Butterfly Tattoos

Butterfly Tattoo Designs & Their Meaning

Butterfly tattoos have been one of the most popular tattoo designs requested by females for the past few years. They have always held a fascination with humans and are often the subject of artistic expression from painting to music. Most people would agree that their uniqueness and striking colors are undeniably beautiful.

Finding the right tattoo design can take some time because of the sheer number of different varieties of this beautiful creature. There are so many ways of rendering them in ink as there are varieties of this beautiful insect. From big bold butterflies, tribal style butterflies to small delicate butterfly tattoo designs and everything in between.

Catharine spotted at Mac's Bar, Hiroshima, Japan © Tao of Tattoos

If you are determined to get a butterfly tattoo it is a good idea to actually have a look at photos of real-life butterflies and not just other pictures of butterfly tattoos. It is also a good idea to know the name both the scientific as well as the common name to deepen your knowledge and impress your friends with your vast knowledge while playing Trivial Pursuit!

While you are at it why not find out some of the more esoteric meanings behind butterflies and also the meaning of butterfly dreams. Below I have given a short description of the meaning of butterflies and also their symbolism in dreams and impress your friends even more!

Why Get a Butterfly Tattoo?

• Butterflies are unique
• They are so colorful and make beautiful tattoos
• They represent the fragility of life
• They are feminine

Facts about Butterflies

• There are about 28,000 known butterfly species.
• Buterflies only fly during the day unlike moths.
• You cannot kill a butterfly by touching its wings

Astrid from Melbourne with custom butterfly © Tao of Tattoos

Esoteric meaning of butterflies

Some cultures believe that butterflies are the souls of the dead while others believe that the appearance of butterflies can signify the arrival of a baby

To see a butterfly among flowers in a dream can signify prosperity and a need to settle down. It mean news from absent friends if they are flying around.

Placement of Butterfly Tattoos

Butterfly tattoos are mostly requested by females. The most common areas where they are done are on the shoulder, lower back, ankle and also in hidden areas such as the pubic region and abdomen.

Kayla's Butterfly tattoo © Kayla, Rineyville, KY, USA

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Click below to see view pictures of tattoos from site visitors, rate their ink and read comments from others about your tattoos.

Butterfly Wrist Tattoo 
Tammie @ Pisst Fish. Took a little over an hour and I think it's totally awesome. Pink is the color of breast cancer awareness and purple is the color ...

Japanese Kanji Tattoo on Back 
My tattooist (martin) from flaming star (Yewtree, Birmingham), he has grey shaded the symbols that start at the top of my neck and end at the base of my ...

Flowers and Butterflys 
This was my FIRST tattoo, friends an family told me i was crazy!!! but love it, it took 3hrs to do, i do have 30mins left to do a couple bits of colour ...

Tribal Butterfly Tattoo 
Beautiful!

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Cool Girly Style Tattoo 
MY FIRST TATTOO WAS THE ONE STAR IN THE CENTER OF THE TRIBAL, IT TOOK ABOUT HALF AN HOUR, THE TRIBAL WAS THE BIGGEST TATTOO IVE GOTTEN EVER. I GOT THE ...

Sexy Tribal Butterfly on Lower Abdomen 
Took about an hour and a half since the position was awkward to tattoo in. Done by Josh at 'Chronic Tattoo' in Elyria, Ohio in 2005.

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Pink and Red Butterfly Tattoo 
Its on my lower back, pink and red butterfly. It took 30 mins and was my first tattoo. I must say it was very painful.

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Floral Tribal Tattoo on Girls Hip 
This is a cover up. It's a flower with tribal tattoo designs on my hip.

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Tribal Style Tattoo on Neck 
It took 2 hours or maybe more to finish..!!

Monarch Butterfly Tattoo Design 
It took about 1 hr to complete and its dark purple and black I like it.

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Butterfly Tattoo 
Well it's really awesome and I love the artist who did it. Her name is Chess she works at Artistic Ink. Oh and the tattoo is in fluorescent color which ...

Sun Dial Tattoo 
Sun flames black on lower back was my first tattoo.

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Beautiful Butterfly Tattoo 
I love Butterflies alot, so a guy I know, drew me a picture. I fell in love with it and decided it meant something more. I got the (first) tattoo in September ...

Custom Butterfly Backpiece Tattoo 
Here is my butterfly backpiece. It took a total of eight hours and three sittings. There were two artists who worked on this piece - Dave of Mom's in Keene,...

Butterfly Tattoo 
MY TATTOO TOOK 2 HRS TO DO

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Butterfly Tattoo Design on Forearm 
I really love butterflies. They reflect how freely I am and how colorful my world is. I got this tattoo done in January 2005. Took one hour to do. From ...

Tribal Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
I designed this tattoo on my 24th b-day and took myself down to the shop and at that time couldn't afford the shading nor stand the sitting so i told myself ...

Heart, Name and Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
My tattoo is a heart with tribal around it with my first sons name in it, it took an hour and a half as it was done by hand by the name of James at place ...

Celtic Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
I got my tattoo done in Ireland at Zulu Tattoo in Dublin. My artist's name was Justin, he was great and very nice. This was my first tattoo and only - for ...

Japanese Butterflies and Cherry Blossoms  Not rated yet
Two butterflies with cherry blossoms around them. It took one and a half hours and was well worth it.

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My Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
My butterfly is unique and beautiful.

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Butterflies and Shoulderpiece Tattoo  Not rated yet
This was my 10th tattoo which my sister designed for me based on a picture i liked i still have lots to be done to it and some tidying up as well. So far ...

Little Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
My tattoo is just a lil butterfly because i got it on my 13th b-day and now im 15 and im gonna get it touched up and add more detail to it.This tattoo ...

Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
This is my one of the 3 tattoos I have.

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Dolphin Tattoo  Not rated yet
OUT OF MY NINE TATTOOS, THIS ONE WAS DONE BY JIMIS TATTOOS IN VA.BEAH. JIMI HAS DONE MOST OF MY TATS AND PIERCINGS, I HAVE 6 OF THEM ON MY BODY.

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Butterfly Tattoos on Back  Not rated yet
My first is the one on my shoulder and it took 2 hours. It is a butterfly with a ribbon around it, stained glass coloring, and my children's names are ...

Music, Treble Cleft & Hearts  Not rated yet
It is a treble cleft that curls into a heart and music notes and hearts around it.

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Butterfly Tattoos  Not rated yet
My tattoo symbolizes my children. I have four little butterflies that will soon to be shaded in... 1 blue for my son and 3 pink for my daughters. I believe ...

Monarch Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
My tattoo is a symbol of my life and love for my family.

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Butterfly Tattoo With Cool Shading  Not rated yet
Butterfly on my right shoulder, took about somewhere between 30 - 45 minutes. wanted a red one so i got the tattooist to design it then i picked the colours ...

Colorful Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
My second tattoo was this beautiful butterfly in the middle of my back, I love the colours in it. It was done by Chad from Underground Ink. It was pretty ...

Colorful Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
My second tattoo was this beautiful butterfly in the middle of my back, I love the colours in it. It was done by Chad from Underground Ink. It was pretty ...

Beautiful Lily Tattoo  Not rated yet
MY TATTOO IS A PURPLE AND PINK LILY. IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. IT WAS DONE BY BRIAN WREN AT THIRD EYE TATTOO IN BROOKLYN, NY.

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Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
Tiger butterfly took about one hour.

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Simple Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
It took about 30 minutes, it's not finished and needs antennae but i love it, it's on my right wrist.

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Tattoo as Remembrance  Not rated yet
On June 11, 2007 my mother died from cancer at 37 and wanted to make sure I would never forget her face. This was my fifth butterfly tattoo and it hurt ...

Memorial Tattoo  Not rated yet
On June 11, 2007 my mother died from cancer at 37 and wanted to make sure I never forgot her face. It took my artist about 1 hour to complete and her did ...

Lower Back Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
i am wanting a small butterfly for my wrist with a tribal waves on it and around it but small.

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Heart Tattoo With Wings  Not rated yet
well its kind of a blurry pic....but it says Caidan inside the heart which is my sons name.

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Butterfly Tattoo With Texas Flag   Not rated yet
My tattoo is a butterfly with the Texas Flag inside of it. It took about an hour to finish.

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Lower Back Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
NEW BEGINNING BUTTERFLY TAT. SYMBOLIZES COMING OUT OF MY OLD LIFE, AND BEGINNING A NEW ONE, A BETTER, BRIGHTER, MORE BEAUTIFUL PERSON. THIS TOOK ABOUT ...

Butterfly & Sun/Moon Tatoo  Not rated yet
The love of this tattoo is intense as it shows all the things i LOVE inside its wings. From the sun & moon to star and purple is my favorite color. I ...

Celtic Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
I ONLY HAVE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE MY TATTOO, BEAUTIFUL! IT TOOK JUST A LITTLE OVER 2 HOURS AND I HAVE IT ON MY LEFT FOREARM. MY TATTOO ARTIST NAME IS EVA....

Cute Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
Not only is it a butterfly but it also has a Gemini sign which represents my horoscope.

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Butterfly Tattoo With Name  Not rated yet
Orange & Green Butterfly with Jason..

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Butterfly Tattoo on Neck  Not rated yet
After visiting many tattoo shops, I finally found the style I was looking for...

My tattoo took one hour to be done (piece of cake for him), and it´...

Simple Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
It took my artist about 20 minutes to finish this one on my shoulder quick and painless i love it, I'm looking to add a flower to it.

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Tattoo of Firefighter and Wife  Not rated yet
Firefighter holding his wife and the two of them together form a heart shape.

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Butterfly Tattoo With Eye Design  Not rated yet
It is a butterfly with a eye in the middle and a tear drop.I got in done in Atlanta, GA.

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Sexy Star Tattoos  Not rated yet
THESE STARS GO DOWN BOTH SIDES OF MY WAIST, AND I HAVE WRITTEN STAR NIGHT ON MY STOMACH. HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

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Unique Butterfly Tattoo Design  Not rated yet
I have 2 tattoos, but this was my first and it's my favorite, I like it 'cause I love the butterflies, i designed it by myself and and took it on Puerto ...

Butterfly Tattoo With Lettering  Not rated yet
My tattoo along with the writing took about 30 minutes. I had my tattoo done in between my shoulder blades. I couldn't add too much detail as I placed ...

Pink and Red Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
On lower back pink and red butterfly, it took 30 mins it was my first tattoo and i must say it was very painful.

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Neck Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
I saw this beautiful tattoo, but I decided to change the color of it to put more of a meaning behind it. I'm brazilian so I wanted my green, yellow and ...

Colorful Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
Very colorful butterfly, took about 4 hours. To me it's a symbol of life being fragile but because the butterfly does not die when you touch its wings ...

Simple Butterfly Tattoo Design  Not rated yet
This tattoo was made above my ankle and it took about 45 mins for the artists to finish it.

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Tribal Tattoo on Lower Back  Not rated yet
I have a tribal on my lower back and it took about 45 minutes.. not 2 sure since it was years ago ..

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Modern Tattoo  Not rated yet
It didn't take that long. I don't guess bout an hour or so..

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