Unicode: Sex Symbols ♂ ♀ ⚤

Sex Signs

• ♂ male
• ♀ female
• ⚦ ⚨ ⚩ • hermaphrodite / transgender / transexual / intersex • alchemical symbol for iron, • crocus of iron
• ⚲ neuter, eunuch

Sex Relations Signs

• ⚤ heterosexual
• ⚢ lesbian (female homosexuality)
• ⚣ gay (male homosexuality)
• ⚥ bisexual, intercourse.
• ⚧ hermaphrodite / transgender / transexual / intersex, threesome, pansexual.

• 👬 two men holding hands
• 👭 two women holding hands

Marriage Status Signs

• ⚭ MARRIAGE SYMBOL
• ⚮ DIVORCE SYMBOL
• ⚯ UNMARRIED PARTNERSHIP SYMBOL

Note About Sex Symbols and Their Meaning

Unicode assign each character a name. Typically, when a symbol has one universal meaning, Unicode names it by the character's meaning. For example, α is named GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA.

However, there are complications. For example, ⌘ was named COMMAND KEY in Unicode version 1 (released in 1991). But since Unicode version 2 (released in 1996), it's changed to PLACE OF INTEREST SIGN. The original use of this symbol is place of interest on maps in Finland, but not widely known. It is more commonly known today as the symbol of Apple keyboard's command key since 1990s. (Unicode 2 changed many character's names, but from version 2 on forward, names are frozen, because Unicode character names are also used for identifier purpose.) 〔see Unicode: Keyboard Symbols ⌘ ↵ ⌫〕

More examples of Unicode character naming issue:

μ is named GREEK SMALL LETTER MU. But this Greek letter is commonly used to mean “micro” in engineering, and Unicode created another character for micro, this: µ named MICRO SIGN. 〔see Unicode: Greek Alphabet α β γ〕

π is named GREEK SMALL LETTER PI, but is often used as math constant for the ratio of circle's circumference to diameter. As of 2023-02, there is no separate symbol for math pi.

♁ is named EARTH, used in early astronomy. (it should be rendered as up-side-down female sign ♀. Some font may render it as circle with plus inside.)

⊕ was used for Earth in early astronomy, but is named CIRCLED PLUS, since it is used heavily in math. 〔see Unicode: Math Symbols π² ∞ ∫〕

♀ is named FEMALE SIGN, but was used in early astronomy for Venus (and ♂ is Mars. The male and female usage came later). There's no separate character for Venus. 〔see Unicode: Astrology Symbols 🌛〕

When a symbol has multiple uses, and none is outstanding, typically Unicode name the character descriptively, by the shape of the character, or generally without particular meaning.

For example, the name Unicode assigns to the symbol ⚥ is MALE AND FEMALE SIGN (not intercourse, not transgender, not bisexual, not heterosexual), and ⚧ is named MALE WITH STROKE AND MALE AND FEMALE SIGN. Not threesome, not transgender, not pansexual.

Here is more Unicode naming:

• ⚦ is named MALE WITH STROKE SIGN
• ⚨ is named VERTICAL MALE WITH STROKE SIGN
• ⚩ is named HORIZONTAL MALE WITH STROKE SIGN

I'm not sure why there are 3 versions of the same sign that only differ in orientation. Unicode typically don't do that, except for arrows. 〔see Unicode: Arrows → ➵ ➛ ➲ ➤〕

In giving a name to these symbols on this page for purposes of sex and sexual preference and relations, I try to give all possible uses. You can find out the name Unicode assigns to a character by hovering mouse over the character.