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Meaningful and Symbolic tattoos

Tattoos that carry a story: memorial pieces, protective symbols and personal iconography. Design ideas that will still say something in twenty years.

16 ideas in this collection

Meaningful and Symbolic designs from our articles

Every photo below comes from a full guide - click through for placement notes, sizing and aftercare advice on each design.

Freshly healed fine-line Roman numeral date in serif capitals on the shoulder

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Minimalist serif Roman numeral date with wide letter spacing across the upper back

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Illustrative clock face with Roman numeral hours and a date curved beneath it on the chest

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Blackwork armband broken by a Roman numeral date in negative space on the upper arm

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line Roman numeral date woven through a birth flower sprig on the ankle

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line memorial tattoo of two Roman numeral dates joined by an en dash on the outer forearm

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line Roman numeral date arcing along the curve of the shoulder blade

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Blackwork Roman numeral date stacked in three centred tiers down the spine

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Minimalist Roman numeral year tattooed in small capitals along the inside of a finger

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line Roman numeral date running diagonally along the side of the ribcage

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Tiny minimalist Roman numeral date with dot separators tattooed behind the ear

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Minimalist vertical Roman numeral date running down the side of the wrist

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line Roman numeral date in a straight single line along the inner forearm

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line serif Roman numeral date with wide letter spacing tattooed down the calf

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Fine-line Roman numeral date with middot separators tattooed at the nape of the neck

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Minimalist Roman numeral year MCMXCVIII in slim serif capitals tattooed on the inner wrist

Roman Numeral Date Tattoos: 12 Layouts Done Right
Healed fine-line matching tattoos on a mother's and son's inner forearms photographed side by side

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Fine-line mother and son matching forearm tattoos shown at two different sizes and line weights

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Blackwork tree branches tattoo on a son's outer forearm, stacking with his mother's roots

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Geometric constellation tattoo on a son's shoulder blade, mirroring his mother's star sign

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Fine-line sunflower tattoo on a mother's shoulder, matched by her son's single sunflower seed

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Blackwork pine treeline band tattoo on a son's outer forearm, matching his mother's band

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Minimalist bird silhouette tattoo on a mother's inner wrist, matching her son's larger bird

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles
Fine-line birth flower stem tattoo on a mother's inner forearm, swapped with her son's flower

27 Mother Son Tattoos That Fit Two Styles