Card Symbol Names

Playing cards are a ubiquitous part of culture, used in casual games and professional tournaments, but the symbols of playing cards have extended far beyond that. The symbols on these cards, known as ‘suits,’ have a rich history and varied meanings. These symbols' names are ‘Spades’, ‘Clubs,’ ‘Hearts,’ and ‘Diamonds.’

Understanding these symbols can give us a deeper appreciation of their cultural significance as well as our favorite games. Whether your favorite card game to play is Hearts or Go Fish, knowing the background of card symbol names can make the game richer.

The History of Card Symbols

The origins of playing cards can be traced back to the 9th century. These early cards did not use the symbols we are familiar with today, but even then, cards had suits and ranks. Even then, playing cards were often divided into four suits.

One of the oldest and nearly complete deck of playing cards, dating to the 15th century, contained fifty-two cards of four suits: polo sticks, coins, swords, and cups.

Playing cards then traveled from Egypt into Europe, where their design shifted further. Polo sticks were changed to batons or cudgels, and the Latin suits were developed: coins, clubs, cups, and swords.

In the 1400s, printed decks began to appear, and it wasn’t long after this that the symbols modern players recognize were established. Germanic countries adapted the suits to leaves, hearts, bells, and acorns, and around 1480, French decks settled on the symbols most players know today: pikes (or Spades), clovers (or Clubs), tiles (or Diamonds), and Hearts.

These suits were adopted in England, securing their dominance among playing cards in the western hemisphere. Each of these suits developed their own meaning over time. Even jokers had symbolism.

The Modern Suits and Their Meanings

Hearts

Some historians believe that the four suits represent the four classes of medieval society. Under this belief, Hearts represented the clergy.

The heart is often associated with love, emotion, and the human soul. Typically depicted as a red heart shape, the Heart suit is one of the most easily recognizable card symbols.

Diamonds

Diamonds represent wealth, material goods, and prosperity. Under the belief that the four suits represent the four classes of medieval society, Diamonds represented the merchant class. In old German games, this suit was called ‘cornerstone,’ and even in modern Swiss decks, Diamonds are referred to as ‘corners.’

Clubs

Clubs symbolize growth. Given their depiction as a growing plant, clubs may have represented peasants. The original French name for this suit is the word for ‘clover.’

This is, of course, the inspiration for the design. The English name of ‘club’ is carried over from the baton or club that was used in Spanish cards before it was replaced with the French suit.

Spades

Spades represent wisdom, power, and the military. A suit frequently treated as the most powerful in games, Spades may have represented the nobility.

The name ‘Spade’ is believed to be derived from an old Spanish word for ‘sword,’ suggesting that the modern name was, similar to Clubs, carried over from Spanish suits. The French name for the suit is ‘pike’–the name for a weapon with an iron spike at the end–which is aligned with the design players recognize today.

In Summary

The symbols we see in a deck of playing cards are more than just shapes and colors. They carry a rich history and deep symbolism that has evolved over centuries, and showing that symbolism can add an extra element of joy to games.

If you’re looking for other ways to add novelty to games you love, check out our post on card games using Jokers!