Tattoos date back to ancient times, when different tribes and peoples with the help of on-body drawings denoted their social status, military merits, used them as rituals and religious symbols. Modern tattoos for men and their meanings have undergone a number of changes and transformations, but they remain relevant.
Conventionally popular male tattoos can be divided into categories and groups; these can be wild animals and birds, sea and domesticated pets, tattoos of different countries and nations, religious and subcultural symbols, totems, amulets, talismans and much more. You can learn more about each category with examples of sketches in the article below.
How to choose a tattoo sketch in relation to the place on the body?
To select sketches for guys it is necessary also on such important criterion, as a place on a body for the future body art. Each area on the body has its own physiological, technical and aesthetic indicators. Take into account gender, aesthetics, anatomical features.
For example:
- biceps - Any design will look effective here;
- wrist - Here they put inscriptions and bracelets as well as amulets and talismans;
- chest - the chest depict a tattoo of medium size and complexity, preferably a personal character;
- back - here are appropriate large-scale tattoos of different styles and shapes, complex compositions, semantic inscriptions and patterns;
- neck - a small area, requiring a simple and small sketches tattoo;
- hands - A popular way to apply tattoos to the arms is a sleeve with a complex composition;
- hips - Here there may be tattoos of a purely intimate and personal nature;
- legs - On calves and ankles you can depict symbols and zodiac signs, as well as any other tattoos of moderate complexity and size.
Opinion of the expert
Viola Madison
Master of Tattoo, 8 years of experience
When choosing a tattoo sketch to give preference to those images, the semantic message, sacred meaning and design which corresponds to the man's character, his image, lifestyle and professional activity. Tattoo and its owner should not create a dissonance.
Top tattoo ideas
- Anchor - this figure symbolizes the certainty of man in life, the presence of clear principles and views, steadfastness, confidence;
- Children's foot - often chosen by new fathers - a sign of love and devotion to the child, giving priority to the family;
- Moth - symbolizes looseness, freedom, love of life;
- Any of the Asian characters - popular with men, thereby showing the depth of their inner world;
- Compass - signifies balance, adventure-seeking, steadfast principles;
- Any of the zodiac signs - serves as an amulet that protects against evil forces, weaknesses;
- Cross - a Christian symbol whose meaning is to protect against evil forces and bad luck;
- Birds - they are chosen by both boys and girls. They represent freedom, power and independence. If guys choose eagle, girls prefer swallow, which means happiness, youth, hope and comfort;
- Mountains - the bearer of this image emphasizes his freedom and invincibility;
- Triangle with an eye - God's protection from failure and temptation;
- Note, treble clef - suitable for music lovers.
Also, images of animals, stars, names, initials and other inscriptions are well sought after by both genders.
Pitbull
Dogs of this breed are intelligent, strong, but aggressive. They are loyal to one master and fearless when it comes to protecting him. Tattoo with a pit bull - the sign of a strong and brutal man, at any time ready to protect loved ones. He is loyal to his family and treasures friendships.
Good pit bull
evil pit bull
Armor
The armor depicted on the back and shoulders is chosen by men associated with martial arts or skilled with weapons. It is believed that the picture endows with courage and determination, gives strength. Another value tattoo with armor - a shield from life's hardships.
armor on the shoulder
armor with a ship
Ancestral traditions
The tradition to decorate your body with different drawings counts more than 7 thousand years. In those distant times the hard men were obviously not up to amusement and empty adornment. A tattoo for our distant ancestors had a purely practical meaning:
- Various signs on the bodies of brutal prehistoric guys are amulets designed to protect people from various misfortunes.
- In the East, the image of the dragon was very popular, which was considered to be the best way to protect a man from various adversities.
- In the East, the image of the dragon, which, in the opinion of many, could endow the bearer of the tattoo with strength and wisdom to acquire unsurpassed skill.
- Ancient seafarers and travelers stuffed anchors and compasses on their bodies, symbolizing the desire for home harbor, left home.
Thus, most of the men's tattoos with meaning are stuffed in order to bring an element of luck into ordinary life, to get support in a difficult moment.
Salamander
Means constancy, loyalty to the principles of calm, renewal, rebirth. The salamander has its own meaning in the image of the salamander.
- In the Middle Ages, the salamander was a symbol of fighting against inferior desires, as it was considered a sexless animal. In Christianity, it symbolized kindness and goodness.
- In Christianity, it reflected virtue and chastity, often portrayed on the emblems as a sign of triumph of good forces over evil.
- In England, it symbolized courage and bravery. A tattoo with a salamander meant rebirth, restoration, and victory.
salamander with pattern
salamander on the shoulder
Bear
The meaning of the pattern stems from the image of the predator, its behavior, habits and reverence in religions. The image was originally used by Celtic craftsmen as an emblem of warriors and defenders. The bear is a huge, ferocious animal, he must be feared. It is a symbol of bravery, valor, physical strength, and a broad soul. The figure emphasizes that its owner can cope with any obstacles, he is a steadfast and strong protector. Because the predator lived in almost any forest, each nation deified him differently, hence the different meanings of the tattoo.
- A symbol of new life, rebirth in Slavic mythology (in winter the bear sleeps, and in the spring is ready to start a new life cycle).
- Vikings saw the bear as the embodiment of heroism. Their valiant warriors the berserks, dressed in bear skins, fought the outsiders in the first line. They possessed amazing physical strength and fought while wounded. That is why many people put the meaning of bravery, spiritual and physical strength in the drawing.
- In ancient Egypt, such a tattoo had the right to wear only pharaohs, she reported limitless and eternal power, belonging to the world of the gods. In India, the image of a bear was worn by the higher castes.
- A worn picture of a bear symbolizes wisdom and deep inner peace according to the Japanese.
bear face
bear on the shoulder
Bull
A symbol of courage, fertility, and male strength. In ancient Greece, Zeus was transformed into a bull, and Dionysus, the god of wine-making, was drawn with a bull's head. Orgies were held in his honor, and bulls participated in them. One of the fruits of the forbidden connection is the Minotaur, the son of this animal and the queen of Minos, Pasiphae. Hence the sexual connotations of the tattoo. The bull owner is a strong man physically, a reliable defender of his family, he knows no mercy to his enemies. It is not in vain that there is the expression "as stubborn as a bull. Such a person brings all endeavors to the end, firmly goes to the goal. Tattoo with a bull symbolizes that the man fully formed views on life, knows his priorities. People born under the sign of the zodiac Taurus, often choose as a body drawing of the bull, to emphasize the qualities that define the stars - strong spirit, calmness, the ability to keep everything under control.
winged bull
colored bull tattoo
What are they and their meanings
Tattoo amulet is a body image, which has magical properties, which can bring its "owner" happiness, wealth, wisdom and power, and can also protect from all misfortunes and losses. Before you choose a particular image for padding, it is not unreasonable to get acquainted with the variety of existing tattoo amulets for men.
Tattoo amulets of different peoples of the world
Amulets of different peoples of the world have their ethnic colors and national colors. The symbolism of these tattoos is associated with the peoples history, echoes of their legends and culture.
Hindu
Tattoo on the shoulder
Om - brings harmony, inner balance and peace.
Lotus - symbolizes spiritual purity, wisdom in the knowledge of existence, indicates the correct life orientation.
Mandala - symbol of integrity and harmony of the inner self, able to protect from self-destruction because of the many temptations of life.
Indian
Indian
Dreamcatcher - a reliable protector from nightmares and dark forces, he is able to remove all negative thoughts and attitudes from the head.
Feather - a symbol of eternal life and rebirth, as well as physical and inner strength and power.
Kokopelli is an ancient Native American deity capable of increasing prosperity.
Totem animals:
- bear - will give courage and strength;
- Coyote, for cunning and resourcefulness;
- The bull - risk-taking and adventurism;
- Eagle - the love of power and determination.
Celtic
The ancient Celtic patterns are insanely beautiful and have a deep philosophical meaning. Within them are encrypted and hidden religious symbols and signs, whose main meaning lies in the infinity of existence, the cyclical nature of life and its victory over death.
SOURCE! In the old days, tattoos were allowed on the body of men only at a conscious age of 33 years. Young people and adolescents could only wear special symbols - amulets made of wood.
Divine protection
The patronage of a Slavic deity, whose face is applied to the body - what could be better? Such a custom has survived to this day, though the meaning of such images has acquired a slightly different meaning.
Veles is a Slavic god of fertility - the embodiment of the origins of mankind. He is able to provide material stability and prosperity.
Svarog - the patron saint of all living things on earth, who can give his bearer inner strength and harmony in the soul. This amulet represents the union of the other world and the divine.
Perun is the god of lightning and thunder. He will reward his ward with power and the ability to control the destinies of others. Whoever places the image of Perun on his body will become a real warrior, strong and agile.
Dazhdbog - god of the sun, heat and fertility, the true embodiment of light energy. This deity can inspire faith in justice, the victory of good over evil.
Yarilo is a helper of self-control, the ability to hold one's own in any situation. It rewards its wearer with vitality and the ability to find oneself in any situation.
Stribog - lord of the wind, a true ally in the fight against the dark forces.
Veles on the hand
Svarog
Yarilo on his back
Talismans of good luck
A talisman that is always with you is a real dream. One will not lose or forget it.
- A horseshoe is a source of wealth and success, a kind of amulet against dark forces.
- Clover with four leaves - a symbol of good luck and good fortune.
- A grasshopper is an embodiment of creativity and prosperity, longevity and wealth.
- The star is a real magnet of luck.
- Scarab is the embodiment of the immortal soul and all the wisdom of the world.
- A bee is a symbol of longevity and diligence.
- A spider is a protector from negativity in the surrounding world and serious illness.
Gallery with photo examples of sketches
Star on the neck
A horseshoe on the forearm
A bee on the hand
Personal Amulets
To improve one's life, one can put a personal amulet on one's body, which means something that is directly related to the wearer of the tattoo:
- The zodiacal constellation under which the person was born. A connection to the stars will give the wearer of such a tattoo a boost of cosmic energy and help change lives for the better.
- Sign of the Chinese horoscope - the image on the body of the animal symbolizing the year of birth - a reliable talisman and stimulant personality development.
- Totem animal will give his "master" qualities that it is more than endowed.
From the evil eye and spoilage
Those who fear the magic influence will do good with the tattoos that can protect you from the evil eye, spoilage and witchcraft.
- Black sun - strengthen your own energy by strengthening the connection with your genus.
- The fern flower is an embodiment of the power of light, able to resist the dark forces.
- Cross - the most powerful amulet against evil people, evil eyes, evil thoughts.
IMPORTANT! The cross is most appropriately stuffed on your chest or back.
- We symbolize the Buddha, the deity of the East, who is the personification of light. It is necessary to wrap the head of the body with a knot on your chest or back.
- An eye in the pyramid is the all-seeing eye of God, constantly watching over the person. This symbol reflects any negative message, redirecting it to the one who sent it.
- The hands of the praying man signify a prayer constantly offered to God.
- Jesus Christ signifies a constant connection with God.
- The eye of the mountain is the personification of the ancient Egyptian god Ra, who is able to keep out magical influences.
Buddha
Jesus Christ
Cross
Black sun on the chest
Hieroglyphs and runes
Runes - some of the strongest sacred symbols, as well as Japanese and Chinese characters.
Slavic
The world is a source of creative inspiration, which will help to realize the talent, as well as to put in order the inner thoughts.
Krada - divine sparkle, with its help, you can clear thoughts from all bad and unnecessary things.
Odolen-grass - amulet against diseases and ailments, which the ancient beliefs were sent by the dark forces.
A rainbow is an assistant on a long journey; it is a way of reconciliation of order and chaos.
Wind - the path to truth and self-discovery.
Lelia - symbol of the energy of spring water, which can sharpen the inner intuition.
The Wind
Lelja
Odolene-grass
Scandinavian
Caen - symbol of good health, longevity, love and mutual understanding.
Man - assistant in the realization of all opportunities, the source of harmony with the world around us.
Horne is a good luck companion and protector from the evil eye.
Uruz marks the beginning of important changes in life that will change destiny for the better.
Jera is the executor of cherished wishes, the source of good spirits.
Jera
Man
Chinese
吉 - symbolizes good luck, attracts it.
美 - sign of beauty.
愛 - A symbol of love, capable of giving existing relationships harmony and authenticity.
寿 - A symbol of good health.
富 - A personification of wealth, contributing to the consolidation of material wealth.
力 - symbol of strength, which gives confidence in their abilities.
Chinese characters
Chinese hieroglyphs
Japanese
幸 - A symbol of happiness.
吉 - the source of good luck.
富 - a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
愛 - gives a man the love of life and all its components.
恋 - represents passion for a particular person.
Japanese characters.
Japanese characters
Scorpion
In Egypt, the scorpion symbolizes the netherworld, in Japan - loyalty, in Africa - hatred and revenge. You should carefully consider the idea of drawing this picture. A worn picture with a scorpion that has raised its sting is often inscribed by men who have taken part in hostilities. Closed claws are a symbol of military service. Often the meaning of the tattoo can be interpreted as a danger coming from the man. With this image, he warns that it is better not to bully him, otherwise he may respond aggressively.
scorpion on the shoulder blade
scorpion on the shoulder
Benefits of small tattoos
The advantages of small tattoos for men is that they have a low cost, do not require much effort from the master and, practically, do not bring painful sensations. Mini tattoos are printed in just a few minutes, in addition, the process of their removal is as simple as the application.
Small tattoos on your arm, or other body part, can easily be transformed into a whole new look in case you want to reconsider your decision in the future.
Gladiator
Familiar to every schoolboy a warrior from the class of slaves or a prisoner in Ancient Rome. By choosing a gladiator pattern, a man emphasizes his courage and fearlessness. It looks beautiful on a trim, physically strong body. It is preferred by determined people who are not afraid of difficulties and value freedom above all. Sometimes it is associated with an aggressive nature, so the image of a gladiator should not choose people with a soft character.
color gladiator tattoo
gladiator on the shoulder
