Today, most tattoos are an individual decision, custom-made and therefore unique. And that's a good thing, because with your tattoo you are visibly wearing a piece of your life story on your skin.
Nevertheless, there are a few motifs that are used again and again, albeit in individual designs. The symbolism of these motifs is clear. We present these motifs and explain their meaning. Perhaps you will find some inspiration here?
The lion
Wild mane, defined muscles and a straightforward look: the lion is the king of the animals, and you can see that immediately. It stands for strength and courage. If you wear a lion as a tattoo motif, people will also associate these characteristics with you. But the lion radiates even more, depending on the culture it comes from (and which is defined by the tattoo style):
- Strength and power
- Glory, honor and victory
- Grace
- Justice
- Wisdom and intelligence
- Family and loyalty
So it's actually quite a tame kitten after all, no matter how wild your tattoo motif actually looks.
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The mandala
Children enjoy coloring mandalas, as do some adults. The dot-symmetrical pictures 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, i.e. a kind of center. Mandalas are considered a meditation aid in Hinduism and Buddhism. The symmetrical arrangement is intended to create the calm that is necessary for meditation.
Not all mandalas are round, there are also triangular and square or polygonal variants. Numbers and incorporated motifs make up the meaning of these tattoo motifs:
- The circle stands for the entire universe or for the soul.
- The triangle combines positive and negative elements.
- The square stands for the four points of the compass, but can also express strength.
- The 1 stands for the one God (in monotheism) or for man as an individual.
- The 5 stands for love and inner center.
- The 8 symbolizes harmony and balance.
- The eye stands for the Buddhist God's eye, alternatively for the inner self.
- In Hinduism, the wheel stands for the recurring course of the world, for fate, but also for motivation and vigor.
- The flower expresses grace.
The anchor
Anchors as tattoo motifs actually come from seafaring; the tattoo was the identifying motif of sailors who crossed the Atlantic. Today, the anchor symbolizes hope, faith and home. It gives strength and support. In addition, the anchor can provide the support you want in difficult times, but can also stand for the person you hope will provide this support.
If you have a longing for the sea and adventure, the anchor is also your motif. However, it also always symbolizes the hope of finding a safe haven or returning to it.
The compass
In the age of navigation apps on smartphones, you no longer need a compass, but compasses are still popular as tattoo motifs. This motif also comes from seafaring. For sailors, a compass tattoo was a kind of talisman. The compass was supposed to protect them in difficult waters and rough seas and show them the way home. Even today, the compass is still a symbol that suggests protection and safety, direction and orientation.
In addition, the compass can of course stand for the love of the sea and symbolize home. But many people also associate the compass with luck. While the compass as a navigation device always points north (with the exception of Jack Sparrow's compass, of course), the compass on your skin points to what is important to you. This can be the north. But it can also be another tattoo motif, your heart, your head or whatever. Even the most popular tattoo motifs are still individual motifs that you give their meaning in their personal composition and orientation.
The rose
The rose is one of the most frequently engraved tattoo motifs worldwide. Roses are timeless, always elegant and yet playful. The motifs stood for femininity; sailors used to have roses engraved to remember their wife, girlfriend or mother who was far away. In this way, they always had their loved ones with them, at least symbolically.
Today, the rose has many meanings, depending on the color of the rose:
- White roses stand for innocence, purity and loyalty.
- Black roses symbolize survival in difficult times and indicate courage and rebellion.
- 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 the color, the exact design of the rose is decisive. Roses with thorns indicate painful times, while the wilted rose stands for 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; it has been a reminder of transience and death in art for many centuries. And the skull has exactly the same meaning as a tattoo motif. If you have had to say goodbye to a loved one or have had to fight for survival yourself, the skull is your motif.
However, the skull can also stand for any positive change in your life. Because it shows the past that no longer plays a role in your life, that you have overcome. In this respect, the skull is always a lucky 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 sailor tattoos, because the fruitless men from the north were just that. But of course the tattoo scene doesn't just know the Viking himself as a tattoo motif, but their entire culture. We now know that the Norsemen themselves were also tattooed. The best-known and most popular tattoo motifs from this culture are
- The tree Yggdrasil: The tree of life connects the nine existing worlds with each other. It speaks of faith and the interconnectedness of the worlds.
- Troll cross: The Norsemen were actually afraid of crosses. The troll cross is a twisted piece of metal that served as protection against bad things and black magic.
- Valkyries: The warrior women decided in battle who should survive and who should die. As a tattoo motif, they stand for power and control.
- Thor: The god of thunder with the hammer is the protector of mankind. As a tattoo motif, both Thor and his hammer stand for a protector.
- Aegishjalmur: The helmet of reverence is an eight-armed figure that is supposed to represent a trident. The tattoo stands for protection and strength.
- Odin: The god stands for healing, death and knowledge. He is often symbolized by three interlocking drinking horns.
- Vegvísir: This is the compass of the Vikings. It stands for orientation.
Flower motifs
Flowers are a gift from nature, and we all like to give flowers as gifts. Originally, the beautiful blossoms symbolized youth and beauty. Today, flowers as tattoo motifs stand for a connection with nature, playfulness and creativity. The current trend is to assign a flower to each birth month. Caution: There are different systems, and the flowers have different additional meanings depending on the system!
- January: Carnation (love, friendship)
- February: Violet (mindfulness, loyalty, modesty)
- March: daffodil (new beginnings, courage, politeness)
- April: Daisies (happiness, simplicity)
- May: Lily of the valley (chaste love, humility)
- June: Rose
- July: Delphinium (enthusiasm, open-heartedness, lightness)
- August: Gladiolus (honesty, strong character)
- September: Aster (wisdom, courage)
- October: Marigold (sympathy, compassion)
- November: Chrysanthemum (optimism, loyalty, happiness)
- December: Poinsettia (desire to celebrate, success)
The heart
Hearts naturally always stand for love and affection. But what about the broken heart? That symbolizes sadness, pain and loss. The winged heart, on the other hand, stands for freedom and independence, while the Celtic heart (tribal style heart) symbolizes unity and strength. A bleeding heart shows loneliness and hurt, a burning heart passion.
When the burning heart is combined with an anchor and a cross, you have a triad of faith, love and hope under your skin. The motif is also known as the "sailor's grave" and is a real classic.
A heart with a lock connects lovers, with the counterpart usually carrying a key. Couples often have one half of the heart engraved, in which case they are probably in a long-distance relationship. The heart with a dagger symbolizes conflict, but also courage and bravery. The anatomical heart, on the other hand, symbolizes endurance and strength.
The dragon
As a mystical creature, the dragon appears in both Norse mythology and Asian mythologies. In the West, dragons are often seen as evil, whereas in Asia they are life savers and essential for natural balance. As a tattoo motif, however, the dragon has grown beyond itself, so to speak, as it has taken on many other meanings over the centuries:
- The individual's struggle with himself
- Lucky charm
- Guardian of treasures and/or secrets
- Jealousy
- Revenge
- Power
- Strength
- Protection
- Family
- long life
The last three meanings are inspired by Japanese dragons, which, incidentally, are water creatures and in mythology are regarded as the antagonist to the tiger (fire and desert).
The grand piano
Wings belong to angels and birds, but often the wing alone appears as a tattoo motif. A tattoo like this can indicate very different things:
- Loss (often after the death of a loved one)
- Freedom and independence
- Superiority
- Strength
- Courage
- Peace
- Divine (belonging to the Christian culture)
If a symbol is incorporated between two wings, the meaning of the tattoo results from the interplay of the motifs.
The semicolon
A punctuation mark as a tattoo motif - that's only for linguists at first, right? No, not at all! The semicolon symbolizes the self-determined course of life and gives people hope in extreme situations like no other symbol. It is so small and inconspicuous that it can be worn on almost any part of the body.
The triangle
Triangles are the most popular tattoo motifs today. The triangle stands for the elements, with the point facing downwards it symbolizes fire and energy. If the edge is pointing downwards, it stands for air and time. For Harry Potter fans, the triangle has a meaning that you better take from the books yourself.
As a Christian motif, the triangle is a symbol of the Trinity of God. Apart from this, the triangle can also always express the past, present and future. The triad of mind, body and soul is also expressed with a triangle.