Losing someone close to you is never easy. In fact, it may be the hardest thing we have to go through in our lives. Many people choose to get tattoos to honour their loved one’s memory. Memorial tattoos are healing in a number of ways. They spark conversation about your loved one, mark the grief experience, and keep your memory and connection with your lost loved one alive. If you’re looking for memorial tattoo ideas to honour someone you’ve lost, take a look at these designs.
3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Memorial Tattoo
- Location: Give some thought as to the best place for your memorial tattoo. Many people choose to place it in an easily visible location to them so they’ll constantly be reminded of their friend or loved one. You may also choose to place it in a less visible spot to make it a bit more personal. Think about what feels best for you.
- Design: This tattoo will be etched on your skin permanently, so it’s important to get a tattoo design that represents your loved one and is meaningful to you. Consider their favourite foods, hobbies, and things that stood out to you about them as a person. Make a list of everything that reminds you of them to give you inspiration for your tattoo design.
- Do You Want a Cremation Tattoo?: Cremation tattoos are where a tattoo artist will mix a small amount of cremation ashes with regular tattoo ink to create a customized memorial ink. If this is something you want to do, it’s very important to work with a skilled artist who has experience with these types of tattoos to decrease the risk of infection.
11 Memorial Tattoo Ideas to Honor Someone You’ve Lost
1. Their Handwriting
This has to be one of the most heart warming memorial tattoo designs. You can take your loved one’s handwritten words from a letter or card they wrote to you, and have it tattooed on you permanently. This is so significant because their handwriting was a part of them and is now a part of you forever.
2. Angel Wings
Angel wings can be a meaningful tribute to someone you’ve lost, and who you see as your guardian angel. It’s a way to feel protected by, and in turn, close to the loved one who has passed on. We love this placement on the back of the forearm, as it’s easy to both peek at and hide.
3. Name Tattoo
One of the most simple but beautiful ways to honour someone is with a tattoo of their name. Seeing your loved one’s name each day can help you feel connected to them and maintain your bond with them. Find a font that you really love and feel represents them as a person, then choose the perfect placement.
4. Pet Tattoo
If you’ve recently lost a pet, you can help keep their memory alive with a tattoo. We love how this one incorporates an outline of the dog ears and their name, however you could also opt to get their entire face tattooed on you, or a paw print tattoo.
5. Meaningful Quote Tattoo
There are a number of meaningful quotes you can get to memorialize a lost friend or loved one. These include quotes such as “until we meet again”, “forever in my heart” and “wish you were here”. This quote will become the representation of the individual you lost, so put some time into thinking of the words you want to be a part of you forever.
6. Cardinal Tattoo
Cardinals are beautiful birds who are seen as spiritual messengers and symbolize guardian angels. They’re often seen as a sign of hope and new beginnings. If you’re having trouble getting over the loss of someone very close to you, a cardinal tattoo can be a beautiful reminder of them, but also a push to move forward and live your life to the fullest.
7. Something They Loved
Think about all the things they loved or loved to do that you always think about when you think of them. Maybe you made dumplings with your grandpa every holiday, perhaps your dad was the biggest dog lover you knew, or maybe your friend loved to travel the world. Choose something that symbolizes them as a constant reminder of your love for and connection with them.
8. Butterfly Tattoo
Butterflies are often used to represent people who have passed. In many cultures, they’re believed to represent the soul and their presence is often associated with messages from the spiritual realm. They’re also seen as symbols of transformation and renewal, urging you to keep going after a difficult loss.
9. Their Favourite Flower
Did your grandmother plant a garden of roses each spring? Or maybe she always had a certain flower in a vase on the dining room table for family dinners. Getting a tattoo of their favourite flower will help you honour them and be a lovely reminder of them on a daily basis.
10. A Special Number
There are plenty of ways to use numbers in a memorial tattoo. You could get their birth or death date, their birth or death year, or the year you met them. If they played a sport, you could get their jersey number, or you could get their age when they passed.
11. Hummingbird Tattoo
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Hummingbird tattoos are popular among those who want to honour a friend or family member who has passed away. In some cultures, the hummingbird is seen as a messenger between the living and the dead. It can also represent peace. You may choose to have a hummingbird tattooed on you not only to symbolize your loved one, but also as a symbol that you feel at peace, even with them gone.
These memorial tattoo designs will help keep the memory of your loved one alive and honour them after death.
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