Tattoo designs

What is the Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos

Mary Smith
By Mary Smith. Updated: January 16, 2017
What is the Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos
Image: flickr.com

Butterflies are beautiful creatures that many people choose to tattoo on their bodies. Butterfly tattoos can usually be seen in women and have great symbolism. Their colours and shape make butterflies perfect for tattoos as they look great on the skin, but besides looking beautiful, they represent many things. Read this OneHowTo article if you want to know what the meaning of butterfly tattoos is.

You may also be interested in: What is the Meaning of Fairy Tattoos

Contents

  1. Resurrection and transformation
  2. Feminity
  3. Love and spirituality
  4. A connection with nature
  5. Where to place it and how to complement it

Resurrection and transformation

Butterflies are animals that have a short life which develops in different stages. Before turning into butterflies they are caterpillars that turn into chrysalis. These then undergo a metamorphosis and turn into beautiful butterflies. This is why some people choose to have a butterfly tattoo. They represent rebirth, turning from a creature that no one notices into something beautiful.

Butterfly tattoos are often used by people who have gone through a tough period in their lives and have got over it. It is very common among women who have suffered breast cancer and have defeated it, as a sign of being born again as something beautiful, despite the struggles.

What is the Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos - Resurrection and transformation
Image: flickr.com

Feminity

Butterfly tattoos can be found on both men and women, but they are more common among women. Their wings are delicate and colourful and represents something gentle and delicate that has to live in the wild. It is a great symbol for feminity as it represents tenderness but at the same time strength to face the problems in the nature and in life.

Love and spirituality

The greek word for butterfly is psyche. This word comes from the Greek goddess Psyche, the goddess of the Soul, which was often represented with butterfly wings. According to the Greek mythology, Psyche married Eros, the god of Love, Desire and Affection. For this reason, butterfly tattoos represent the connection between love, soul and the mind, indicating that all are capable of being together.

Depending on the area of your body where you put your tattoo it can be highly erotic and sensual. Butterfly tattoos on the upper or lower back area are filled with erotism and look really good on women.

What is the Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos - Love and spirituality
Image: flickr.com

A connection with nature

Having a tattoo of a butterfly can also mean that you have a deep connection with nature and with all its elements. Butterflies fly around stopping at flowers and bringing colours and grace to nature. They're delicate creatures that can represent the need to care for nature so we don't lose beautiful species.

Where to place it and how to complement it

Butterfly tattoos look good in any part of your body. You can choose to have a small one on your wrist or a big monarch butterfly on your back.

Also, you can complement your butterflies with flowers or other drawings. A single butterfly will represent transformation, while a butterfly with flowers can represent a connection with nature and two butterflies might symbolize love. It depends on what you want your tattoo to represent to yourself.

If you would like to know what the meaning of other tattoos is, don't miss out these OneHowTo articles in which we explain the meaning of anchor, bird, feather, owl, star and wolf tattoos.

If you want to read similar articles to What is the Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.

Write a comment

What did you think of this article?
Image: flickr.com
Image: flickr.com
Image: flickr.com
1 of 3
What is the Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos