A recent study in the US surprising revealed that whilst 85% of people think that males are more likely to have tattoos, on the contrary, 59% of the tattooed population is made up of females. We now live in an age where tattoos are common place and it’s not longer considered a faux pas for a female to have tattoos showing. Tattoos are a great way of expressing yourself through body art and we have compiled 125 of our favourite tattoo ideas for girls.
Ghost Design
We’ll start with this ghost design. In recent years there has been more of a movement towards smaller, minimalist style tattoos, rather than the traditional ink heavy ones. It also shows that girls are not limited to only getting ‘girly tattoos’. The cartoon ghost is a fun, whilst not been too spooky. Smaller tattoos are also becoming more popular nowadays as they are more affordable and often people can get a few smaller tattoos for the same cost as a bigger one. Not to mention they are also a lot easier to hide/conceal should you need to for work.
More to come.
One of the most popular places for girls to get tattoos is around the feet and ankles. It seems less of a commitment to a life long piece of art on you because it’s less noticeable and easily concealable. The feet are also not generally considered the most beautiful part of the body, so it can be a great way of making them look prettier and adding some art to them.
P.
Another common smaller tattoo for people to get is a simple letter. The letter P may symbolise the persons first name, someone’s name that’s important to them or even the periodic symbol for Phosphorus. There are thousands of fonts to choose from and luckily with letters it’s easy to test them out on your computer before you pick which one will look best.
Lotus design.
Besides been a beautiful tattoo aesthetically, the lotus is also a very popular design because it has a lot of meaning behind it. Traditionally the lotus symbolises divine beauty and purity and the unfolding of the leaves represents the growing of the soul as well as spiritual awakening.
Dreamcatcher Tattoo Ideas
The dreamcatcher has a lot of historical and cultural meaning, and it’s origins are with American Indian tribes where the women would make it for their children to prevent them from having nightmares. They are very popular and can be placed in a lot of different places on the body. They also are great ones to adapt in to your own unique style.
Bow and arrow.
The bow and arrow is a popular tattoo for both men and women to get as is just the arrow on it’s own. The bow has many different meanings, including references to Cupids bow as well as shooting for the stars. Bows are also very adaptable to your own taste.
Queen of clubs.
Card symbols have long been popular symbols to get inked. The ace of spades is usually the most popular one to get but not far behind are the Queens. The queen of clubs symbolises a strong willed and positive person. Tattoos in between the fingers usually need to get redone every few years as they do fade due to the amount of rubbing that occurs there.
Lion.
The lion is another design that has been popular a very long time and remains so today. It represents someone who is loyal, strong willed and courageous. It is also the symbol of many sporting clubs and family emblems so these are some other reasons that people might get it.
Geometric.
Geometric tattoos are probably one of the most trending designs from the last couple of years. They look great, are timeless and not too expensive. Above is an example of a silver and black one on the forearm, which is a very popular spot for people to get tattoos now that they’re more socially acceptable and not necessarily restricted to areas that you need to cover up anymore.
Universal truth.
Above is a quote from famous rapper and musician Immortal Technique. The meaning of the quote is that even if a lot of people believe in something, it is not necessarily true.
Sleeve design
Above is a great example of more alternative or hipster style sleeve tattoos. Usually this will involve picking a broad overall theme such as nature in the above one and is a great opportunity to keep adding to over a few tattoo sessions.
Pikachu.
Tattoo art has come a long way in the last decade or so and along with advancements in technology and style, there is a big movement towards alternative styles such as the above modern form with ink splatter effect and dripping paint.
Ankle birds.
Birds are a very versatile design. From very detailed eagles that cover peoples whole back to really simple seagulls like the ones above they all look great and can also hold a lot of meaning such as flight, spreading your wings and overcoming challenges in your life.
White ink.
Traditionally tattoos were always done in black or sometimes blue ink. Nowadays there are hundreds of different colours of ink and one of the surprisingly popular ones is white ink. Whilst usually reserved for shading, it also can work well on it’s own as a more subtle design such as the above quote.
Moons.
Similar to the previous geometric tattoo, the above design depicts the full cycle of the moon from crescent to full and back to crescent again.
Bunny moon.
Cute cartoon characters are a popular choice, particularly amongst girls who are looking for something pretty and nostalgic.
Crescent moon.
Here is another example of a very simple but elegant tattoo design of a crescent moon. Half crescent moons are particularly popular amongst females as they are a symbol of feminine power.
Rabbit tattoo.
If you’re a rabbit lover and are interested in a life like design then this is definitely the tattoo for you. The artist has managed to do a great job of creating a life like rabbit using just black ink. Black ink is always a safe option as it holds its colour the best of all the inks.
Unicorn.
Above you can see a number of different tattoos including an epic unicorn tattoo coming up from the femur and on to the belly as well as a leopard print style design going over her shoulder.
Birds in a tree.
Birds are one of the most popular tattoos for girls to get. Above is a great silhouette style design of love birds in a tree branch. This is a great way of symbolising your love for one another and could even be one to get if you have recently got married or fallen in love and want a reminder of that.
Compass.
Compasses were traditionally tattooed on sailors and boating enthusiasts. They symbolise not only been at sea but also finding direction in your life or a particular journey you embarked on. Nowadays they are popular for aesthetic value as well as for people such as backpackers who have done a lot of traveling and want a compass design. Some will even have the compass face the direction of their home from where they have moved to so as to have a reminder of where they came from.
Cambodian.
Cambodia has a rich history and very ancient temples, it also has beautiful looking characters and words. As such it has become quite popular for people to get tattooed when they travel to Cambodia. It became even more in the last decade since Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie went under the g*n with a Khmer style tattoo on her back and since then many have copied this style.
Finger tattoos.
Historically finger tattoos get a bit of a bad wrap. Typically they use to be reserved for bikers and gang members, they also were considered a bit of a faux pas if you wanted to get a respectable job. Nowadays however they are more common place and socially acceptable. The traditional finger tattoos were to get “LOVE” on one hand and then “HATE” across the other knuckles, this was a design that was popularized by movie characters. Generally people will get either two four letter words across their knuckles or one eight or ten letter word across both of their hands.
Ear bunny.
Here is another example of the popular rabbit design, this time with more of a cartoon style to it. Behind the ear is a very popular spot for females to get tattoos, they are usually a little bit smaller than this one but is still easy enough to cover up if you have longer hair.
Flowers.
Flowers are one of the most popular designs to get for both males and females. In particular roses and lotus flowers. Getting a flower design like the one above can work in both just black ink or you can even get it colored in later if you’re wanting to change it up.
Half sleeve.
The half sleeve is generally the preferred style of arm tattoo at the moment. Unlike having a full sleeve it allows you to cover up your tattoos with a t-shirt should you need to for work or any other occasion. It also means that you don’t have to tattoo your elbow which can be a difficult area to work with and often you are restricted to the types of styles that you can get inked there.
Dove.
Doves like the one above have a lot of different meanings. They are commonly used at weddings and are freed from cages as a symbol of love, peace and your new life beginning to take off together. They are a simple and timeless design that you definitely won’t regret and can easily place anywhere on your body.
Love-heart.
The finger second in from the pinkie finger on the left hand is commonly known as the ‘ring finger’ and is often reserved for a wedding ring as a sign that you’re married. It is quite common place for modern couples to get a tattoo there in place of a ring as rings are very expensive especially to lose! A small, simple tattoo such as the love heart above looks beautiful and is also easy to cover up should you need to.
Knee design.
The above flowers on the knees are also lotus flowers, this time from a birds eye view. The fully opened flowering lotus is one of the most beautiful flowers and because it’s a birds eye view it creates a nice circular shape that works well with the shape of the knee.
Abstract hand.
Abstract art works such as the one above can work really well as tattoos. Be sure to see them sketched out first as they don’t always convert well to a tattoo form. Often people will get artwork from their favorite albums or artists transformed in to workable designs.
Ear cross.
Crosses have always been a very popular design to get for both males and females. They are most commonly known to represent people of a Christian faith, but can also just be for it’s aesthetic nature. They’re are also a lot of different variants of the cross and they all have different meanings and origins. Because of how simple a design they are they really can work anywhere on your body.
Henna style.
Henna style tattoos originate in India and are usually for women and place across the hand and fingers with lots of different line and dot work to create a beautiful pattern. Henna is a style of ink used and is not traditionally permanent but only lasts a couple of weeks however many people do get them permanently tattooed as well.
Back planets.
Tattoos that go directly down the spine can look really great and give you something to show off when you wear a backless top. Having the planets of the solar system lined up work really well for this area and whilst they may be hard for you to see, they will definitely impress others.
Black rose.
The rose is a complex flower and works beautifully as a tattoo design. It has a lot of different meanings, with the obvious one being delicate love and beauty. However the meaning can change depending on the color of the rose as well as openness of the flower. Some people will get roses to remember ones that are lost in their life and they can work very well in bunches together and work great in both color and black ink.
Mermaid.
Since the Disney movie The Little Mermaid, the mermaid form has been a popular style for both costumes and tattoos alike. Above you can see a cool example of an under the sea style theme on the forearm. Silhouetted styles are generally safe choices as the thicker line work makes them last longer and less intricate line work that can potentially be messed up or fade over time.
Finger designs.
Above is a photo that serves as a great example of how simple geometric symbols can work as great finger tattoos. Designs such as the Chanel symbol, thunderbolt, love heart work well because of their simple nature. Because you’re working with a small space with the finger it’s always a great idea to keep it as simple as possible.
Leg script.
Although it’s hard to read in the photo, the wider shot shows you how script can work really well to join different tattoos. It sits below a cross themed tattoo, so is potentially a passage out of the bible that inspires or holds a dear meaning to the person. Script can work great on the leg and backs and also wraps around nicely. When opting for a script tattoo be sure to get someone that’s experience in doing nice lettering.
Back dreamcatcher.
Here is another example of a pretty dreamcatcher tattoo on a ladies back. The feathers holding a meaning on their own in native American culture and as you can see the pattern in the actual dreamcatcher can be adapted to replicate flowers.
Dandelion.
The dandelion has only recently become a popular tattoo for females to get, particularly on their forearms and legs. Whilst it doesn’t hold any specific meaning, it does have a unique meaning to most and that’s what makes it so special.
Flowering lotus.
If you look close enough you can see that this particular lotus flower has been shaded with dots. This style can take a long time to complete for the tattooist but can give you fantastic end result.
Leg roses.
Roses are commonly paired with skulls in traditional American style tattoos. As you can see from her rings she is a fan of heavy metal and tattoos are very popular amongst the metal crowd, particularly traditional style ones which not only have a classic look about them but are also still popular because they are known to stand the test of time.
Shoulder lotus.
Here is a more close up shot of where you can see tattoos that are shaded with dots. The great thing about the above ones is they have picked a theme and kept all their designs looking similar so that they work well together.
Sunflower.
This girl must really like sunflowers. They’re on both her dress as well as tattooed up the side of her ribcage. It’s of course a great thing to get something tattooed that you’re very passionate or in love with because there is less chance of you ever regretting it or wanting to get it lasered off.
The XX.
Picture in picture style designs are very popular at the moment. It means to get one shape or image that has another one inside it. The outside shape is an X with roses in the middle so it’s like getting two tattoos in one.
Flower sleeve.
Different to the dot style flowers before on a girls sleeve, you can see with the above style it looks great but is completely different. It’s best to get style that match and ones with solid line work like the one above are sure to hold their colour and last longer.
Flower wolf.
Here is another example of the picture in picture style design that we touched on earlier. This time using a wolf as the main part of the image and morphing one side of it’s face in to a geometric pattern. The possibilities with these styles are endless and you can definitely get more a unique tattoo doing something like this.
Owl and crow.
The first thing you will notice about the above designs is that the color looks amazing and really pops off the skin. This can mean a few things. Firstly that the tattoos are relatively recent or otherwise that the tattooist used good quality ink and the person has taken good measures for after care on their tattoos which is very important, especially given that you can spend upwards of $1000 on a tattoo nowadays.
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Astronaut balloon.
Another great example of a modern style piece of artwork been transformed in to a great looking tattoo. It looks like the street art of Banksy or similar and the shading and placement is fantastic.
Shoulder birds.
Big mural pieces like the above one that are placed across the shoulder blade area look particularly beautiful on females. Especially when they are done as nicely as the one of the birds above.
Free.
Equally beautiful are simple designs that run along the base of females hands. They are simple in nature and a lot cheaper than big murals but have a simplistic beauty about them especially when they are words like ‘free’ that most will appreciate.
Tree design.
There are a lot of different symbols in the world and the majority of them make for great tattoo designs. They have different meanings ranging from witchcraft symbols, religious, historical and even scientific. It’s always best to find out the meaning behind a symbol before getting it tattooed permanently.
Chest design.
In recent years it’s become quite popular for women to get tattoos either between or under their chests. It could well have been popularised by pop-singer Rihanna who has an Egyptian style tattoo on her chest that is considered very beautiful.
Elephant herd.
Elephants remain a popular tattoo for people to get. They are the biggest land animal in the world and as such are a symbol of strength, power and also wisdom. They are also considered good luck if their trunk is facing upwards.
Bows.
Bows on the back of women’s legs look really pretty and are a nice feminine design.
Circuit work.
Another example of a picture making up another picture is this circuit style tree design on someone’s back that is simple, modern and definitely unique.
Wrist fox.
Illustrations from Children’s books are popular tattoo designs to serve as both nostalgic reminders of your favourite childhood stories as well as working great as simple designs for those that want to express themselves with body art but don’t want to have sleeves or big tattoos showing.
Clock.
Above is another great example of an abstract style tattoo design that someone has put their own twist on suggesting that music is a timeless art.
Neck bats.
Apart from birds, bats would be one of the most popular flying animals that people get tattooed. They are a mysterious creature and have been even more popularised since the release of the most recent Batman movies.
Bumble bee.
Bee tattoos are a lot less common than flowers and birds, but none the less still look pretty. Honey is still considered the food of the gods by many cultures and as such the bee is considered a very noble and hard working creature.
Safety pin.
If you’re in to dress making or sewing than a simple tattoo such as a safety pin can be a great idea and show off your creative flare.
Guitar.
If you’re right in to live music such as rock n roll or blues music than a guitar could be the right design for you. Generally wrist tattoos are simple and just silhouette form of the objects.
Robin.
A pretty robin tattoo. Browns are not common ink colours to get but they can definitely work well with designs like this.
> <.
Simple shapes such as triangles are very popular and sometimes even keyboard symbols such as pipes and angle brackets.
K.
Another great looking letter design. A great idea for anyone with a name beginning with the letter “K”.
Bow.
A simple bow like the above one can take just a matter of minutes to get tattooed making it a great choice if you’re getting your first one and don’t want to be under the needle for a long time.
Trademark.
A funny little design that can show off your wittiness and sense of humour.
Paw prints.
If you’re an animal lover and want a reminder of pets you owned or that have passed away recently then some simple paw prints can be a very beautiful design.
Tattoo g*n.
At first glance it looks like an actual tattoo g*n tucked in to a garter, if you look a little closer though you can see it’s actually a very realistic looking 3d style tattoo. The detail and shadowing is exceptional on this design and would have definitely been done by a very talented artist. If you’re looking for a certain style of tattoo such as the one above a great place to find artists can be social media.
Birds in a branch.
Some more love birds sitting in a branch.
Let it be.
Famous John Lennon lyrics are always popular designs and can look great it a hand written style like this.
Mountains.
In to ski sports or trekking in the mountains? Maybe you had a trip to the Himalayas recently and want a reminder of your amazing trip. Getting mountains tattoo’d not only look great but can also become the start of a bigger design where you can easily add in clouds and birds later.
Loveheart.
Simple, yet beautiful.
Heart rate monitor.
We really love this take on the heart rate style monitor design.
Hashtag.
Another simple keyboard character design that looks great.
Balloon.
Balloons are another example of a great picture for a finger design.
Another half crescent moon design.
Finger tatts.
A cross and skull. Having multiple finger tattoos can look great together and pair well with nail polish.
Equals symbol.
The equal symbol has become a much more popular design in recent years. It’s not because people are big mathematics fans, but rather they are generally getting it to symbolise equality.
Question mark.
A slightly cheeky tattoo that might give you a bit of inspiration.
Pineapple.
If you’re a lover of fruit and pineapples than this is a great design for you.
Pick up truck.
As you can see the inspiration in the background with the persons red pick up truck.
Lemon.
Another example of a good looking fruit tattoo design.
Saturn.
Behind earth, saturn would be the most popular planet for people to get as a tatt because of the disc that goes around it.
Diamond.
Diamonds are expensive and if you love them but can’t afford them than a diamond tattoo can suffice. They look great and are very simple and quick to get.
Bunny.
A bunny checking it’s pocket watch. This is an illustration from a famous children’s book, do you know which one?
Eye.
Eyes can sometimes look creepy as tattoos but this one looks great.
Cat.
The back of the neck is a great spot for girls to get ink as they can usually cover it with their longer hair when they want to.
Equals.
Another cool looking equals symbol design.
Love heart.
Another take on the ever popular love heart design.
Symbols.
Simple circles and astronomy symbols are also very popular tattoo designs for females.
Bee.
Another bee design, you can compare this one with the one above and see that they are vastly different styles but both look great.
Arrow.
If you’re looking for a bit of a different tattoo than the above is definitely more of a left field tattoo. The dots could well be a constellation and the arrow would represent shooting for the stars.
Coffee.
A good one for all the coffee lovers out there.
Daisy.
Above is a great example of the difference between an older tattoo and a fresher one. As you can see the star has faded over time and the daisy flower is looking nice and fresh. Luckily you can always get tattoos redone if they’re fading.
Paw love.
A tattoo for all the dog and cat lovers out there.
Ampersand.
Something different. Tattoos like this can be cryptic and have a unique meaning to the person, or they could simply just like the symbol.
Gu*s.
A bit of a naughtier tattoo for the bad girl out there.
Feather.
Feathers can be beautiful tattoo designs and there are many different designs and colours of them to pick from.
Ladybug.
Small tattoos placed on the wrist are great if you need to cover them up as all you need to do is put on a wristwatch.
Asterisks.
Another alternative style design across the chest.
Cherries.
Cherries use to be very popular designs for girls to get and are starting to make a come back as they have that retro look about them.
Music.
Music is a universal language and many people all over the world are passionate about it. There are many different ways to get music tattooed on you ranging from lyrics to notes and even album art.
Butterfly.
The butterfly is right at the top of the list for popular lady tattoos and with good reason. They’re beautiful and representative of transformation from a girl in to a woman.
Heart.
The bottom of the foot is meant to be one of the most painful areas to get a tattoo so this one is only for the brave.
White moon.
Another example of some tattoos that have been done in white ink. They’re hard to notice from afar and can sometimes look like scars.
Warrior.
A cool looking script design.
The world.
We had to take a second look at this one to realise that the lizard is not an actual tattoo but the world map definitely is. A lot of people will even colour in countries or continents that they visit as they go.
Croissant.
For the lover of this french pastry delight.
Dragon half sleeve.
Dragons are great for both guys and girls to get tattooed. They have a lot of history and meaning behind them and can be done in a variety of styles.
Roses.
These roses are not yet filled in but it shows you how they can look great both just as outlines or with red ink in the middle.
Puppies.
A girl with some fresh tattoos chilling with her puppies.
Death Star.
We really love this one. Whilst it may not be for everyone, I think any Star Wars fan will appreciate it.
Beads and cross.
A cool design involving rosary beads and a cross. We really like how the rosary beads form a love heart on this one.
Full sleeve.
A good photo of a girl with a full sleeve tattoo design involving a dragon and a girl.
Hot air balloon.
If you’re a bit alternative and looking for a cool base to work a pattern on to the hot air balloon is a good choice.
Flowers.
Some intertwining stems that are really simple yet poignant.
Dragonfly.
A beautiful back tattoo design at the base of the neck.
The Cheshire cat.
For all the Alice in Wonderland lovers out there. Pinks are a great choice for a female tattoo and you will get a lot of compliments for this design.
Modern book.
A watercolour design that involves a book. This is a modern style that looks very interesting and requires a talented tattooist.
The snitch.
A great Harry Potter style design of the golden snitch from the books.
The moon.
The moon doesn’t have to be done in just blacks and greys, adding some reds or oranges can look very cool.
Claw.
A nice twist on the earlier paw prints that we showed.
Violet.
The base of the neck is a very good choice of spot for a girl thinking about getting a tattoo.
Behind the ear.
As is behind the ear. We really love these picture in picture style designs of Peter Pan.
Dog.
It reads “As strong as you were” and is no doubt paying tribute to a special friend they lost.
Double pineapples.
Getting a matching tattoo with a friend is a great way to remind you of each other and having matching designs.
Lip flower.
A cool modern style flower where the flower looks like someones lips.
Metallica
It may be hard to see but this design is made up of interlocking M’s and is a symbol from the famous American metal band Metallica.
Bird.
If you’re wanting a tattoo on your arm but also want to be able to hide it relatively easily than the inner bicep is a great place to pick.
Sun and moon.
The shoulder blade is a very beautiful spot for women to get tattooed. They have the option of covering it up with a cardigan or can also have it showing with a backless top or dress. The sun and the moon hold a lot of meaning to them as well.
Serendipity.
The basic meaning of serendipity is good luck that you were not looking for. This is often found in the form of a love of your life that you were not necessarily looking for. We really love the font on this one which looks like it was custom made by the tattooist. There are tattooists that specialise in script and it’s always a great idea to see their work before you begin.
