The character now widely known as Wojak actually began online life under the name Feels Guy. Early imageboard users called him that because his blank, melancholic face perfectly captured the expression behind common phrases like “that feel when…” or “tfw no gf”. Before the meme expanded into countless variants, he was simply the figure representing raw, honest emotion.

Over time, the community started referring to him as Wojak, a username taken from the original Polish poster who popularized the image. But even as the name Wojak took over, his identity as the Feels Guy stayed central — he remained the universal symbol of sadness, nostalgia, awkwardness, and all the “feels” moments the internet relates to.

TToday, whether you say Wojak or Feels Guy, you’re referring to the same iconic character. But historically, Feels Guy is the first and most accurate name, representing the emotion-driven roots that made the meme explode across forums, crypto communities, and meme culture as a whole.