In the interests of research and as an ongoing barometer of popular culture we present you with an update of the Top Ten Tattoo Designs Search.

You can access the archived top 10 lists on this page.

The Top 10 Tattoo Designs and Symbols, based on our site searches ending 03/28/07.

A trend that we first started tracking in the February Top Ten Tattoo Designs & Symbols was the large number of searches on the Internet of individuals who are looking not for specific tattoo designs, but for tattoo designs that have an overt symbolic meaning, that is to say people who are looking for tattoo designs that have a specific symbolic meaning. Last month there were a statistically significant number of people looking for tattoo designs that symbolized strength, friendship and eternity. This month those three terms were ranked even higher, coming in at the number four, five and seven spots, respectively. Tattoo designs symbolizing "family" narrowly missed being ranked in the top ten as well.

The beauty of tattoos and body art is that tattoo designs can convey a very personal meaning to the bearer of the design. A tattoo design symbolizing strength can be anything from the obvious, Japanese kanji for example, to the sublime, an oak tree or an anchor. A tattoo symbol for friendship can be anything that ties a pair or group of friends together, a shared symbol that carries meaning for all of the individuals involved, from best friends to team mates to members of a military service unit. A tattoo can be a visible symbol of the ties that bind. The only thing that limits the meanings of our tattoos is our imagination.

1. Tribal Tattoos - The number one tattoo design of 2006 has moved up from being in second place in January, 2006 to the top spot for the last two months. There is no doubt that part of the enduring appeal of tribal tattooing is that tribal tattooing is a genre of tattooing that is both attractive in terms of its graphic design and its ability to convey a meaning that can be very personally important to the wearer without being obvious.

Maori tattoo designs, in and of themselves, were so popular that they were a Top Ten Design for both December and for all of 2006. They were also popular enough to be a Top Ten Tattoo Design all by themselves in January and in February.

The fascination with tribal tattoo designs just keeps chugging along, and the beautiful curvilinear Maori designs continues to attract those looking for distinctive body art.

Tribal Tattoos account for nearly a third of all tattoo design search requests, and the term "tribal" of course covers an astonishing array of tattoo design possibilities, from the traditional tribal tattoos of indigenous and aboriginal cultures, to the latest in graphic design for the body.

Maori tattooing is a distinct school of patterns and graphic designs within Polynesian tattooing. While much of Polynesian tattooing is derived from straight-line geometric patterns (and thought to originate with patterns found on ancient Lapita pottery shards such as have been discovered in Samoa), a design fact which rose in part because the traditional Polynesian tattoo combs are best suited to linear designs, Maori tattooing is essentially curvilinear, and the mainstay of Maori designs are based on the spiral. It should be noted that renowned traditional Hawaiian artist Keone Nunes has demonstrated that it is possible to reproduce complex curved designs using traditional Polynesian tattooing implements.

2. Star / Stars - A perennial monthly favorite tattoo design all year long. This tattoo symbol and design was rarely out of the top ten searches for the past twelve months and was the top tattoo design search in December and January.

Searches for Nautical Stars are always very high and reflect the long association body art has with mariners and a life at sea.

Stars are often encountered as symbols, and many cases the meaning of a particular star symbol may depend upon the number points it has, and sometimes the orientation of these points as well. As a light shining in the darkness, the star is often considered a symbol of truth, of the spirit and of hope. The symbol of the star embodies the concept of the divine spark within each of us. Their nocturnal nature leads stars to represent the struggle against the forces of darkness and the unknown.

3. Cross/Southern Cross - Southern Cross - This was fascinating. Cross and crosses are always very popular tattoo designs and symbols of religious devotion. Never before has the "Southern Cross" appeared in the Top Ten Tattoo Designs and yet it has been a Top Ten Design search for the past three months.

The cross is a profound symbol of faith, hope, belief and sacrifice. Also a favorite design choice when wishing to memorialize a family member, friend or fallen comrade. And who do we think of most often at this time of year than the people we love and have loved and lost. A memorial tattoo is a way to help keep the memory of someone we cherished with us always.

One of the most ancient, widespread, and important symbols, the vertical and horizontal lines of the cross represent Father and Mother Nature respectively. Some of the cross' forms are the ank or tau, swastika or Thor's Hammer, crux ansata or cross with a handle, denoting power over material nature. The four arms of the cross represent the four elements, and its central point their synthesis or laya-point.

The Southern Cross was used by Mariner's in the Southern Hemisphere, and as a tattoo design, it would be similar to the Nautical Star.

If you live in the Southern hemisphere, or if you are vacationing in someplace like Hawaii, you can see a small but beautiful constellation with the shape of a cross. Its name is Crux and it is located very close to the constellation of Centaurus.

The brightest star in Crux is called Acrux. Acrux is really two stars going around (orbitting!) each other, but they are so far away that we see them as one star.

Explorers of the Southern hemisphere used Crux to guide them when sailing. By looking at Crux, they could figure out in which direction to sail without getting lost. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/the_universe/crux.html

3. Angel/Angels - The third most popular tattoo design in 2006, heavenly hosts are a popular tattoo design all year round and are a powerful symbol of religious faith. This month angels tied with crosses for third spot in the most popular tattoo design list. Angels are often used to evoke protection as potent symbols of God's presence and as an expression of one's faith.

As a tattoo design, an angel is a symbol of devotion, spirituality and faith and signifies a relationship with God. An angel can be intended as a figure of guidance and protection. An angel is often used as the centerpiece of a tattoo that is intended as a memorial.

4. Strength symbol - Moving up a spot from fifth to fourth. See kanji or Chinese Characters, but perhaps a tattoo design that represents a symbol of strength might be a bear, or something that reminds you of your father or your mother or of your best friend. It could be the Koi fish that swims up the waterfall to become a dragon, a knight on a quest, or the first flower bud of spring.

5. Friendship - A tattoo symbol for friendship can be anything that ties a pair or group of friends together, a shared symbol that carries meaning for all of the individuals involved, from best friends to team mates to members of a military service unit. A tattoo can be a visible symbol of the ties that bind. The only thing that limits the meanings of our tattoos is our imagination.

6. Butterfly Tattoo Designs - A perennial top ten tattoo design. Its ranking shows the influence that women have in tattoo culture, as butterfly designs are an overwhelmingly feminine tattoo choice.

The butterfly, because of its short life, its physical beauty, and its fluttering from flower to flower seeking nectar, has among many ancient peoples been regarded as an emblem of the impermanent, unstable characteristics of the lower human soul. The caterpillar lives its period, making for itself a chrysalis, which after a stage of dormancy is broken by the emerging butterfly. This suggests the idea of the less becoming the greater, of an earthy entity becoming aerial. These thoughts led the ancient Greeks to use the butterfly as a symbol of the human soul (psyche); and in their mythology Psyche was in consequence represented in art with butterfly wings.

7. Eternity - Eternity has appeared before, and as a tattoo symbol can be represented in a number of interesting and fascinating ways. Symbols for eternity can be the infinity sign, Ouborous, or an Asian symbol, from kanji to characters to the Ohm symbol.

Ouroboros - The Serpent biting its own tail, is first seen as early as 1600 years BC in Egypt. From there it moved to the Phoenicians and then to the Greeks, who called it the Ouroboros, which means devouring its tail.
The serpent biting its tail is found in other cultural mythologies as well, including Norse myth, where the serpent's name is Jörmungandr, and in Hindu, where the dragon circles the tortoise which supports the four elephants that carry the world.

Symbolically, Ouroboros has several meanings. The first, is the symbolism of the serpent devouring and consuming its own tail, literally eating itself. This symbolizes the cyclical Nature of the Universe: creation out of destruction, Life out of Death.

The Ouroboros eats its own tail to sustain its life, in an eternal cycle of renewal. This secondary symbolism is an echo of the concept of infinity, of cycles without end. A Universe without boundaries or limits.

The Infinity Symbol - This tattoo design is best described as a figure eight on its side, it is used to denote that which is limitless and without boundary or end. The symbol as a tattoo would stand for the state or quality of being infinite. The concept of infinity first appeared as a mathematical conceit and was quickly adopted by philosophers.

Historically and culturally, the infinity symbol is similar to mythological creatures such as Ouroboros, the snake that consumes its tail and is a creature without end. Circles and loops are reminiscent of the idea of life being conceived as an eternal, often times seasonal cycle, that endlessly repeats itself. In many eastern religions and belief systems the idea of endless reincarnation and planes of existence is similar.

7. Phoenix - Another Top Ten Tattoo Design of 2006 - the legendary mythological bird of fire, is probably the most popular of all the rebirth and resurrection symbols.

There are stories and fables that touch on the Phoenix myth in the ancient Middle East, India, China and the Greek and Roman Empires.

In the myth the Phoenix is an extraordinarily long-lived bird of great beauty and luxuriant plumage (often described as golden or red-hued), living five hundred years or more, a fact attributed by one early Jewish legend that the Phoenix refused to eat the forbidden fruit of Paradise. At the end of it's life the Phoenix would build a nest of aromatic twigs, set fire to itself, and be consumed in the funeral pyre of it's own making. After three days the Phoenix would arise from the ashes, reborn.

The Phoenix was originally a symbol of the cycle of the rising and setting of the sun but over time evolved to become a symbol of human resurrection. On Roman coins the phoenix represented an undying Empire. In the early Christian Church the phoenix was a symbol of Christ's resurrection and everlasting life. The phoenix represented the victory of life over death.

As a tattoo symbol, the Phoenix can be found in many tattoo genres, but of the Far East in particular. It is a symbol of resurrection, rebirth and regeneration. It also represents purification and transformation through fire and adversity.

7. Crown Tattoos - As a symbol, the crown also symbolizes leadership, and the rightful authority which comes from being elected by a group to serve as their leader.

Many groups have used the crown to symbolize the power and authority to lead or command. When it is combined with a cross, one of the meanings of the crown is "victory," and the cross symbolizes Christianity. Many Royal crowns in Europe incorporated the Christian Cross into their design, reinforcing the Monarch's claim that their right to the throne was a divine right and that the Monarch was guided by the hand of God.

As a tattoo symbol, the crown doesn't just mean the right of one person to command another. It symbolizes and individual's sovereignty over their own life, feelings, thoughts, and actions. The crown symbolizes self-control, and is a reminder to use power and authority wisely and justly.

7. Wings -  Wings as a tattoo design can often have inspirational or spiritual symbolism. In many myths, wings often have to be earned by their wearer. Wings, often associated with birds, represent speed, elevation, freedom and aspiration.

Wings associated with angels are spiritual, symbolizing enlightenment, guidance and protection - to be taken under the wing - and inspirational.

Wings associated with butterflies, dragonflies, fairies, mythological winged creatures like dragons, griffins, and the winged-horse Pegasus, have an element of the magical about them. As in alchemy and magic, wings can be transformational, allowing an individual access to a previously unattainable state. The presence of wings allows the combination of different elements, earth and sky, wind and fire.

8. Music - Another first time tattoo design search term in the top ten. Tattoo designs symbolizing music can be as obvious as musical notes, treble clefs and actual bars of music (see Robbie Williams for one!), but instruments, birds and just about anything that your imagination can conjure up. Flaming guitars have always been popular with the rock n' roll crowd.

9. Compass - This marks the first time that the compass has appeared in our top ten tattoo designs list. The compass design is a popular maritime tattoo, reflecting the long history that has intertwined body art and sailors, and is similar to the nautical star in its symbolism. In the early age of sail, mariners navigated their way through uncharted waters and unknown perils armed only with the stars at night, a compass to point North and there own wits to guide them. The compass and the North Star were all that a good sailor needed to find his way in the world, hence both were popular tattoo designs. A tattoo not only to help navigate the sea, but to make ones way through life. Some of the most popular compass tattoo designs are lifted straight off of old navigational charts.

10. Dove - Back in the top ten for the first time in 2007. The Dove is a symbol of the Holy Ghost in some Christian denominations and is often used in representations of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and the Pentecost. Most will be familiar with the Bible story of the Great Flood, and of God commanding Noah to build an Ark capable of carrying two of every animal and bird.

According to the Bible, God then released torrential rains that caused the whole world to flood, and only Noah and his family and the creatures aboard the Ark survived. After many weeks at sea, Noah released first a Raven, then a Dove, to search for land. The Dove returned with an olive branch, and Noah and his family rejoiced in the knowledge that the floodwaters were retreating. The Dove became a powerful symbol as a harbinger of hope.

Others believe that the flight of a released dove also symbolizes the release of the soul in death.

10. Dragon - A Top Ten Tattoo Design of 2006 - a dragon is a classic tattoo design that shows the influence of Japanese and Chinese culture in western tattooing. This design is popular with both men and women. A dragon is wondrous monster, often thought of as a giant winged, fire breathing lizard or snake. The word is derived from the French and Latin form of the Greek, drakwu, connected with derkomai "see," and interpreted as "sharp-sighted." The equivalent English word "drake" or "fire-drake" is derived from Anglo-Saxon draca

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Alphabetical Listing of Tattoo Symbols & Designs
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