You’ve probably seen the names “Sharmaine,” “Melanie,” and “Vanessa” suddenly appearing all over your social media feeds—and wondered why everyone is talking about them.

These names didn’t come from real people going viral, but from a comedic TikTok trend that quickly spread online.

The trend began with a humorous skit created by content creator BAET, featuring anthropomorphized fruits and objects expressing frustration over their names.

In the viral video, an orange character questions why it is simply named after its color, suggesting a more human-like name instead.

“Naiinis naman ako… parang hindi naman ako pinag-isipan… ang pangalan mo ay Mango pero dilaw ka naman...Obvious naman sa akin na orange, wala na bang ibang pangalan,“ the orange said in the TikTok skit.

“Ang gusto ko sanang pangalan ay Charmaine,” the orange added.

@eko06004 Gawan yan ng paraan #fyp ♬ original sound - BAET

Another character was introduced as an avocado, which humorously expressed dissatisfaction with its name and suggested being called “Melanie” instead. In the skit, the avocado jokes that its name is often misunderstood or misheard—sometimes even confused with “abogado" (lawyer).

Meanwhile, another character portrayed as a fly rejected its literal name, opting instead for “Vanessa.”

The viral skit has since been adopted by several brands and media pages.

Streaming platform Netflix Philippines participated by reworking popular titles, including a playful reinterpretation of When Life Gives You Tangerines into When Life Gives You Sharmaines.

Dessert brand Avocadoria also engaged with the trend, referencing the avocado character by humorously branding its content around “Melanieria,” a nod to the viral “Melanie” persona.

The trend has also reached public awareness beyond entertainment circles. Senator Risa Hontiveros was introduced to the viral “Sharmaine” by staff.

“Nice meeting you, Sharmaine! 🍊,“ Hontiveros wrote in her Facebook caption.

As the videos went viral, supermarkets began participating in the trend, with some playfully labeling oranges as “Sharmaine.”