Heart and Love Tattoo Designs

The heart has been thought to be the symbol of love and commitment for thousands  of years. The original reason for the wedding ring being put on the forth finger of the left hand as it was believed there was a vein running from it right to the heart.

The heart tattoo is one of the most popular traditional tattoos for men as well as women. The heart with script around depicting ‘Mother’ or ‘My gorgeous wife Jessica’ is one of those sailor tattoos that can be traced back for hundreds of years. Traditional tattoos have become a lot more popular in the last few years, with artists adding a bit of a twist in either script or style.  

Hearts have been used symbolically for not just love in ancient civilisations.  It used to represent lust as the shape looked like a fennel seed, which was used as a natural contraceptive.

In Middle Age England the heart shape would have the Christian meaning of faith, hope and love, also as the Holy Grail.  Not only that but a symbol of virtue, truth and knowing.

What can also look quite affective is the heart incorporated in another tattoo. Some people like to have a larger design signifying an important event such as their marriage and then add a heart for every child that is born. 

Hearts with wings and also with angels can make beautiful tattoos that women especially choose. On the flip side to make a more dramatic tattoo the use of the atomically correct heart can make a real statement. 

The use of the heart symbol to make a love memorial tattoo can make a very effective tattoo. Not necessarily just a heart with wings or on its own, but for example being held by an angel, with some script or as part of a portrait of the one you love. 

The sacred heart is an old Irish tattoo, where a heart is held by two hands with a crown on the top of the heart. It is a powerful symbol of friendship and an eternal bond between two people. These are also the traditional engagement rings for young couples about to get married, this is called the Claddagh ring. 

The picture (left) depicts one version of the Catholic heart.  Many pieces of Catholic art work with images of Mary the Virgin or Jesus will have a small heart either being held or like in this picture on their chest.  Catholic heart designs will have flames coming out of the top as a background for the cross image, and the crown of thorns going around the centre of the heart.

The heart is a favorite for women who only want a very small tattoo, as it can be positioned subtly on places like the wrist, hip and ankle. Small hearts can be beautifully extended if the person want to add wings, swirling patterns or leaves. 

Another traditional heart tattoo is the ‘True love’ tattoo, where a dagger pierces the heart. It represents a strong relationship, where your partner has taken hold of your heart. Often the ‘True Love’ tattoo will have names on the bottom of the banner so that the name of your beloved is permanently etched on your skin. The dagger through the heart can also mean a betrayal. Some like to have the daggered heart to remember that heart ache and know never to repeat the same mistakes again. 

Other similar designs are the broken heart that can be used as a therapeutic tattoo to get over your broken relationship. It can also be used in a more positive way in a memorial tattoo for someone you lost: mother, brother, son or grandparent you were close to. 

Tribal hearts are another way to depict a heart. It is made up of different lines in a swirling pattern to make up the outline of a heart. They are usually are done in black and grey; however, bold colors such as red and dark blue can be added to make it more dramatic. (for more tribal ideas see Tribal Tattoo Designs)

More and more people are now have the atomically correct heart in their tattoo design.  This is where the heart is drawn as it actually appears in your body.  There can be several reasons for this, one is that especially joined with a broken heart or a pin up girl it can make for a dramatic style.  Other reasons is that the heart symbolised life, womanhood, light and warmth.