode Ewumi pointing to his temple.
Why It’s Evergreen: “Smart” yet flawed logic.
Usage Tip: Caption with questionable but technically correct reasoning.

💡 Pro Tip for Evergreen Templates: If you want your memes to last longer than current trends, adapt evergreen templates to ongoing topics in pop culture, politics, and internet challenges.

How to Use Meme Templates Effectively

Using meme templates isn’t just about pasting text on an image—it’s about timing, context, and audience engagement.

1. Match the Meme to the Moment

Stay aware of current events, trends, and online conversations.
Example: Use Monkey Puppet during a viral scandal for maximum relatability.

2. Keep Captions Short & Impactful

8–12 words is ideal for most platforms.
Let the image do most of the work.

3. Adapt for Your Niche

Swap default labels for industry-specific ones.
Example: In the Two Buttons meme, replace choices with “Edit product listings” and “Scroll TikTok.”

4. Use Platform-Specific Formats

TikTok/Instagram: Video or animated memes.
Twitter/X: Static image with short, witty caption.
Reddit: Multi-image or long-caption storytelling memes.

5. Maintain Visual Quality

Avoid pixelated or stretched images—use high-res templates from reputable sources.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overusing a Template: If it’s already oversaturated, your post may feel stale.
Using Outdated References: Stay aware of when a meme’s trend cycle ends.
Misreading the Tone: Some templates are for humor, others for sarcasm—don’t mix unintentionally.
Excessive Text: Large paragraphs kill the visual impact.
No Context: Memes without clear punchlines often fall flat.

Best Tools & Resources for Meme Templates

Image Meme Creation Tools

Imgflip Meme Generator – Large library of classic and trending formats.
Kapwing – Easy editing for text, images, and videos.
Canva – Customizable meme templates with branding options.
Createyourmemes – Templates Ready Memes.

Video Meme Creation Tools

CapCut – Ideal for TikTok and Instagram Reels meme edits.
InShot – Mobile-friendly video editing.

Template Sources

Reddit’s r/MemeTemplatesOfficial – Community-sourced templates.
KnowYourMeme.com – Origins and history of memes.
Instagram Meme Template Accounts – Fastest source for fresh trends.

FAQs About Meme Templates

Q1: What is a meme template? A meme template is a pre-existing image, GIF, or video format that creators customize with text to make new jokes or commentary.

Q2: How do I find trending meme templates? Follow meme accounts on Instagram, browse r/MemeTemplatesOfficial, or track hashtags like #memetemplate on TikTok.

Q3: Can I use memes for business marketing? Yes, but adapt them to fit your audience and brand voice—avoid offensive or polarizing content.

Q4: What’s the difference between a trending and evergreen meme? Trending memes are tied to current culture; evergreen memes are timeless and adaptable.

Q5: Are there copyright issues with meme templates? Most memes fall under fair use, but be cautious with images owned by private creators or brands.

Q6: Which meme templates perform best? On average, relatable, self-deprecating, and reaction-based templates get the most engagement.

Q7: How often should I post memes? Consistently—but avoid spamming. A few high-quality posts per week work better than daily filler.

Q8: How can I make my meme go viral? Combine a trending template with a fresh twist and share it in active communities.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Meme templates are the internet’s shorthand for humor, relatability, and cultural commentary. By mastering both trending formats like Delulu and GRWM, and evergreen classics like Distracted Boyfriend and Drake Hotline Bling, you can create content that resonates today and remains relevant tomorrow.

If you want to take your meme skills further, check out: