Anchor
The anchor represents groundedness, stability, and strength. Among nautical tattoo enthusiasts, an anchor tattoo can also represent hope and luck, since anchors are always lowered when a ship needs to survive a storm. A lighthouse is another nautical option that symbolizes guidance and stability.
Cross
There are so many different crosses out there that you’ll be able to find a design with meaning for you. Crosses are a popular tattoo among Christians because it’s a central symbol of their faith, but there are non-Christian crosses, too.
Compass
A compass can serve as a beautiful reminder to stay grounded, remember your goals, and trust your own intuition in times of trouble. It can also be a great way to remind yourself that it’s all part of the journey. A sundial is a fun alternative to a compass. It conveys a lot of the same ideas, but it has a more analog, historical energy.
Om
Pronounced “ohm,” the Om (ॐ) is a sacred symbol in Hinduism. It represents the sound of God, and it’s used in meditation and religious rituals to ground yourself and get closer to your higher power.
Hamsa Hand
Also known as the hand of Fatima, the Hamsa hand is a symbol of protection in Jewish and Islamic cultures. It is thought to prevent curses, save you from the “evil eye,” and keep spirits from interfering with your life. Format substeps as bullets.
Arrow
An arrow can represent focus, direction, and movement towards a goal. It can also serve as a reminder to stay determined or to respect your own ability to find your target. The direction of the arrow can impact the meaning, too. An arrow pointed up may symbolize optimism, growth, and respect for a higher power, while an arrow pointing down can serve to signify the need to stay grounded and peaceful. Crossing arrows can commemorate overcoming a crossroads, or peace through superior firepower.
Celtic Knot
Celtic knots come in a variety of different designs and configurations. These ancient Christian and Pagan designs stand for everything ranging from love and unity to interconnectedness and responsibility. The trinity knot is a popular design that represents life, death, and rebirth. It is also an early Christian symbol. The Dara knot is a symbol of power and wisdom. It’s also named after the Irish word for “oak tree,” so it’s a favorite of arborists and nature lovers. Solomon’s knot is a symbol of love and immortality. It dates all the way back to the Stone Age, making it a popular design among historians and anthropologists.
Dragon
Dragons are popular cultural icons in China, Egypt, Ireland, Greece, and dozens of other countries across the world. They’re a mysterious symbol of power, wisdom, strength, and good luck.
Butterfly
A simple butterfly design can carry more meaning than you’d think. These are powerful symbols of transformation and change. They’re also a great reminder of the delicacy of life and how fragile we all are at the end of the day.
Triskelion
The triskelion is an ancient Celtic symbol of life, strength, and natural beauty. It can also signify land, sea, and sky. Fun fact, the three spirals of the triskelion are where the phrase “third time’s the charm” comes from!
Crown
Remind yourself of your own power with a crown tattoo. Traditionally associated with monarchs, a crown can also remind you of the importance of honoring your ancestors. It can also be a way to remember your self-worth, or a reminder to always respect your higher power.
Heart
Whether it’s passion, romance, or self-respect, a heart tattoo can be a powerful, simple way to remind yourself of what really matters. You can even go the anatomically correct route for an edgier or less cliché look!
Bird
Birds are one of the most popular categories of tattoos for a reason. They symbolize freedom, individuality, and joy. Specific birds (some of which we’ll cover in depth later) also have really unique and interesting associations. For example: A swallow is a popular nautical tattoo. The story goes that each time a sailor would circumnavigate the globe, they’d get a swallow to honor the achievement. Eagles can symbolize strength, proactivity, and patriotism. The elegant peacock is a powerful symbol of beauty and queerness.
Feather
Feathers can be designed as tattoos in so many different ways, which really makes them a flexible option. They can represent freedom, purity, guidance, growth, or courage. They’re also a common symbol of good luck.
Mandala
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the mandala is a symbol of the entire universe. This makes them great stand-ins if you want a spiritual tattoo that isn’t outwardly religious. They’re also commonly used in meditation to focus on the symmetry and simplicity of God and nature.
Semi-Colon
The semi-colon tattoo is a simple way to honor triumph over mental health issues. It represents the “pause” one experiences when weighing self-harm versus continuing your journey. If your life has ever been touched by pain from mental illness or trauma, a semi-colon tattoo is a phenomenal way to memorialize that experience. Many survivors of mental illness get semi-colon tattoos to remind themselves in moments of crisis that it’s okay to take a pause, breathe, and remember that you will get through this.
Dreamcatcher
A powerful symbol from Native American history, the dreamcatcher is supposed to protect the owner when they sleep. Today, the symbol is often associated with good dreams, positivity, and protection from evil.
Flower
Flower tattoos are popular because of their customization, natural beauty, and variety of meanings. Different flowers stand in for different ideas, but here are some of the more popular ones: Azaleas are often associated with passion, fragility, and womanhood. Carnations can reflect friendship between women, curiosity, and elegance. Cherry blossoms are popular, especially in Japan, as a sign of change and love. Daisies are all about loyalty, connection, and symbiotic relationships with nature. Snapdragons are a fun symbol of graciousness, deception, and cleverness.
Tree
Like flowers, trees come in all different kinds of styles, designs, and iterations. Different trees carry different associations, but some of the most iconic and interesting options include: Elm trees reflect endurance, community, and respect for the passage of time. Oak trees are thought to be connected to God. They also symbolize longevity and freedom. Fruit trees can stand in for growth, the importance of nurturing, and family.
Owl
Owls are a classic option among nighttime enthusiasts, readers, educators, and lifelong learners. They’re also associated with the Greek God Athena, who is associated with knowledge, wisdom, and war.
Ampersand
This fun alternative to “and” is often meant to symbolize connection with another person, whether it’s marriage or a lifelong friendship. It's a minimalistic tattoo that looks great just about anywhere on the body.
Lion
Masculinity, courage, freedom, respect, and power—these are the symbols associated with the mighty lion. Lions are also known to be tight-knit with one another, so families sometimes get lion tattoos together.
Wave
If you have a love of surfing, sailing, or anything else water-related, a wave is a great and simple way to honor that. It’s also a fun way to remind yourself that change is fleeting, and sometimes it’s best to just “go with the flow.”
Tooth
A lone tooth tattoo represents vulnerability, strength, honesty, and all things weird. They can also represent change, as you lose your baby teeth when you become an adult.
Music Note
Music notes are common among the musical folks out there. You could get your favorite chord tatted on you, or several notes to represent a song that’s important to you. Other popular music tattoos include: Microphone. Turntable. Musical instrument. Speaker or boombox. Treble clef or bass clef.
Infinity Sign
Sure, it might be a bit of a meme at this point, but the infinity sign is a popular tattoo for a reason. It symbolizes the infinite nature of the universe, and it can be a good reminder that whatever obstacle you’re facing in a given moment is surely going to be a thing of the past in no time.
Barbed Wire
A lot of the tattoos we’ve covered have quite soft and elegant meanings, but nothing screams “hardcore” quite like a barbed wire tattoo. It symbolizes the desire to protect what’s important.
Hourglass
The passage of time, the fleetingness of life, and the power of paying attention to the passage of time: these are the symbols associated with hourglasses. They’re also a fun inversion of the traditional infinity sign if you turn the hourglass sideways!
Phoenix
Reborn from the ashes, the classic phoenix tattoo symbolizes change, transformation, and coming back from the dead. It’s also a popular tattoo among transgender people, who find a lot of support and comfort in the idea of the phoenix coming back from a challenge stronger than ever.
Rose
There’s actually a lot going on with roses, symbolism-wise. They’re an icon of beauty and romance, but they also have thorns that will puncture or scratch you if you aren’t careful. They’re also a temporary flower on a perennial plant, which makes it a unique symbol of permanence and impermanence at the same time. Differently colored roses have unique associations, too!
Skull
Whether it’s a classic memento mori tattoo that’s designed to keep you living your best life every day, or it’s just an homage to your favorite zombie flick, the skull tattoo is a common option for a lot of different reasons. They’re also highly customizable and easy to make unique, which is fun for a subject matter that often gets repeated a lot in tattoo shops.
Equal Sign
The equal sign is a common tattoo that symbolizes a desire for equality among all humans. If you’re an advocate for social justice, freedom, and egalitarianism, the equal sign is a simple and subtle way to honor your beliefs.
Sun
A sun tattoo can be a powerful symbol of the abundance of life. It can also symbolize energy, productivity, truth, and warmth. It can also be a representation of new beginnings, since a new sun appears every day.
Moon
The moon is associated with renewal, truth, and femininity. It’s also a symbol of art, resilience, and balance. You can always combine a sun and moon, too! The duality between the two symbols resonates with a lot of people, and there are a lot of fun ways to incorporate the two in unique designs.
Star
There are a bunch of different star designs out there, but in general, they symbolize hope, the strength of the universe, guidance from above, or truth. The number of points can change the meaning of the star. For example: Pentagrams, or five-pointed stars, are associated with the five elements, sailors, wayfaring, and truth. Six-point stars are most commonly associated with Judaism. They symbolize God’s authority and power. Seven-pointed stars are unique. They’re often treated as symbols of creation, family, or magic.
Sacred Geometry
Sacred geometry tattoos are typically designed as custom, unique pieces. They involve layering basic shapes on top of one another to create harmonious, symmetrical designs.
Spiderweb
While they’re associated with prison tattoos, a spiderweb doesn’t have to symbolize time lost incarcerated. It can also symbolize overcoming hardship, resilience, and the complexity of life.
Lotus
The lotus flower is a popular symbol in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, where it represents enlightenment and eternal rebirth. It can also symbolize strength, resilience, and openness to the world.
Bee
Bees are a powerful emblem of nature, fertility, cultivation, and community. They’re also associated with the fragility of life, since they’re so essential to the planet’s ecosystem and they’re often overlooked. One popular move is to get a bee tattoo on your knees so that you can tell everyone you’re the “bee’s knees.”
Eye of Horus
The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, health, and restoration. The Eye of Ra is the inverse of the Eye of Horus (it’s basically the same shape just in reverse). It represents authority, wrath, retribution, and power.
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