101+ Top Skull Tattoos And Designs For Men & Women

Published on July 3, 2018 , under Tattoos

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The skull is a symbol of rebel or death and mortality. There are a lot of meanings that the skull tattoos can hold depending upon the wearer’s choice and characteristics that the wearer wants to highlight by the tattoo. This is a very striking tattoo design which can easily grab the attention of people. This tattoo can also hold optimistic meanings like protection of valuables or overcoming difficulties. One big motivation that this symbol of death can give is to live life at its best and enjoy every moment of life. The skull is a symbol of Pirates and they inspire people towards freedom which is another reason for many people choosing to wear this tattoo.

The skull tattoo can also symbolize that the wearer is not afraid of death and has accepted the fact that everything that has come to this world will come to an end. The person wearing this tattoo can also associate his menacing or dark persona with the tattoo. There are different things that a skull tattoo can symbolize depending upon the element added with the tattoo or whether the tattoo is for male or female. The skull tattoo is considered to be rather cool tattoo design among men and is heavily carried by them. Some of the different types of skull tattoo ideas with their meanings are:

Skull and flowers tattoo: The skull tattoo is a symbol of death and the flowers are the opposite of this. They are a symbol of beauty, nature and life and this contrasting combo symbolizes the two things life and death at the same time. Among all other skull and flowers tattoo the skull with rose is the most popular. A skull with a rose on its mouth is the most basic of the skull and rose tattoo.

Death’s Head skull tattoo: This skull tattoo had originated in the Elizabethan England. Death’s head is also known as “totenkopf” in German. This tattoo has a skull without lower jaw with two crossed bones also inked with it sometimes. This design is often worn by drug dealers and prostitutes as it symbolizes moral looseness.

Flying Skull tattoo: Wings are a symbol of freedom and flight while the skull symbolizes mortality. The symbolism that this tattoo holds is a combination of the meaning of these two elements together. This tattoo symbolizes the freedom from the burden of life. This tattoo can also symbolize ending a previous time in one’s life. It is a symbol of the progression of human soul through the afterlife. This tattoo is heavily carried at the chest and back.

Grim Reaper tattoo: It is not all the skull tattoos represent something bad or related to mortality. The Grim Reaper tattoo is the most simplest of the skull tattoo and it symbolizes good fortune and courage. This tattoo has a long scythe and a black robe. This tattoo looks scarier than the other skull tattoo due to the dark color but it holds more positive meanings than the other skull tattoos.

Serpent Skull tattoo: This tattoo is usually depicted in the American Traditional Style. It symbolizes a deeper meaning of knowledge as its persistence beyond death. In Western societies, both the images clubbed together represent the complete destruction of a being. In other cultures the image symbolizes the cycle of birth and death as snakes are the embodiment of healing and rebirth while the skull is related with mortality.

Sugar Skull tattoo: This skull tattoo originated from Mexico where there is a festival known as “Dias De los Muertos” which means “Day of the Dead”. This tattoo is also known as the Mexican Skull tattoo. In this festival decorated skulls called as sugar skulls are made which are edible and decorated with icing sugar and sweets. This tattoo combines death and beauty and is a symbol of a departed soul. It can also symbolize a relationship with the afterlife or acceptance of one’s own mortality.

Celtic Skull tattoo: The Celtic skulls have great significance in Celtic culture. They were very much interested in the notions of openings like gateways and doors. The human skull also has five openings (two eyes, two nose cavities, one mouth) but the three openings (two eyes and mouth) when inverted represent the Celtic theme- TRINITY. This is a symbol of Magic, transition and creation which is represented by this tattoo.

Shakespeare Skull tattoo: Shakespeare’s play Hamlet has the scene where Hamlet laments the death of Jester and Yorick remarked that he was “fellow of infinite jest” while gazing at his skull. It is this skull which is inked in the Shakespeare skull tattoo and it is often represented by a hand holding the skull. It symbolizes union of humor and death along with life’s absurdity.

Deer Skull tattoos: The deer skull tattoo hold meaning as the balance of life and death. The deer skull tattoo symbolizes the transition from the physical to the spiritual body and this tattoo is heavily carried at the chest or back by men. It is also a symbol of longevity. This tattoo can also be inked to show the love of deer as graceful animals.

Skull crossbones tattoo: The skull was an emblem of the Pirates and this tattoo is the Pirates’ skull symbol. This tattoo is often associated with the life of a pirate which is of ruthlessness and despair. This is most famed on appearing on the pirate flags known as Jolly Roger. This symbol is also present of the bottles of poison and hence this is another meaning that the skull crossbones tattoo represents.