For many people, getting a tattoo is a way to express their personality and show off one-of-kind art on their skin. Tattoos are a great way to commemorate something personal and important or symbolize something that is important to you and your life story.

Even though most tattoo designs, and the people who proudly wear them, are unique, there are some common symbols that appear in numerous different tattoo designs. These symbols often have recurring meanings that many people find solace and comfort in, or use to symbolize different aspects of their lives.

Here are some of the most popular tattoo symbols and their meanings:

All-Seeing Eye

The all-seeing eye is a popular symbol in tattoos and can be seen in ancient artistic depictions as well. It has come to symbolize many different things over time, including divine providence, wisdom, or power. All-seeing eye tattoos can feature just the eye itself, or incorporate the all-seeing eye into a bigger picture, and can also be tattooed in practically any style you’d like.

Anchor

Some of the first people to popularize tattoos were sailors, so it’s no wonder that anchor imagery in tattoos has persisted over the years. Like the all-seeing eye, anchor tattoos can have a variety of meanings, including strength, stability, loyalty, or religious symbolism.

Arrow

Arrows are another very popular symbol that shows up in a variety of different types of tattoos. It is often incorporated into more complex designs and can even be included in lettering and script tattoos. The arrow can be a symbol of war, peace, passion, affection, strength, or love.

Bear

Bears are popular imagery to include in tattoos due the folklore and strength associated with bears. The animal is often depicted in traditional style tattoos, though can be done in a variety of different styles, and usually is depicted with ferocity. Bears were keepers of dreams in Native American culture, and are also a symbol of fury and immense strength.

Bee

In contrast to big, strong bear tattoos are bee tattoos—usually smaller and more delicate in their depiction. Bees are popular in tattoos often because of the visual aesthetic and coloring involved in bee tattoos, but there is also deeper symbolism behind tattoos of the insect. Bees can symbolize intelligence, hard work, and resilience.

Butterfly

Another insect that doesn’t pack such a sting but is very popular in a variety of different tattoo styles is the butterfly. Butterflies can be tattooed in beautiful, vibrant colors or in more simple black and white designs. Butterfly tattoos often symbolize transformation, renewal, and beauty.

These are just some of the many popular symbols that show up in various tattoo designs again and again. Part of the beauty of getting a tattoo is that you can incorporate tried and true symbols into your own unique design and choose the meaning that is most important to you.

If you’re interested in getting a tattoo at Certified Tattoo Studios, with or without one of these popular symbols, book your free consultation today to get started. Our expert tattoo artists will help you design the perfect tattoo for your skin.