Have you ever thought of getting a tattoo to remind yourself of an important memory? Or you just want to get one because you were dared by your friends? Whatever your reasons may be, every tattoo has a significant meaning.
Tattoos are not only works of art but they are a reminder of stories and experiences in our lives. Some people get them to remind them of an important milestone, while others simply want it. Still, every tattoo has a story to tell.
Check out these 52 tattoos and their special meanings.
1) Birds
A week after their dad died, a woman and her sister decided to get tattoos of birds to honor him and his parents. After he passed, their step mom asked him to send cardinals to the family. They have been showing up ever since on various items such as cards, clothes. etc.
This lucky man met his girlfriend 19 years ago when they were just 16. They were friends for many years but he secretly wished for more. It turns out she did too. They each got a broken wish bone on their arm so when together, it’s one.
Rachael was diagnosed with lupus at 17. She learned about the spoon theory (those with any sort of chronic fatigue, like lupus, have to “count their spoons” or energy levels, and use them wisely). The spoon tattoo signifies that she will never run out of spoons.
The butterfly represents the butterfly rash many lupus patients have.
At just 15-years-old, her friend committed suicide. She decided to get the last note her friend wrote her as her first tattoo. Her friend called her Bacon because that was the only word she was able to learn in their sign language class.
Her brother was murdered and to honor him, she got the same quote tattooed on her as he had tattoed on him. He was cremated and his ashes were put in a bio urn so one day he will grow into an oak tree.
This woman lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. She vowed to rebuild her house and tattoed the plans on her hands as a daily reminder. She was working three jobs at the time.
This tattoo is for Jeremy’s sister who lost her battle with cancer. She was special needs and couldn’t write many words but she gave her brother cards and would sign her name. This tattoo is a scan of the last card she gave him.
This user got a tattoo of their brother after he died short of his 40th birthday. Blue was his favorite color. The smaller lego is his sibling hugging him also in their favorite color, yellow.
After her dad was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Kate took her father to get tattoos of the 3 symbols he drew on his ankle before surgery. The symbols represent: “be open to change,” “create your own destiny,” and “where there’s a will there’s a way.”
Kate also got the symbols. Her father has since passed but she says: “…now I’ll always have a piece of him with me to give me some fatherly advice when I need it.”
Just after turning 18, Valis’ aunt took her to get her first tattoo. Her mom was not a fan of tattoos. She waited until her birthday party to show her mom the tattoo in front of all her family and friends. She burst into tears of joy. Later, her mom got a tattoo of her own!
After her best friend died, Bri got a tattoo of her friend’s favorite flowers, orchids, to commemorate her. She thought the best way to honor her was by getting a tattoo because her friend had lots of them.
Liza and her two sisters are very close so when one went away to college, they decided to get tattoos together. It reads “sisters” in Morse code.
“I have it on my arm because I carry them with me, my sister has it on her foot because she walks in our footsteps, and when my youngest sister turns 18, she’ll get it on her back because we always have her back.”
Years after a miscarriage, sarif decided to get a meaningful tattoo. She discovered bodhisattva ksitigarbha who represents the guardian of the souls of children who died before their parents.
“The story goes that he keeps them safe until their parents also pass and they can enter heaven together.”
Growing up, her mother used to sing, “You Really Got a Hold on Me” the version covered by The Beatles. She got this line of the song tattooed while her mom got the second, “but I love you,” tattooed on her.
Her grandmother looked after her as a child and when doing so, she kept a journal of the first year of her granddaughter’s life. She would refer to her as her “little angel.” When her grandmother passed away, she decided to get a tattoo in her handwriting.
After his grandmother passed, he decided to get a tattoo of an audio clip with her saying, “you’ve got me counting down the days.” It’s from a letter she wrote to her husband while he was deployed in the 50s. The script is also in her handwriting from that letter.
Christina’s older brother has Down Syndrome and he wrote this note for her before she left for college. It’s also in his handwriting. Christina said he is the only name she would get written on her.
Ashlee and her best friend got their first tattoo for graduation when they were 18. Of course, they did this behind the backs of their parents! After staying up late trying to decide on a tattoo, they chose a moon and a sun. They took her friend’s mom’s car and went to the tattoo parlor!
“A couple years ago my boyfriend decided to end his life. He left this note on our fridge chalkboard a couple months prior…I’m thankful I decided to take a picture of it. It’s a good little reminder/memorial tattoo.”
This woman made this tragedy a little less painful by choosing to remember a special moment they shared together.
This young man got a tattoo of his childhood home (that his parents built) with his dog in the window. The initials in the tree are of his mom and dad.
His home was destroyed from a propane leak killing his dog and his parents.
A victim of mental health issues, Liv got this tattooed on her to remind herself to move, to get out of bed even when it’s difficult. She says that alone is a quick way to feeling better.
Emily is a self-confessed “picky eater” but she loves pineapple. When they were in season, she’d ask her mom to buy them every week. When Emily told her she was going to get a tattoo of a pineapple, her mom didn’t believe her. That is, until she showed up with one.
“Now I will always have a fun story to tell about my first tattoo and a sweet memory with my best friend: my mom.”
“I grew up thinking of myself as something of a monster. I never really fit anyone’s idea of what a girl should be and it turns out that being non-binary probably had something to do with that.” But when they went to a children’s home, they discovered X-Men and immediately identified with Nightcrawler.
“He looks like a demon, but he’s probably the kindest superhero out there. Getting this tattoo was a form of armour.”
Before her mother died unexpectedly, she told her daughter that if she got another tattoo, it would be a fairy. She also found a note her mom wrote to her that read, “I love you so much -Mom.”
To show his love and support for his wife, this loving husband got a tattoo representing his patience and understanding for his wife and her depression.
Christine’s parents had cancer at the same time. Her father drew this boat and wrote this note for his family. He drew the boat because he was a Navy veteran and he and his wife enjoyed cruises.
In remembrance of their mom passing from breast cancer, they got a tattoo of a ginkgo tree. A ginkgo tree is one of the oldest species in the world and thrives in all kinds of environments. It is viewed as a symbol that connects generations and of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Hannah’s father wrote this note for her the day she was born. After he passed away, she got it tattooed. She now has something permanent that she can carry with her.
After her grandmother died, she would find hairpins in the weirdest of places. When her grandmother was alive, she always wore them. She believes they are a sign of her presence and represent good omens.
Struggling with bipolar disorder, she would have suicidal ideation every day. She used the Linkin Park song, “One More Light” as the base of the tattoo. The lyric reads, “Who cares if one more light goes out?” She had her friends and family write the words, “I do” to “remember that I have love and people who care if my light goes out.”
This gorgeous tattoo is meaningful for Roxy who wrote, “The black night sky to white represents me coming out of a very sad part of my life and into a happy positive strong one.”
52 heartfelt tattoos and the powerful stories behind them
Winona Thomas
01.12.21
Have you ever thought of getting a tattoo to remind yourself of an important memory? Or you just want to get one because you were dared by your friends? Whatever your reasons may be, every tattoo has a significant meaning.
Tattoos are not only works of art but they are a reminder of stories and experiences in our lives. Some people get them to remind them of an important milestone, while others simply want it. Still, every tattoo has a story to tell.
Check out these 52 tattoos and their special meanings.
