Tattoo Designs & Symbols provides tattoo meanings, overviews and explanations of some of the most popular tattoos and designs in the world today. Our list of Tattoo Designs & Symbols is continually updated and we always welcome your comments and suggestions for new meanings of tattoos. You'll find lots of tattoo ideas for men and tattoos for girls. Take your time - have a good look around, get inspired!

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Tattoo Design Ideas for Men and Women
 

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Our Top 25 Tattoo Designs, based on Internet searches done.

Tribal Tattoos

The single most requested tattoo design. The most popular tribal designs are Maori, Haida and Polynesian designs. There is also great interest in Native American tattoo designs. 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
 

Star Designs

The star is a tattoo symbol popular with both men and women, and the Nautical Star tattoo design has gone through a strong revival. This tattoo design is a particular favorite of celebrities and tattoo enthusiasts of traditional tattoo designs.
 

Angel Tattoos

Angel tattoo designs have become increasingly popular; as a way to express one's faith and as a powerful symbol in Memorial tattoos.
 

Cross Tattoos

The cross tattoo and it's religious symbolism is very popular and prominently featured in several tattoo design genres. See also Celtic Cross, Maltese Cross and Iron Cross
 

Wings

A tattoo design that symbolizes both the spiritual and the magical. Popular with both men and women. Designs include angel wings, butterfly or fairy wings and even bird wings.
 

Maori Tattoo Symbols

The distinctive school of Maori designs is the clear tribal favorite of enthusiasts interested in tribal tattoo designs. Original Maori tattoos - Ta Moko - were specific to an individual and contained extensive personal and family history in the designs.

Dragon Tattoos

A true classic tattoo design that shows the influence of Japanese and Chinese culture in western tattooing. Popular with both men and women. See also Fire Dragons, Water Dragons & Japanese tattoo designs
 

Phoenix Tattoos

Another tattoo design that illustrates the enduring popularity of Japanese tattooing traditions. But also a design with a rich mythological history in both Eastern and western cultures.
See also, Japanese tattoo designs
 

A generally feminine tattoo design choice and a perennial favorite. Its ranking shows the growing influence that women have in tattoo culture.

Fairy Tattoo Designs

A tattoo design with a long history in story, myth and folklore. Most popular with women and a design with a strong magical element.
 

Swallow Tattoos

The swallow & bluebird are another tattoo design that shows the enduring popularity of nautical tattoo art. A design that is popular with both men and women.
 

Lion Tattoos

The influence of the power of the Lion's symbolism can be seen in it's representation in both Chinese and Japanese art and mythology, as well as, both Eastern and Western cultures.
 

Sun Designs & Symbols

The Sun as a tattoo design is a reflection of the Sun's profound symbolic nature in most cultures around the world. The sun as a tattoo is very popular with both men and women.
 

Celtic Tattoo Symbols

Celtic tattoo designs are primarily a genre of complex interwoven lines representing knots, mazes, spirals and other figures. Celtic knot designs while at first and foremost decorative on the surface, are at their roots very culturally significant and deeply symbolic and are a distinctive way for people to express their Celtic heritage with some personal body art.
 

Kanji Tattoo Symbols

The most popular kanji were the characters for Strength, Friendship and Eternity.
See also, Japanese tattoo designs

Haida Tattoo Symbols

The Haida are renowned around the world for the beauty and complexity of their art and images. The bold lines of the Haida designs make them uniquely suited to be reproduced as tattoos. The Haida originally used tattoos to depict family Clan Crests.

Tiger Tattoos

Tiger tattoo designs are popular in both Eastern and Western tattoo genres, and have a rich history in myths and legends in many cultures.
See also, Japanese tattoo designs
 

Rose Tattoos

A tattoo design with a rich history that crosses both gender lines and design lines. Found in many tattoo design genres and popular with both men and women.
See also, Flowers
 

Heart Symbols

The heart is a classic tattoo design standard. Just add "Mom" and you have an instant tattoo icon.
See also, Sacred Heart
 

Zodiac Symbols

Searches for Zodiac symbols encompasses both the West and the East, with people searching for Zodiac symbols that represent both the classic Greek / Roman Zodiac and the Chinese Zodiac, as well as, searches for Zodiac signs rendered in Japanese Kanji.

Skull Tattoo Designs

Represented in a number of tattoo design genres, and a classic tattoo design that has been popular for generations of tattoo enthusiasts. Old School, New School and every School in between.
 

Flower Tattoos

Flowers as tattoo designs and symbols can be far more than just pretty pictures on pretty girls. Flowers are the embodiment of nature and concise symbols of the cycle of birth, life, procreation, death and rebirth. Specific flowers have come to represent a myriad of different beliefs in different cultures. Flowers figure prominently as design motifs in most tattoo design genres.
See also, Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Lily, Lotus, Rose.
 

Pinup Girl Tattoos

Pretty girls never go out of style especially when it comes to those classic tattoo pin-up girls. But pin-up girls are just as popular with women body art enthusiasts as they are with men. See also Betty Page
 

Crown Tattoo Designs

As a tattoo symbol, the crown doesn't just mean the right of one person to command another. The crown tattoo symbolizes an 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.
 

Eagle Tattoos

The eagle tattoo is a typically male design that crosses over a significant number of tattoo genres, and the influence of the eagle in American tattooing cannot be underestimated. A significant number of military and patriotic service tattoos prominently feature eagles.