190+ Most Popular Tattoos Designs For Men – 2019 Inspirations
Various tattoo designs and where to place them written by: Tburnett Most people love tattoos. But when it comes to selecting the tattoo, they get stuck. You may also be in this category of people who have dreamed about getting a tattoo placed on their body but have not gotten any.
In this article you will get some of the best men tattoos and which will assist you get started.
Contents:
History of tattoos for men
Men have been tattooing their bodies for centuries. All over the world, people have tattooed their bodies since the Neolithic times. The mummified preserved skin, archaeological records and ancient art have evidenced this.
The oldest tattoo design on human skin was discovered on an upper lip of a South American Chinchoro culture mummy which approximately dates back to 6000BC. The oldest direct evidenced tattoo in Europe was discovered on Otzi the Iceman body who dates back to 4th millennium BC.
For many centuries the body art have highly evolved.
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Placement of tattoos for men
The tattoo placement is as important as the tattoo design selection. However, most people roll up their sleeves and then turn their heads opting for the traditional tattoo designs location. Armbands are classic while bicep tats are tougher, but why don’t you explore other suggestive body parts?
There are many parts that beg for your attention. You can have a tattoo placed on your back, the hip, chest and the leg.
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Types of tattoo designs for men
The following are some of the best tattoo designs for men and which you should consider when going for a first tattoo design or even the 10th one:
- Blue birds
This is among the popular sailor tattoos. Once a sailor had travelled 5000 miles on the sea, he got a bluebird tattoo on his chest. And once he had travelled other 5000 miles, he also got another one on the other side.
Typically, a tattooist would ink the tattoo design in blue and the birds would face each other. There were variations on the designs which included a red bird on one side and a blue one on the other side. A person could also get two birds holding a moving banner between them.
Due to the popularity of the nautical stars, the birds tattoo is very common among trendy and young art lovers who enjoy harkening backwards to roots of tattooing.
The best part to place the tattoo includes the right and the left chest. The parts are ideal for classic placement. You can get it with the chest loosely defined and also extending upwards to the collar bone near your shoulder. The art also appears great when placed on either the right or the left forearm and the right or left leg. With this design, you will easily sing the seaboard shanties genuinely.
- Panther tattoo designs
The panther represents a powerful and sly predator and also associated with both grace and poise. Its ability to strike the unseen represents physical dexterity and ability to strike off your own without any failure.
- Dragon
Unlike the other dragons in the west, oriental dragon is a mythical creature that symbolizes great good will, wisdom and power. Furthermore, whether on the ocean, at home or even in the sky, this creature symbolizes union of opposites.
The design can be one of the quality tattoo statements especially when placed on a grand scale.
Guys who get this tattoo design specifically as a small icon project the fierceness and power of the dragon. The tattoo design is more on the walk on the wild side image type. Most people will be surprised to see the tattoo design.
To realize the intricacies of the design, you will need to place it on the most ideal body part. You can consider the entire arm, the leg or the back. After getting the design you will tell people to rub it because it will bring them good luck.
- Lion tattoo designs
Lions are mostly called “the king of the jungle.” The animal represents raw power and is also known to be courageous. It highly protects the pride. Symbolically, the design may represent courage and personal power after going through various challenges.
The designs also represent cunningness, authority and strength.
- Octopus tattoo designs
Octopus legs are significant. The number eight relates to the infinity symbol. Symbol of infinite represents many immortality concepts. Natural lost limbs regeneration reinforces the idea.
- The girlfriends name
Most tattooists will tell you that most people will go for the design during Valentine. But it is also common at the beginning and at the end of a relationship.
There is nothing else that can express the commitment and permanence in a relationship better than having a name of the significant other tattooed on your body. Relationship permanence may be relative but in a tattoo design it is not.
For guys, the ideal thing to get is your wife’s or girlfriend’s name. You can place it somewhere on your arm so that people will easily see it. Once you separate with the person, you will have a better excuse for a bigger and elaborate design to cover it up.
- Scorpion tattoo designs
This design became popular after the movie “The Scorpion King.” Having a scorpion tattoo design on your body is a matter of bravery and pleasure. There are people who take a scorpion as a protector from evil spirits.
- Sleeve tattoo designs
This is the coolest tribal tattoo design for men. According to the latest fashion, the designs are perfect. There are various designs in this category to consider.
This is a tattoo design from the ancient paintings in the Egyptian tombs and the Hallmark store. Traditionally, it is a seat of emotions and the core of human being. Today in the west, it is a preeminent symbol of love.
When inked in combination with a flowing scroll in foreground and the mom in graceful font, it expresses gentle sentiment and timelessness. The design is suitable for any person who likes his mom. You can place it right above your heart to get your moms approval.
- Pinup girl
Pinup girl is a woman who didn’t require any introduction but a little explanation. Pinup girl Hallmark came to being during the Second World War. At the time, GIs pinned up pictures in their pokers. And they did this to remind themselves of their homes and the sex appeal.
Although it is the sex appeal that skips the tease and any sense of pretense. It goes for the obvious flirtation which makes her very attractive. You can get the tattoo on any part as it will remind you of your dad or grand dad.
- Cross
This is the ultimate symbol of Christianity and one of the most popular designs in the tattooing world. Crosses come in various sizes. Some are very simple crossed lines and others are intricate Celtic knot work designs. They all refer to large wooden cross that the Romans used to crucify Jesus.
The tattoo design is ideal for every Christian guy. You can place it on your shoulder or lower back. The most popular part to place the cross is the upper arm.
- Chinese and Japanese characters
Chinese and Japanese characters have their base in ideograms, the modern characters also retain some visual interest and they express detailed thoughts in a few symbols. Typically, most people pick the Kanji characters which they use to express something they desire in a better way.
They use them to express luck, love or even strength. Men who get the characters are conversationalists who express something of the exotic in a hidden meaning. The characters can easily fit on thev back of the neck and the lower back.
- Tribal design
Whether you know it or not, you might have seen this design. Tattooists place the design in solid black color and with curves that ends with points. Sometimes, they also interlock in complex patterns. Most men prefer to have an armband.
The designs were common in the Polynesian traditions where most people in the region ascribed various meanings on them. Some of the designs represented rank and status. Today, men get the designs on their shoulder, arms and the wrist.
- Nautical star
A mariner charts five pointed nautical star is usually on the compass rose and straight up on the northern position. Some centuries ago, the star symbolized the northern star also called the Polaris.
Today it is a crucial symbol which harkens back to tracing one’s way home and the luck it takes to get there. It can be very small, big, in two colors or one color. The design is very common among the young hipsters. And especially those that dig retro and nautical feel.
- Bat tattoo design
A bat tattoo is a special bird design placed on men. The designs are available in many variations. You can get one placed on your upper back or shoulder. It looks better when placed in grey color and with red eyes and widespread wings.
- Turtle tattoo designs
This is a tribal design with its origin in the ancient cultures. Today it is a very popular design amongst men. They mostly get the design to express their love to women.
- Wings tattoo designs
The primary meaning of a wings tattoo design is the existence of freedom, personality and soul. The designs present us with the human wish to fly.
- The skull
The skull is relatively different from the other skeletal parts. A person will immediately identify it as human and also associate it with death. In spite of its grim grin, the tattoo design is not always about destruction and death.
The design also forms part of tattoo images suite which capitalize on Memento Mori spirit – Latin for remember that you will die. The skull serves to remind us that we have to cherish life precisely since it is fleeting.
If you have suffered any loss or you are a fan of Macabre gravitate to skulls you can get the skull designs. Further, if you are a person who fully understands that life is really short, go for the design.
If you take the design to symbolize that everything in this world will once come to an end, then place it on a part that you will see it from time to time. Some ideal places include the fore arm, the upper arm, the lower leg and the chest.
Getting the tattoo in any body part is possible excluding the head as that can be a little bit mysterious. With this tattoo you will always be perfectly dressed for Halloween, wakes and Goth parties.
- Daggers and knives tattoos
Once you see daggers and knives the first thing that will get into your mind is death. These two designs are very common among men who like expressing their brevity and strength. They express power and aggression in a better way. You can have the design placed on your shoulders or the upper back.
In ancient times, people associated tigers with strength, bravery and power. People get the designs inked on their body parts to express their power.
- Eagle tattoo designs
People associate eagles with freedom and flight. They symbolize desire to free and the reality of overcoming challenges. Each bird species have a specific meaning. Typically, the design means spreading your wings and frying.
Butterfly symbolism is as diverse as the species. Often, people associate butterflies with the soul and they represent the spiritual realm. It is also a stronger symbol of transformation since a butterfly has to shift from a caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly.
If you have endured hardships of any kind, consider the design.
- Dolphin design
A dolphin is an intelligent creature which holds various meanings in different cultures. The common theme is that dolphins carry souls between life and death realms. In addition, they are symbols of hidden personal power, health and intuition.
- Dragonfly tattoos
The tattoo designs represent fertility. Dragonflies are able to lay thousands of eggs at a time. They can also represent transformation similar to the butterfly designs. The Native American culture offers a dragonfly as an inspiration symbol and a reminder to stick to your dreams.
It can also represent contentment and happiness.
- Koi fish tattoo designs
Koi fish is a brightly colored creature that highly appears in men’s tattoo designs. People associate them with luck, energy, strength and love. In the Chinese culture, the fish represents sticking to your dreams and is a good fortune. Koi fish is also related to the Pisces astrological sign.
After selecting a tattoo design, you should talk to your tattooist to know the best part to ink it. You can have it on your back, on your upper arm, your legs or your shoulders.
