Introduction to Name Tattoos

Name tattoos are and will always be popular. Names are labels used to signify our identity. For that reason, they make great tattoos. However, one must remember that tattoos are permanent. It doesn’t seem to make much difference, though; if desire drives you to seek out a name tattoo, it’s virtually an unstoppable urge. This urge usually comes from the heart. Because you have felt some sort of deep emotion about your relationship with this person and want to have, they permanently become a part of your body. Ink will do that for you. 

For some, it’s the birth of a child, others a deceased loved one, a new love, a person who has put you on a path of righteousness, or someone who has saved your life in one way or another. A suggestion for those who are not sure about a name tattoo is to consider placing it in a hidden spot. These are the most commonly requested types of name tattoos, and your name tattoo ideas will probably fall in here somewhere.

Name Tattoo Ideas

Last Names

Getting a tattoo of your last name is a great way to show family pride. Your family name on your body shows respect to your family and ancestors. Women may choose their birth name when taking on a new name for their name tattoo. This same idea applies to cultures that carry both the matriarchal and patriarchal naming patterns, and they now live in a country that doesn’t understand. They may want to illustrate the last name they no longer use.

For tattoo ideas, let’s design a pattern on the upper back. Using cursive style lettering and filling each letter more solid at the bottom will give a bold and dimensional look, and the cool part is they will have to look for a bit to read it. The men may want to add scroll work all around the tattoo. The girls may wish to add flowers, angel wings, or a cherub.

Cool Designs

Cool name tattoos refer to the font used in the lettering of the tattoo, or in some cases, the use of objects or things used as the last name. If you are tattooing your name, there are hundreds of font options available to choose from. You will have to work with your artist on this.

For instance, if your last name happens to be an object or a thing like Rose, Green, or Jackson, use it for your last name. As a sample, Linda Rose would have Linda with a long red stem rose behind the name. A person with the last name Jackson could use a jack, a toy jack, and the paper money with the illustration of Andrew Jackson on it.

Tribal Design

Tribal name tattoos can be fun to design and very interesting to look at for the viewer as well. When done in a tribal flame or razor wire design with borders, the name tends to blend in and take the viewer a minute or two to see your name in it. Names in tribal designs also look good when used in animals like turtles, dolphins, or wolves.

Kids Name

Kids name tattoos have a long history in the tattoo world. For many parents, this is the only tattoo they have. There are many designs and fonts available to be used. A simple tattoo idea may be the child’s name with the date of birth under it. For a more complex design, place the Childs’s image above the name with banners in rich boy colors or girl colors. If possible, leave room in the tattoo design just in case you have a second or third child.

Names with Heart

Names with hearts are popular with both men and women. This tattoo design represents love for your spouse, mom, dad, grandparents, and even your pet. An idea for heart name tattoos could be using a red heart as the background image with your mom’s name in the center, then cross two yellow roses under the heart with scroll or banner work off to the sides of the heart.

Celtic Designs

Celtic name tattoos in their woven knot patterns are a great looking tattoo. The rich history and classic look set these tattoos apart from the rest. As a sample Celtic name tattoo, try your name in a half circle in Celtic knots above a three leaf clover, also in Celtic knot pattern, with each clover in green, white, and red ink.

Chinese Name Tattoos

Chinese name tattoos are highly used today. By entering your name in a translator application, you can see your name in Chinese to form your pattern. The Chinese lettering looks very bold and stands out when done in dark ink. Try using the Chinese lettering running down the dragon’s back centerline with its wings spread wide open.

Coloring

Name tattoos are generally inked in dark colors such as black and dark blue. However, many people add additional items to their name tattoos. These are often inked in full color. Flowers, banners, scrolls, portraits, stars, footprints, and background shading will only add to those name tattoos. You will be choosing from an array of colors, so it is always best to keep in mind that body art is part of what your wear every day.

For women, consider your skin color and the color of clothing you most commonly wear that will complement your name tattoos. If you are using a flower and you like purple, consider white, yellow, or red flowers. For men, sometimes just colored shading in the scroll will show off that additional item. Excellent choices for that scroll are turquoise, other blues, greens, and reds.

Placement

Typical placement for larger personal name tattoos is the upper back. Children’s names tattoos are most often seen on the arms where they are easily visible; again, keep in mind to save room for additional children! Smaller name tattoos can be placed just about anywhere you want, hands, ankle, feet, neck, fingers, wrists, lower back, hip, and legs for those of you who want hidden name tattoos; breast, buttocks, behind the ear, and low on the hip.

Name Tattoo Designs and Ideas

Name Tattoos on Arm

The upper arm is not a very common placement for name tattoos, but they still look good on the biceps or back of the arm.

Name Tattoos on Back

If you are thinking about a bigger piece, then get it on the back. Name tattoos look great in bold, ornate, or cursive fronts on the upper back for men. Women can get the names on the back of the shoulder blades or the spine.

Name Tattoos on Chest

If you are getting a large name tattoo on the chest, then place it o the center. It allows you to incorporate more designs, and you can expand the tattoo on both sides. The most common placement is on the left side of the chest, which represents keeping the loved ones close to your heart.

Name Tattoos on Forearm

The forearm is probably the most popular place for getting a name tattoo. When you are getting the name of your loved one tattooed on you, you would like it to be visible to everyone. You can see the tattoo clearly on the forearm, and if you need to cover it, you can easily do it with a long sleeve shirt.

Name Tattoos on Biceps

Name Tattoos on Neck

Getting a name tattoo on the neck is a pretty bold move. Boys often get names tattoos on the side of the neck. If you like to keep it discrete, consider getting the tattoo on the back of the neck, which is a more common placement for girls.

Name Tattoos on Rib

Rib tattoos are probably the most painful tattoos. You have two options for a name tattoo on the ribs. You can either get the name in big fonts covering the entire side vertically or horizontal in the middle.

Name Tattoos on Shoulder

Name Tattoos on Wrist