The "Not What I'm Called" meme was created by Tumblr user possessable back on June 7th, 2024. The original version of the meme shows two characters staring down the cyclops Polyphemus from Homer's ...

The meme gained traction in late March 2025. One of the first popular videos was created by user @ez33ra on March 22, 2025, and garnered 1.9 million views, over 225,000 likes, and over 800 comments.