There are so many reasons why people get tattoos. Some people consider them to symbolize a special person or moment in their lives. In some cases, tattoos are used to represent a significant experience or struggle.
If you are planning to get one, check out these 50 tattoos for inspiration. Although they are simple, they are packed with a lot of meaning.
1. A boost in confidence
Hair loss can make one feel less confident about herself. Fortunately, this person met somehow who was able to tattoo new brows on her. And honestly, the artist has done a great job.
2. Dream come true
It’s better late than never, right? For sure, her dad’s happy that she finally got a tattoo to match the one he had on his arm.
My father passed away almost two months ago. Today is his birthday and he always wanted us to have matching tattoos. Done by Chip @ Olde Tyme in GA
byu/everyday__grey intattoos
3. A tribute to Grandpa
Grandpa would be proud to see the new version of his tattoo on his grandchild. The sentimental value of his tattoo will be around for a long time after this.
A recreation of my Grandpa’s 50yo tattoo, by Gabriella Mancini at Apocalypse Tattoo in Atlanta, GA
byu/SleepingWillows intattoos
4. Forever and always
Dogs’ paws are unique so this piece is definitely one of a kind. It’s a touching way to pay tribute to his dog.
My favorite tattoo, always. A realistic portrait of my dogs paw. Forever, and always my heartbeat at my feet. Done by Andrea G. DNA Tattooing, Williamstown, NJ.
byu/stephiiejean18 intattoos
5. Remembering Grandma
This tattoo is beautifully done. Staring at it can make you feel Grandma’s care and love for her grandkids.
Tea is very important at my Grandma’s house and everyone has an assigned teacup with a particular pattern. Mine is ‘Brigadoon’ Scottish Thistle. I’ve drunk tea from that cup my entire life, every time I’ve visited my grandma. Today I got the pattern tattooed as a band on my arm. pic.twitter.com/eiU6QZU69u
— Jordan Raskopoulos (@JordanRasko) September 28, 2020
6. Mom’s handwriting
Having her mom’s handwriting is a great way to remember her. It’s nice that she’s got the words “I love you”. It can serve as a daily reminder of her mom’s love for her.
My mother always had beautiful handwriting and wrote this at the end of every single card and letter. She passed in October. Done by Greg Duthie at Dead Gods Tattoo in Tigard, Oregon.
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7. Hiding scars
To hide the surgical scars she got from having her appendix taken out, this woman decided to get tattoos. The result’s perfect. The butterflies were beautifully done. You can’t even see the scars underneath!
8. Beautiful dog, beautiful tattoo
Even though they’ve been together for only three years, her dog meant everything to her. That’s why she decided to get this portrait done. With it, she’ll be able to take her precious dog everywhere she goes.
9. The human and his dog
This is one of the best pet tattoos around. It’s simple yet full of meaning. It’s a design that can be considered as timeless.
10. Together forever
This is absolutely beautiful. While the photo will fade away in a few years, the tattoo won’t. It’s a clever way to show that they’ll stay together forever.
11. A memorable trip
The rain made their trip extra memorable. Because of that, they made sure to include umbrellas to these tattoos.
We’re getting matching tattoos for all the trips we take together- it rained all week for this one. Done by Rafael Marte at Studio 28 in NYC
byu/thought_I_knew_excel intattoos
12. Honoring one’s heritage
This woman’s quite proud of her cultures. To make sure no one feels left behind, she made sure to include both her mom’s and dad’s side. Honestly, it’s an awesome concept!
13. A tribute to Black Panther
He got the tattoo because it was cool. Now that his favorite actor is gone, the tattoo feels a bit bittersweet.
I was really excited to get this last year. Now it’s kind of bittersweet, RIP. Artist is Clinton Ransdell at Artistic Designs in Indianapolis.
byu/MrStealUrGold intattoos
14. A tattoo of Grandpa
This tattoo represented Grandpa well. It’s simple, just like the old man.
15. A beautiful homage
Even though she lost her babies, she found a way to keep them close. The placement’s perfect, too. What a lovely tattoo!
Just got my very first tattoo today! 4 birds in memory of my 4 babies. (3 miscarriage s and a stillborn)
byu/KenPie2 intattoo
16. A helpful reminder
Most of the time, she has to tell people that she has hearing difficulties. With this tattoo, she may no longer need to explain herself all the time.
Decided to get my first tattoo on my 23rd! Thanks Ty! (Kindhand Tattoo/Menomonie)
byu/dunham-doodles intattoos
17. Being sisters
The concept is stunning and the execution is marvelous. This is an amazing tribute to her sibling. It represents a very beautiful sibling relationship.
A tattoo for my sister and I. Us against the universe. Made by Daniel in Sinners Inc, Aarhus (Denmark)
byu/nicolaims intattoos
18. A good sense of humor
This person needs to be applauded. It’s hard to keep your sense of humor when you’ve literally lost a part of you.
19. An image of Dad
This tattoo’s quite clever. Instead of having his dad’s entire face, she chose to get his glasses and mustached tattooed. The piece is subtle but it’s full of meaning for this person.
20. It’s all in one’s attitude.
Going bald isn’t entirely a bad thing. You just have to set the right attitude towards it- just like this guy.
21. Not average
This tattoo’s really cool. At first glance, you’d think it’s just an average piece. However, once you illuminate it with the right light, it’ll reveal all its details. It’s just like humans. We all look average until someone gets a closer look at us.
22. The cat’s nose
With this tattoo, Loki will forever live on. Moreoever, the family will remember his most adorable feature for years to come.
23. Glowing together
The way the tattoo glows is quite amusing. It’s certainly an interesting piece. Plus, it’s a good reminder to always have fun.
24. Not an easy battle
Admitting someone’s mental health issue isn’t easy. For this person, getting a tattoo offers a way to open up about it. She considers it as a great conversations starter.
25. All the places he’s ever called home
Instead of keeping a list, this guy decided to have this tattoo. It’s a creative way to remember all the places he’s been.
A skyline of everywhere I’ve lived. Drawn by a friend of mine and done by Mason at Imperial Tattoo in Toronto.
byu/Whiskeysneat intattoos
26. A daughter’s request
The daughter did an excellent job in picking the tattoo. She chose a really cool piece!
My daughter asked if she could pick my next tattoo. Tonight I honored that request. @ Modified Designs done by Savannah Johnson.
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27. He deserves it.
The dog’s been super loyal to his human. He deserves this tribute.
My first major tattoo! It’s my pup Bentley, who has been the best part of my life. By Brandon Thurston at Bloodmoon Gallery, NC
byu/lolidkimjustakitten intattoos
28. An anniversary tattoo
The tattoos are adorable! And the best part? They got them on their anniversary. What a way to celebrate their special day!
My wife and I got matching anniversary tattoos from Rene at Red Dagger, Houston TX!
byu/muddywaffles86 intattoos
29. Clue
I guess people were having a hard time pronouncing his name so he got this tattoo. Clearly, he’s got a good sense of humor.
Chick cow ski (how to say my last name) Jonathan Ellis, Mr Bs Tattoos Baltimore MD
byu/hyjnx intattoos
30. A minimal tattoo of mom
It’s nice that this person chose to go minimal instead of getting something realistic. It’s definitely a beautiful ode to her mom.
31. Scar to tattoo
This is really sweet. Instead of covering his self-harm scar, he decided to leave it and turn it into something better.
32. Proud of his job
This is clever! It’s showing off his love for his work and marketing his skills at the same time.
Decided to get a tattoo to commemorate my trade/skill as an electrician, and since I work with my hands for a living I thought what better place to put it? Done by Kyle Thomas at White Lotus Tattoo (Centennial, CO)
byu/JackkHammerr intattoos
33. For Grandpa
This is awesome for a lot of reasons. The colors, the design, the execution, everything about it is perfect.
Tribute for my grandpa! Done by Allie who was guest spotting at Rebel Muse in Lewisville, TX
byu/chloe0711 intattoos
34. No more iron stain
Iron staining tends to be permanent. So instead of using makeup products to conceal it, this woman came up with a permanent solution to hide it for good.
Before and after, covering an iron stain. Done by Nic at Capricorn Body art in nudawading, Victoria, Australia.
byu/prebuiltswing intattoos
35. Comfortable again
Letting the public see self-harm scars isn’t easy. They can easily attract people’s attention and that often leads to unfair judgments and offending opinions. Hopefully, with this beautiful tattoo, this person will be able to go out without feeling judged.
Self harm tattoo cover up done by Mark Clifford at Dearly Departed in Milford MI. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable wearing short sleeve shirts.
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36. She survived.
This is an incredible way to cope with what happened. It’ll always remind the person how fleeting life can sometimes be.
After a horrible car accident in July, the god of death swung and missed: done by AJ AUlOSE at Aerros ink, San Antonio, TX
byu/mirandawillowe intattoos
37. A fish tattoo
This is a super creative way to hide a scar! Since the tattoo only touched both ends of the scar, it probably didn’t cause excessive pain. Tattooing scar tissues can cause discomfort in some people.
38. A favorite
This movie scene probably has a deeper meaning for this person. You see, even though a lot of us have a favorite movie, not everyone would do what this guy did.
My favorite scene from one of my favorite movies. Done by Kate Sv at Dot. Creative Group in NYC
byu/bennzito intattoos
39. Not scary anymore
Most people choose to cover their birthmarks with tattoos because they think they’re ugly. For this person, it’s all about perspective. Why hide it when you can have fun with it?
40. For the car racer
Even though his friend wasn’t able to achieve his dream, it’ll be forever remembered through this tattoo. It’s simple but it’s packed with sentimental value.
Tribute to a friend who died in a car crash and was on his way to a brilliant racing career. David – XS Montreal Canada
byu/supadupame intattoos
41. What mom would say
Having mom around brings so much comfort for any person. Since she can’t always be next to her mom, this woman decided to get this tattoo.
My first tattoo had to be a sentimental one, my moms favorite saying to me in her hand writing! Done by Elekktra at Beneath the Surface in Las Vegas, Nevada.
byu/viblical intattoos
42. These birds
For this woman, the birds represent three of the most important people in her life. The red one represents her dad while the blue birds were for her grandparents. Getting the tattoo helped her cope with their loss.
43. Clean and happy
This tattoo doesn’t just celebrate his success in quitting heroin; it also serves as a reminder to stay that way. It’s an excellent visual reminder.
Always wanted a tattoo of a dragon, and Skyrim got me through quitting heroin in 2011 and helped me stay clean. I’m super happy I finally did it. [X-Post /r/Skyrim]
byu/PinsNneedles ingaming
44. Dad’s handprit
His dad’s always right behind his back. No matter where he goes, his dad will always be there to push him forward.
45. Supporting the wife
What a sweet husband! Going through depression isn’t easy. Fortunately for the wife, she has an excellent supporter.
46. A daily reminder
Working three jobs isn’t easy. But when you see your goals every single day, it can give you the nudge you need to keep moving forward.
[Image] This woman in New Orleans lost everything in Katrina. She set a goal of rebuilding the home she lost and tattooed the plans on her hands as a daily reminder while she works three jobs to achieve her dream.
byu/petitveritas inGetMotivated
47. Couple in love
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpxPkTTHS_O/
48. The little girl’s reaction
The look on her face was precious. It was definitely worth the pain for Dad.
Just my daughter and I in the tatto shop. I got a picture she drew tatted on my arm. She didn’t think I’d do it. pic.twitter.com/IggvTjN6LW
— 🚀🏝jeff (@jleonard777) November 25, 2017
49. A creative solution
He probably spent a lot of time thinking of the right tattoo for that scar. It’s nice that instead of covering it, he decided to make it as part of the tattoo.
Finally got to do something creative with my ugly shoulder scar thanks to Chris Earnhart at Arcade Tattoo, CA.
byu/SloDilf1493 intattoos
50. She got lucky!
She was nervous about getting the tattoo because she wouldn’t think the artist understood the design she wanted. Fortunately, the guy’s really good. He was able to interpret her design the right way!
glad the tat man knew what i was getting at 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/V9aBpLUUAs
— sosa (@sierraalexiss_) May 5, 2018
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