Heart Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Heart tattoos are popular because they are a symbol of love. It has been considered such for a long time and will likely continue to be associated with this very powerful emotion. Love is a subject that stirs very deep emotions and the heart is directly connected to these emotions.

History Of The Heart Tattoo
Credited with being the first group recognized as wearing the heart as a tattoo design were sailors. The meaning behind the tattoo was to show their love for the ones they left behind while at sea. Often a small piece of artwork to symbolize their everlasting remembrance and admiration for braveness.

Heart Tattoos Have Many Meanings And Varied Designs
The heart tattoo has changed somewhat since the early days of body art, but the meaning is still very much the same. They are worn by both men and women. The heart can be large, small or medium in size and are often incorporated with and alongside other designs.

Angels and other spiritual designs are often associated with heart tattoos. They can be neatly etched, loaded with color or can resemble a cartoon animation. The design is easily customized, resulting in a very versatile tattoo that can easily blend with pretty much any style of design.

The meaning of the heart is different depending on the person. The classic red depiction is usually associated with love. Adding a name is a popular theme for the heart tattoo. Including flowers means both love and a passionate situation or setting. The combination of a rose and a heart is another very strong symbol of love.

Heartbreak And Happiness
If the heart tattoo is joined by swords, daggers or knives, this is a sign of betrayal by a loved one or a lost love. The tattoo depicting a dagger or knife in the heart means that someone that you loved hurt you as in piercing your heart. Winged hearts mean the wearer of the tattoo is happy and lighthearted.

So many subjects can be combined with the heart that it is hard to keep up with the meaning of all of them. One of the most popular tattoos for couples that are apart often such as in the military, is a half heart. This is a symbol of their love for each other and when they are together, the heart becomes one. If a person has a tattoo of both halves of a broken heart, this is another symbol of being hurt or suffering a broken heart as the result of a loved ones actions.

Hearts Dedicated To Mothers
One particular heart design that is worn by many and has become almost a nationwide symbol of the love felt for mothers is a 'Mom heart.' This is worn by countless sons and daughters around the world, even including villainous prison inmates and gang members who sometimes sport this popular artwork. Basically, anyone who wants to let the world know their mom is the person that will always have their heart.

Names And Initials
On the other hand, if you choose a heart tattoo and put the name or initials of your girlfriend inside the heart, you are proclaiming your unwavering love to this individual, but many have regretted this choice. A heart with keys inside means your heart is locked in a permanent relationship.

There are countless heart designs and subjects for those who want this type of tattoo. They are popular because they can be worn practically anywhere on the body. From a tiny heart that no one knows is there, to a large masterpiece that proclaims your love to the world, the heart tattoo has been a symbol of one kind of love or another for many years, and plenty more to come.

Hawaiian Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Hawaiian tattoos are an old custom that has existed for centuries among those native to Hawaii. They often covered the entire body of the native islander, and even to this day many natives practice the old tradition of praying to the tattoo god each time a member of the village receives a tattoo design.



Hawaiian tattoos have a meaning; they are not just gotten for the sake of getting one. They are usually in memory of a family member who has passed, for distinguishing a particular group, or for keeping evil spirits at bay.



Hawaiian Tattoos - More Than Just A Fad

This is a time-honored tradition in Hawaii and the subject of the tattoos plays an important role as well. They range from an ordinary stick figure to extensive scenes of beaches. Hawaiian flowers, ocean life or full body tattoos that take a great amount of time to complete. The meaning of the tattoos vary greatly and in the past was different even among the other various islands.



Hawaiian tattoo designs are normally larger and more colorful than others. When Hawaii was home to tribes, tattoos were used to show the different statuses as well as to commemorate important stages of life.



Painful Traditional Tattoo Method

The way of getting tattoos using the traditional Hawaiian method is not a pleasant experience. The use of a bone chisel that has been sharpened is required. It is used to tap a sharp stick into the skin until it begins to bleed. Then the ink is rubbed into the affected area. Often the design of the tattoo that was tapped into the skin was a voyage which was considered courageous.



Members of Hawaiian royalty in days gone by showed their importance by the number of tattoos they had. The higher you were ranked in the village, the greater the number of tattoos. Today Hawaiian body artwork still has great meaning. They are based on the tribe from which the Hawaiian descended and they often use aspects of the islands to add beauty.



Popular Hawaiian Tattoo Design Ideas For Women And Men

Hawaiian flowers are popular with women and men. A wave, a waterfall or anything that relates to the beauty of the tropical surroundings can be used. The tattoos are usually seen around the ankle on women or perhaps on the hip or wrist area. They may start on the back and circle around to the stomach or down the leg.



Men often have the tattoos on their chest, and birds are a popular design choice. Lizards are another as Hawaiians respect these creatures. Dolphins, sea turtles and other water related tattoos are often chosen. Hawaiians would also have tattoos on their face, typically on the cheekbones or the forehead. The meanings of these tattoos are typically more personal.



When flowers are chosen for a Hawaiian design, they have a unique meaning for each one. Since native Hawaiian orchids are becoming extinct and are on the endangered list, choosing this flower is often associated with love that is at risk or a beauty that is not often seen. Hawaiian tattoos can be based on a number of beautiful features, but the ones most often chosen are usually flowers or a combination of flowers and other aspects of the island habitat.

Guitar Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Musical instruments are usually chosen as tattoos for the special meaning they have for the person playing the instrument. The two most popular are the drums and the guitar. Many of the designs are made to resemble an etching of the musical instrument chosen. The majority of people who choose this symbol are either songwriters, professional players, in a band or are particularly lovers of guitar music.



Meanings of Guitar Tattoos Are Often The Love of Music

In the world of rock music, a guitar in flames is one that is chosen by many. When girls choose this particular tattoo, it is often drawn with symbols depicting a certain person who plays this instrument. The additional designs that are added often have as much meaning as the guitar itself. Guitar tattoos chosen by girls are often more unique than the ones chosen by men.



There are two general types of guitars, thus tattoos depict one or the other, but the electric guitar is the most popular. As you may know, the acoustic guitar and the electric guitar sound entirely different. The electric guitar is used most often by rock bands and the acoustic guitar is used by country and western, folk and even some classical musicians.



As a symbol of the love of music, guitar tattoos are also commonly chosen by those who do not play the instrument, but simply love to listen to guitar music. They can also be chosen in memory of a musician who played the guitar but has passed away. There are many people that still mourn the death of Elvis Presley and a tattoo depicting him and his famous guitar is a sign of a true fan.



The history of the guitar spans nearly three thousand years. Before the presence of books, this was often a way of telling stories. The storytellers would travel from place to place with their guitar to sing the songs that told of history, traditions, customs and a way of life that was different from those who were being entertained.



The style of the guitar tattoo will often vary as much as the actual meaning to the recipient. This is a type of design that has various meanings and the decision to get a guitar tattoo is often thought about for a long time before acting upon it.



There are a variety of subjects that are often chosen to embellish the guitar tattoo. They are often designed to feature skulls, flames, dice, hearts, classic American cars and many other items that are part of the meaning for the person who is getting the tattoo.



What Are Some of The Most Popular Guitar Tattoos?

They will vary by the sex of the person choosing them. Girls typically like guitars with the following: Roses, musical notes, hearts, colored guitars, cartoon animals playing the instrument.



The tattoo is much more varied when it is chosen by males. They often choose: Skeletons, skull and crossbones, girls alongside or riding guitars, sometimes entwined with snakes or other beastly creatures. Other popular choices for both men and women include singing birds, cherries, and four-leaf clovers.

Greek Mythology Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

When Greek mythology is used for tattoos this is just as much of a form of expression as the tattoos themselves. This is a popular choice partially due to the fascination that surrounds Greek mythology. Gods, goddesses, and the stories that are told about them have an appeal that continues to intrigue the minds of tattoo enthusiasts.



Meanings of Tattoos are more often the Reason for their Choice.



The meaning associated with Greek gods and goddesses is another reason they are chosen. The God of Music is Apollo and this design is often chosen by those for whom music is an integral part of their life. This has a special meaning for the music lover. The King of the Dead is Hades and this Greek mythological character is one that is chosen by individuals that believe they are almost invincible. Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and this is a tattoo symbol that women often choose.



The choice of Greek mythology tattoos is not just the gods and goddesses. Psyche, which means soul or spirit, is an ancient Greek word for butterfly. The butterflies in Greek mythology are linked to the souls of humans. They were considered the souls of those who had passed, and when a butterfly was seen flying in the sky, the soul was being taken to the heavens.



The scorpion, which many choose for tattoos, is a symbol of revenge in Greek mythology. On the other hand, the meaning can be strength and power. Thus, many tattoo subjects are chosen for a meaning that may be totally different in Greek mythology. Placement of this tattoo also has a meaning. Men tend to get them on the arms - a part of the body that is muscular - as a representation of strength. Women, choose the stomach, ankle or pelvic area as a representation of being strong yet feminine.



One of the most popular tattoo subjects for women is the rose. It is often gotten in memory of someone who has passed or as a symbol of something momentous that has occurred in the life of the person choosing the design of a rose flower for a tattoo. Greek mythology contends the rose was given its name by Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.



Dragons are found in Greek mythology as guardians and the word actually comes from the Greek word drakon. This means snakes or serpent. Dragons are another popular subject for tattoos.



The Greek key is another popular tattoo design that is often chosen. The design represents Theseus, who according to legend was the king of Athens.



The angel is another subject when it comes to tattoos for the female sex. It may be chosen for a variety of reasons, but the word is from the Greek word 'angelos' and the meaning is 'messenger'. Angels were messengers between the gods and humans. Angel wings were often seen on gods and according to many mythological tales, humans could fly as well. One thing that is not widely known is the tattoo was actually a form of punishment in ancient Greece.



Many Greek mythological tattoos today are used to tell a story and they are very colorful. They are used as a personal expression connecting the person and the mythological character chosen for the tattoo.

Gothic Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Gothic tattoos have a meaning that is contrary to the general impression that most people have about these type of tattoos. The "Goth look" is often associated with the occult due to the color of the clothes that are worn as well as the practice of dying the hair black and wearing black makeup. However, Gothic mentality is not a fascination with death or the occult. Goths are quite artistic and creative and have a strong intellectual focus.



Many Goth tattoos are a reflection of this creativity. The tattoos are typically quite imaginative and varied. Their interest in religious imagery is reflected in the tattoos that are chosen as well. This may include angels, rosary beads and crosses. Since a fascination with medieval times is also an interest of the Goth culture, the images may include mythological characters such as demons, dragons, fairies and vampires.



Horror movies are a main influence for Goths and this is another source of subject matter for the tattoos they choose. The Emergence of Goth from the year 1979 to 1983 are associated with the beginning of the Goth movement, as we know it today. It is believed to be a result of the British punk scene. This era was considered to be partially responsible for the development of the Goth culture. It was a time when conservatism ruled and the economy was in a recession. The accepted behavior was to avoid anything disturbing and focus on being happy.



Goth was even more visible in the 1990s with the advent of movies (The Crow) and bands (Nine Inch Nails) that further supported the culture. It even became popular in shopping malls with the emergence of stores such as Hot Topics, which have become a fixture in these malls. The Goth look goes through cycles. It will be the rage of all the designers for a couple of years and then will fade until it becomes a fashion trend again. However, Gothic tattoos are truly a lasting method of self-expression.



Gothic tattoos have survived the cycles of trending and fading and are still very much in style. There are many subjects that are used for creating the tattoo designs depending on the interpretation of each individual as to what the Gothic meaning is to them. The use of skulls is one and tribal tattoos are often considered to be partially Gothic. An open dagger or a snake interwoven with vines that is tattooed on the arms is one type of tattoo that is considered Gothic.



The colors are typically black and may contain some red and white/grey ink. A fairy with dark hair and bat wings is another choice that is seen often in Gothic tattoos.



The lettering used for the tattoos is distinctive as well. The fonts and lettering are known as Old English tattoo lettering. They originated from the Old English language that was used from approximately 1150 to 1500 A.D. The lettering has flourishes and ornamentation that are associated with calligraphy. The intent is to make the lettering stand out and the font is known as blackletter.



Society often decides what is acceptable and what is not. However you feel about Gothic tattoos, they are definitely interesting.