However, there are some motifs that are used time and again, albeit in customized versions. The symbolism of these motifs is clear. We’ll introduce you to these motifs and explain their meaning. Perhaps they’ll serve as inspiration for you.
The Lion
Wild mane, defined muscles, and a bold gaze: the lion is the king of the animals, and you can tell right away. It’s synonymous with strength and courage. If you have a lion as a tattoo design, people will also associate these traits with you. But the lion conveys even more, depending on the culture it comes from (which is defined by the style of the tattoo):
- Strength and power
- Glory, honor, and victory
- Grace
- Justice
- Wisdom and intelligence
- Family and Loyalty
So, all things considered, it’s actually a pretty tame little kitten, no matter how wild the design of your tattoo may seem.
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The mandala
Children enjoy coloring mandalas, and so do some adults. The symmetrical patterns of dots radiate peace and harmony, which is why creating mandalas is considered a source of relaxation and harmony.
The word “mandala” comes from Sanskrit, the language of ancient India. The term describes a sacred circle around which everything revolves—in other words, a kind of central point. Mandalas are considered an aid to meditation in Hinduism and Buddhism. Their symmetrical design is intended to create the calm necessary for meditation.
Not all mandalas are round; there are also triangular, square, and polygonal variations. The numbers and patterns incorporated into them give these tattoo designs their meaning:
- The circle represents the entire universe or the soul.
- The triangle unites positive and negative elements.
- The square represents the four cardinal directions, but it can also symbolize strength.
- The number 1 represents the one God (in monotheism) or man as an individual.
- The number 5 represents love and the inner center.
- The number 8 symbolizes harmony and balance.
- The eye represents the Buddhist eye of God, or the inner self.
- In Hinduism, the wheel symbolizes the cyclical nature of the world and destiny, but also motivation and vitality.
- The flower expresses grace.
The Anchor
The anchor as a tattoo design actually originates from seafaring; the tattoo was a recognizable symbol among sailors crossing the Atlantic. Today, the anchor symbolizes hope, faith, and home. It provides strength and support. The anchor can offer the support you need during difficult times, but it can also symbolize the person from whom you hope to receive that support.
If you long for the sea and adventure, the anchor is also your symbol. But it also always symbolizes the hope of finding a safe harbor or returning to it.
The Compass
In the age of satellite navigation apps on smartphones, compasses are no longer necessary, but they remain popular as tattoo designs. This motif also has its origins in navigation. A compass tattoo served as a kind of talisman for sailors. The compass was believed to protect them in rough waters and stormy seas and show them the way back home. Even today, the compass remains a symbol that suggests protection and safety, direction, and guidance.
In addition, a compass can, of course, represent a love of the sea and symbolize home. But many people also associate the compass with good luck. While a compass as a navigational tool always points north (with the exception of Jack Sparrow’s compass, of course), the compass on your skin points to what’s important to you. It might be north. But it can also be another tattoo design—your heart, your head, or whatever you choose. Even the most popular tattoo designs are ultimately individual choices, and it is you who gives them meaning through their personal composition and orientation.
The Rose
The rose is one of the most popular tattoo designs worldwide. Roses are timeless, always elegant yet playful. They symbolize femininity; sailors used to get roses tattooed to remember their wives, girlfriends, or mothers who were far away. In this way, they always carried their loved ones with them, at least symbolically.
Today, roses have many meanings, depending on their color:
- White roses symbolize innocence, purity, and loyalty.
- Black roses symbolize survival in difficult times and represent courage and defiance.
- Yellow: friendship, happiness, warmth, optimism.
- Red: love, passion, sensuality.
- Orange: hope, optimism, respect, gratitude.
- Pink: beauty, elegance, youth.
- Blue: the unattainable, dreams, fascination, little secrets.
In addition to color, the specific design of the rose is crucial. Roses with thorns represent painful moments, while a wilted rose symbolizes transience—and not just as a tattoo motif. In contrast, a rose with leaves symbolizes new life and happiness, as well as protection for loved ones.
The skull
The skull is a true classic; in art, it has served as a reminder of mortality and death for many centuries. And the skull carries exactly the same meaning as a tattoo design. If you’ve had to say goodbye to a loved one or have had to fight for your own survival, the skull is the design for you.
However, the skull can also symbolize any positive change in your life. It represents the past that no longer plays a role in your life—the past you have left behind. In this sense, the skull is always a good-luck charm that gives you strength.
In some social groups, however, a "skull" tattoo is also seen as a symbol of a wild and perhaps dangerous lifestyle.
The Viking
Viking tattoos are actually seafaring tattoos, because the “unfruited men of the north” were precisely that. But, of course, the tattoo scene recognizes not only the Viking himself as a tattoo motif, but his entire culture. We now know that the Norse people themselves also got tattoos. The best-known and most popular tattoo motifs from this culture are
- The Yggdrasil Tree: The Tree of Life connects the nine worlds to one another. It symbolizes faith and the interconnectedness of the worlds.
- Troll's cross: The Norse feared crosses. The troll's cross is a twisted piece of metal that served as protection against evil and black magic.
- Valkyries: These warrior women decided in battle who would live and who would die. As a tattoo motif, they symbolize power and control.
- Thor: The god of thunder with his hammer is the protector of humanity. As tattoo designs, both Thor and his hammer symbolize a protector.
- Aegishjalmur: The bow-and-arrow helmet is an eight-armed figure believed to represent a trident. The tattoo symbolizes protection and strength.
- Odin: the god symbolizes healing, death, and knowledge. He is often depicted with three intertwined drinking horns.
- Vegvísir: It is the Vikings' compass. It means "guidance."
Floral motifs
Flowers are a gift from nature, and we all love to give them as gifts. Originally, these beautiful blossoms symbolized youth and beauty. Today, flowers used as tattoo designs symbolize a connection to nature, joy, and creativity. The current trend is to assign a flower to each birth month. Note: There are different systems, and the flowers have different additional meanings depending on the system.
- January: Carnation (love, friendship)
- February: Violet (care, loyalty, modesty)
- March: daffodil (new beginnings, courage, courtesy)
- April: Margaritas (happiness, simplicity)
- May: Lily of the Valley (chaste love, humility)
- Junio: Pink
- Julio: Larkspur (enthusiasm, frankness, lightness)
- August: Gladiolus (honesty, strength of character)
- September: Aster (wisdom, courage)
- October: Marigold (kindness, compassion)
- November: Chrysanthemum (optimism, loyalty, happiness)
- December: Christmas star (desire to celebrate, success)
The Heart
Of course, hearts are always synonymous with love and affection. But what about a broken heart? It symbolizes sadness, pain, and loss. On the other hand, a winged heart represents freedom and independence, while a Celtic heart (tribal-style heart) symbolizes unity and strength. A bleeding heart symbolizes loneliness and pain; a burning heart, passion.
When a burning heart is combined with an anchor and a cross, you have a triad of faith, love, and hope close to your heart. The motif is also known as a “sailor’s grave” and is a true classic.
A heart with a lock unites lovers, and the other half usually comes with a key. Couples often have one half of the heart engraved on their jewelry, in which case they are likely in a long-distance relationship. A heart with a dagger symbolizes conflict, but also courage and bravery. In contrast, an anatomical heart symbolizes resilience and strength.
The Dragon
As a mystical creature, the dragon appears in both Norse and Asian mythology. In the West, dragons are often considered evil, while in Asia they are seen as saviors of life and essential to the natural balance. However, as a tattoo motif, the dragon has, so to speak, transcended its original meaning, having taken on many other meanings over the centuries:
- The individual's struggle with oneself
- Lucky charm
- Guardian of treasures and/or secrets
- Jealousy
- Revenge
- Potencia
- Fuerza
- Protection
- Family
- long life
The last three meanings are inspired by Japanese dragons, which, incidentally, are aquatic creatures and are considered the tiger’s antagonist in mythology (fire and desert).
The grand piano
Wings belong to angels and birds, but a single wing often appears as a tattoo motif. A tattoo like this can symbolize very different things:
- Loss (often following the death of a loved one)
- Freedom and independence
- Superiority
- Fuerza
- Value
- Paz
- Divine (belonging to Christian culture)
If a symbol is incorporated between two wings, the meaning of the tattoo arises from the interaction of the motifs.
The semicolon
A punctuation mark as a tattoo design: at first glance, that seems like something only linguists would be interested in, right? Not at all. The semicolon symbolizes the self-determined course of life and gives people hope in extreme situations like no other symbol. It’s so small and discreet that it can be worn on almost any part of the body.
The Triangle
Triangles are the most popular tattoo designs today. The triangle represents the elements; when the tip points downward, it symbolizes fire and energy. If the base points downward, it symbolizes air and time. For Harry Potter fans, the triangle has a meaning that you’d be better off discovering for yourself in the books.
In Christian symbolism, the triangle represents the Trinity of God. Furthermore, the triangle can always represent the past, the present, and the future. The triad of mind, body, and soul is also represented by a triangle.