🦄 Unicorn
The face of a unicorn, a mythical creature in the form of a white horse with a single, long horn on its forehead. Generally depicted as a white horse head facing left with a pink or purple mane and a yellow or rainbow-colored horn.
In addition to the mythical unicorn, may be used to convey whimsy, fantasy, uniqueness, specialness, peace, and love. Often used for various content related to the LGBTQ community, thanks in part to its rainbow colors on many platforms. Also often used in association with “unicorn” startups. Sometimes used as a rainbow or holographic accent color.
Vendors implement the emoji with the same or similar design as 🐴 Horse Face, but with colorful hair and a horn.
Available as an Apple Animoji.
WhatsApp’s unicorn is facing right. Google’s unicorn previously had a brown mane, Samsung’s a pink mane. Twitter’s unicorn was previously purple-colored with a blue mane.
Unicorn was approved as part of Unicode 8.0 in 2015 under the name “Unicorn Face”.
The face of a unicorn, a mythical creature in the form of a white horse with a single, long horn on its forehead. Generally depicted as a white horse head facing left with a pink or purple mane and a yellow or rainbow-colored horn.
In addition to the mythical unicorn, may be used to convey whimsy, fantasy, uniqueness, specialness, peace, and love. Often used for various content related to the LGBTQ community, thanks in part to its rainbow colors on many platforms. Also often used in association with “unicorn” startups. Sometimes used as a rainbow or holographic accent color.
Vendors implement the emoji with the same or similar design as 🐴 Horse Face, but with colorful hair and a horn.
Available as an Apple Animoji.
WhatsApp’s unicorn is facing right. Google’s unicorn previously had a brown mane, Samsung’s a pink mane. Twitter’s unicorn was previously purple-colored with a blue mane.
Unicorn was approved as part of Unicode 8.0 in 2015 under the name “Unicorn Face”.
🍭 Lollipop
A colorful lollipop made of swirled hard candy attached to a stick. Colors vary by platform, though most designs show rainbow colors or pinks and reds.
Samsung, Microsoft, and Facebook all used to have pink and red designs, but have since opted for rainbow colors.
Lollipop was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A colorful lollipop made of swirled hard candy attached to a stick. Colors vary by platform, though most designs show rainbow colors or pinks and reds.
Samsung, Microsoft, and Facebook all used to have pink and red designs, but have since opted for rainbow colors.
Lollipop was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
🎈 Balloon
A balloon on a string, as decorates a birthday party. Generally depicted in red, though WhatsApp’s is pink and Google’s orangish-red.
Commonly used to convey congratulations and celebration, especially when wishing someone a happy birthday.
Microsoft and Samsung's balloons were previously blue; SoftBank's was shown floating in the sky.
Balloon was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A balloon on a string, as decorates a birthday party. Generally depicted in red, though WhatsApp’s is pink and Google’s orangish-red.
Commonly used to convey congratulations and celebration, especially when wishing someone a happy birthday.
Microsoft and Samsung's balloons were previously blue; SoftBank's was shown floating in the sky.
Balloon was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
🧸 Teddy Bear
A classic teddy bear, as snuggled by a child when going to sleep.
Depicted as a brown, stuffed toy bear, shown seated with its arms to the sides, hind paw pads facing forward, and a friendly smile on its face. Google, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook’s designs include a ribbon around the neck.
Commonly used to convey something or someone is cute or cuddly (e.g., teddy bear as a term of endearment) as well as other warm, loving sentiments (e.g., get well soon). May also be used for various content concerning toys and children more generally.
Not to be confused with 🐻 Bear Face, though their applications may overlap.
Teddy Bear was approved as part of Unicode 11.0 in 2018 and added to Emoji 11.0 in 2018.
A classic teddy bear, as snuggled by a child when going to sleep.
Depicted as a brown, stuffed toy bear, shown seated with its arms to the sides, hind paw pads facing forward, and a friendly smile on its face. Google, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook’s designs include a ribbon around the neck.
Commonly used to convey something or someone is cute or cuddly (e.g., teddy bear as a term of endearment) as well as other warm, loving sentiments (e.g., get well soon). May also be used for various content concerning toys and children more generally.
Not to be confused with 🐻 Bear Face, though their applications may overlap.
Teddy Bear was approved as part of Unicode 11.0 in 2018 and added to Emoji 11.0 in 2018.
🔥 Fire
A flame, as produced when something is on fire. Depicted as a red, orange, and yellow flickering flame.
Commonly used for various metaphorical expressions related to fire, including the slang hot (“attractive”) and lit (“excellent”).
Snapchat displays 🔥 Fire next to two users who are on a snapstreak, or have been messaging for more than three consecutive days.
Fire was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A flame, as produced when something is on fire. Depicted as a red, orange, and yellow flickering flame.
Commonly used for various metaphorical expressions related to fire, including the slang hot (“attractive”) and lit (“excellent”).
Snapchat displays 🔥 Fire next to two users who are on a snapstreak, or have been messaging for more than three consecutive days.
Fire was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
✔️ Check Mark
A thick check mark / tick displayed on some platforms in a handwritten style. Generally displayed in black, except on Windows where it is displayed in green. Commonly used in lists to signify completed tasks or verification of a statement of fact.
Previously shown in red on Samsung and green on Google. Note: this emoji is not supported in Twitter names, to minimize confusion with a verified checkmark.
See also: ✅ Check Mark Button, ☑️ Check Box with Check.
Check Mark was approved as part of Unicode 1.1 in 1993 under the name “Heavy Check Mark” and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A thick check mark / tick displayed on some platforms in a handwritten style. Generally displayed in black, except on Windows where it is displayed in green. Commonly used in lists to signify completed tasks or verification of a statement of fact.
Previously shown in red on Samsung and green on Google. Note: this emoji is not supported in Twitter names, to minimize confusion with a verified checkmark.
See also: ✅ Check Mark Button, ☑️ Check Box with Check.
Check Mark was approved as part of Unicode 1.1 in 1993 under the name “Heavy Check Mark” and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
😂 Face with Tears of Joy
A yellow face with a big grin, uplifted eyebrows, and smiling eyes, each shedding a tear from laughing so hard. Widely used to show something is funny or pleasing. Named the Oxford Dictionaries 2015 Word of the Year, and the most used emoji on all platforms from 2011-2021.
See also: 🤣 Rolling on the Floor Laughing which expresses more intense laughter; or cat variant: 😹 Cat Face With Tears of Joy.
Face with Tears of Joy was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A yellow face with a big grin, uplifted eyebrows, and smiling eyes, each shedding a tear from laughing so hard. Widely used to show something is funny or pleasing. Named the Oxford Dictionaries 2015 Word of the Year, and the most used emoji on all platforms from 2011-2021.
See also: 🤣 Rolling on the Floor Laughing which expresses more intense laughter; or cat variant: 😹 Cat Face With Tears of Joy.
Face with Tears of Joy was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
❤️ Red Heart
A classic red love heart emoji, used for expressions of love and romance. This is the most popular heart emoji A similar emoji exists for the heart suit in a deck of playing cards.
On Snapchat, this emoji displays next to a friend when you have been #1 BFs with each other for two consecutive weeks.
Note: the Unicode Character Database (UCD) name “Heavy Black Heart” pre-dates color emoji, when the term referred to a solid, black ❤️ heart character. See the glossary for information on the term black in Unicode character names.
Red Heart was approved as part of Unicode 1.1 in 1993 under the name “Heavy Black Heart” and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A classic red love heart emoji, used for expressions of love and romance. This is the most popular heart emoji A similar emoji exists for the heart suit in a deck of playing cards.
On Snapchat, this emoji displays next to a friend when you have been #1 BFs with each other for two consecutive weeks.
Note: the Unicode Character Database (UCD) name “Heavy Black Heart” pre-dates color emoji, when the term referred to a solid, black ❤️ heart character. See the glossary for information on the term black in Unicode character names.
Red Heart was approved as part of Unicode 1.1 in 1993 under the name “Heavy Black Heart” and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
🎄 Christmas Tree
A classic Christmas tree, an evergreen tree decorated with lights and ornaments to celebrate Christmas. Depicted with round, variously colored ornaments and topped with a yellow star.
Used for various content concerning the Christmas holiday and season as well as for wintertime more generally.
Not to be confused with 🌲 Evergreen Tree, though their applications may overlap.
Google and Samsung's trees were previously adorned with tinsel, Microsoft's previously lacked ornaments.
Christmas Tree was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
A classic Christmas tree, an evergreen tree decorated with lights and ornaments to celebrate Christmas. Depicted with round, variously colored ornaments and topped with a yellow star.
Used for various content concerning the Christmas holiday and season as well as for wintertime more generally.
Not to be confused with 🌲 Evergreen Tree, though their applications may overlap.
Google and Samsung's trees were previously adorned with tinsel, Microsoft's previously lacked ornaments.
Christmas Tree was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
🎅 Santa Claus
Santa Claus, sometimes referred to as Father Christmas, brings joy to children at Christmas time. Displayed with a beard and red festive hat.
The Santa emoji had a frown on Android 4.4, which was resolved in Android 5.0. See also: Christmas emoji list.
Note: Father Christmas has a different origin to Santa Claus but both are represented by this single emoji.
Santa Claus was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 under the name “Father Christmas” and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.
Santa Claus, sometimes referred to as Father Christmas, brings joy to children at Christmas time. Displayed with a beard and red festive hat.
The Santa emoji had a frown on Android 4.4, which was resolved in Android 5.0. See also: Christmas emoji list.
Note: Father Christmas has a different origin to Santa Claus but both are represented by this single emoji.
Santa Claus was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 under the name “Father Christmas” and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.