Reviewed & updated: March 1, 2023 by Jamie Wilson BA
Want to know some of the best memorial tattoo ideas? Let’s find out in this insightful article!
Memorial tattoos are usually gotten in the memory of someone who has passed away.
It acts as a tribute and honor to the life that has been lost. Getting a tattoo in remembrance of a deceased person is a grieving process for some people.
Such tattoos of remembrance pay tribute to the life of a loved one. The grieving process for the person who lost someone to death is imprinted on their skin forever. A remembrance tattoo can be of many kinds depending on whom you lost and whose memory you want to keep alive through your memorial tattoo design. This is a lovely way of letting your loved one know how much their life meant to you and how you hope to honor and pay a tribute to their death with a beautiful remembrance tattoo of their existence. There are various symbolic tattoos that you can get tattooed for depicting the passing away of someone who means the world to you. It can bring you peace. Memorial tattoo ideas, for example, could be a picture of their portrait, something personal related to the person, the date of their birth, or a lovely memoir that is inspired by them. With that, let’s have a look at some exquisite memorial tattoo ideas, their styles, and where to put a memorial tattoo!
Religious Cross Memorial Tattoo
This arm tattoo sleeve has a cross in the center, and a hand holding some flowers right above. Right below it, there’s a silhouette walking on a bridge towards the cross. This is a religious take on memorial tattoos to symbolise the loss of a loved one. The tattoo uses hints of red outlining the cross and the rose to add depth to the design.
One thing that really stands out in this tattoo the inspirational design and the ink style. You can work with tattoo artists to create this tattoo on any body part like the arm, chest, wrist or back. Through this tattoo, you can pay tribute and honour any special person in your life, for example, dad, mother, friend, son, pet, best friend, etc. It’s a lovely way of showing the world what they meant to you. Along with the tattoo design present in this image, you can also add a personal quote or initials of the one you want to honour!
Polynesian Memorial Tattoos
Tattoo art is a part of Polynesian culture and tattoos were historically considered as a mark of high status in society. This Polynesian tattoo is done on the back of the hand in curved lines and black ink. Such tattoos are quite common among those with roots in Polynesian culture and history.
In a Polynesian style, this is a simple memorial tattoo for mom. It consist of different symbols and patterns. Polyhesian tattoos are drawn in a tribal style. You may adapt such designs as arm band tattoo, neck tattoo, or a thigh tattoos as well. You can also get a similar memorial tattoo to honor a close one’s legacy and remember how inspirational they were.
Dog Memorial Tattoo
Losing a pet is devastating and hard to overcome. It is said that dogs are man’s best friend, and for those who grow up with pets, they are like family. The moments you have shared with them are among your life’s fondest memories. To honor their companionship, fur-parents often get a memorial portrait tattoo. In this tattoo placed on the arm, we see face of French bulldog inked in black wearing a golden collar.
Another style you can opt for to symbolise your pet is through a paw print tattoo. However, portrait tattoos are a lovely idea as they are more personalized in nature. You can carry your pet’s face and name wherever you go and constantly reminisce of your shared connection.
Celebrity Memorial Portrait Tattoo
This memorial tattoo is in memory of one of Mexico’s most influential actor, singer and comedian, Tin Tan. Celebrity memorial tattoos are becoming popular across the world. People chose to ink musicians, artists, or even historical figures to honour their contribution to their field and celebrate their impact. The facial features and the white hat are inked with a sense of realism in grey, white and black colours. This tattoo is inked on the side of the torso which offers enough canvas for this dull-sized, detailed tattoo. You can get a similar portrait tattoo of your role models or a celebrity personality that has impacted your life.
Family Memorial Tattoos
This tattoo was drawn in memory of a close relative who played the role of a parent and guide. This tattoo signifies a significant role model and primary inspiration in life. In the tattoo design above, you can see a design of a man and a dog. In a similar way, you can combine your tattoo tribute of multiple family members.
You can opt to get a portrait, as shown above, or add details like the birth date and initials of this father figure. Getting a memorial tattoo honors the impact a loved one had on your life and lets you keep their memories with you at all times.
Mother Mary Memorial Tattoo Design
This memorial tattoo shows Mother Mary dressed in white with the night sky and clouds behind her. The delicate features on Mother Mary’s face are inked to perfection and have a polished look. This memorial tattoo is inked on the right side of the chest. If you are looking for a memorial tattoo with religious symbolism, you might consider this design.
Dotwork Portrait Memorial Tattoo Design
This is another celebrity memorial tattoo design with a different ink style. This picture of singer-songwriter, Kanye West, is done entirely black ink and uses dot work for shading and texture. Using sparse shading, it distinctly depicts all facial features. You can get this tattoo placed on the arm, wrist, or back as well. Fans may combine such tattoos with a famous lyric or meaningful song by the famous personality.
Rainbow Memorial Tattoo Design
This tattoo features a famous contemporary pop singer and musician, Post Malone. This tattoo depicts the singer in a black and white suit with a flower below the collar. The most alluring aspect of this tattoo is the rainbow filter across the whole design. In a rainbow pattern, artist uses bright colors throughout the tattoo to produce an eye-catching design. The tattoo realistically depicts the singer with his curly hair and facial tattoos and is placed on the forearm. Colorful and vibrant, this tattoo captures the singer’s essence and their impact on you.
Cat Memorial Tattoo
Losing a pet, like a cat can be difficult and heartbreaking. This cat tattoo has dense trees behind him and white flowers right below. The cat design is a realistic depiction of the eyes, whiskers and skin. You can model this tattoo design after any beloved pet to signify the memories you had together.
Colourful Portrait Memorial Tattoos
This gorgeous tattoo features a famous fashion icon and is drawn on the leg. The ink style here is quite refined and depicts the personality’s hair and features quite well. You can recreate this wonderful tattoo on the arm, upper chest, back, and calf as well.
For more inspiration for memorial butterfly tattoo ideas, you may look out for:
- Paw Print Memorial tattoo
- Angel wings dad memorial tattoo for daughter
- Personalized images for brother memorial tattoo
- Minimalistic angel wings on wrist memorial tattoo
- Father memorial tattoo
Feature Image from Pinterest – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo
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What is a memorial tattoo?
A memorial tattoo is a type of body art that serves as both a physical and emotional reminder of someone special who has passed away. Memorial tattoos typically feature the name, image, or symbol of the loved one being remembered and may be accompanied by an inscription such as “in loving memory”. These tattoos can provide much-needed comfort and solace during a difficult time, allowing the wearer to carry a piece of their loved one with them every day. When done well, memorial tattoos can be beautiful and powerful pieces of art that honor the memory of someone special.
What are some ideas for memorial tattoos?
The possibilities for memorial tattoos are virtually endless. Some ideas include:
1. Portrait of the loved one’s face or a silhouette of their profile
2. A meaningful quote or phrase associated with the person
3. The name of the person written in their own handwriting
4. An abstract design that symbolizes something unique about the person
5. An image of a shared place or moment that was special to the two of you
6. A quote from a favorite book, poem, or song associated with the loved one
7. A symbol that held special meaning for them, such as an animal, flower, or star
How do I choose a design for my memorial tattoo?
Choosing the right design for a memorial tattoo can feel overwhelming. It’s important to think carefully about what will be meaningful and special to you, as well as honor the memory of the person being remembered. Consider sketches or images that were special to them, things they enjoyed doing, places you shared together, words or phrases associated with them, or symbols that held special meaning. You may even choose to have the tattoo artist draw an original design that is inspired by these ideas. Ultimately, it’s important to pick a design you feel connected to and will be proud of wearing on your body for years to come.
