Butterfly Tattoos - Designs and Meanings

Butterfly tattoos are the most popular designs requested by women because they beautiful, they can be located almost anywhere on the body, and they have many, many meanings.

Butterfly Tattoo Design

There are around 28,000 known species of butterfly. Therefore, the shape and color that are available for the design are almost endless, enabling quite stunning colors to be used. The design can also be abstract, using just the shape of the butterfly to combine with other designs, such as a tigers face, flowers or angels. The options really are endless. The style of tattoo can also vary. You may love tribal designs, so could get a tribal butterfly in black and white with traditional jagged edges, providing a striking image. If you like Celtic designs you may go that way, or even get a cartoon version.

Butterfly Tattoo Meanings

Over the ages, many meanings have been associated with the beautiful butterfly. They start life as a less than attractive caterpillar, disappear in a cocoon, transform, and emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Therefore they signify change and evolution, so this is a popular tattoo design for people who want to mark a stage in their lives where they have evolved, or gone through some personal change. The tattoo signifies the start of a new beginning.

Another meaning many people attribute to the tattoo is freedom, which is portrayed by the wings. Wings symbolize the ability to rise above problems, having a free spirit, being uplifted and being care-free. What a great feeling!

Cultures have attributed the change of the caterpillar to the butterfly to the coming of age, and the evolution of people from one stage of their lives to another. Some cultures believe the butterfly is the soul of the dead coming back to earth. Some believe the sighting of a butterfly means there will soon be a birth. Butterflies have also been associated with strength and leaders. For example, the Roman leader, Augustus, used the butterfly as his symbol. You can attribute what ever you feel is important to you, at this point in your life, to your tattoo design.

Location for this Design

The butterfly tattoo is very popular because it looks good as a small tattoo, unlike many other designs that are too intricate to reduce too much, without distortion. Due to the fact that the design can be small and still look good, the butterfly can be located almost anywhere on your body. That's great if you want a discreet tattoo just for you and someone special. Show it when you want. You are in control. The most popular locations for this tat are on the shoulder, lower back, front hip, around the belly button and on the ankle.