Heart Tattoo Designs

Heart designs are a classic and standard among tattoo aficionados. Hearts are seen as symbols of togetherness and love, more so, romantic or erotic love. However, in tattoo designs, it is not necessary that the same meaning is interpreted by everyone. There are many meanings attached to the hearts. Depending on the personality of the individual, the meaning of a heart design changes. The meanings also change when the heart is combined with any other symbol.

History of Tattoos with Hearts

Heart tattoos became popular in the early 1900's. It was started by men who were going to far off lands. Sailors or soldiers who were leaving to fight in the World War II were the ones who started the trend of getting tattooed with heart designs. Sailors chose the red heart with mom written in the center. Soldiers, on the other hand, got hearts tattooed on their person with their girlfriends'/wives' names before they left for war.

Types of Heart Designs for Tattoos

There are a number of varieties of tattoo designs that incorporate the heart iconography. Some of the designs may seem similar but they often have their own unique aspects.

Sacred Heart
There are many variations of the sacred heart. However, a typical sacred heart is seen surrounded by thorns and there is a flame escaping from the top. If tattoos with hearts are to be seen from the religious angle, then these can be regarded as Christian symbols. They symbolize devotion to the Divine Heart of Jesus Christ. The symbol also seems to represent His love for humanity.

Locked Heart
A locked heart is a very common tattoo design. This is one of the common tattoo designs for women as well as men. Many times, this design is made by couples who want to share a permanent symbol of their relationship with the design of a locked heart and a key. Often, couples choose to divide the tattoo design between themselves. One of the partners gets tattooed with a locked heart while the other partner gets the tattoo of the symbolic key to the locked heart. This tattoo design has become a rage as it is a better and safer way to share a tattoo as compared to a tattoo with a name which loses its significance in case the relationship ends.

Tribal Heart
There are a multitude of tribal heart tattoo designs. Like most of the tattoos with hearts, the tribal versions are also associated with love. However, they have a tribal touch. The design often consists of black lines which form the heart.

Pierced Heart
This is a symbol for lost love or it can also represent that the wearer of the tattoo is hurt in love. A variety of objects can be used to pierce the heart. The objects used include arrows, daggers or any other sharp piercing object. If someone wants to be creative, they may even opt for wooden stakes to pierce the heart. This is another common design for men and women. A pierced heart with an arrow can also mean that Cupid has struck the person and the person has fallen in love.

Winged Heart
There are a number of meanings attached to a heart with wings. For some, it means free spiritedness and lightheartedness as well as a jovial disposition. Yet, there are others who look at a heart with wings as a sign of the person being left alone with the loved having passed away.

Realistic Heart
A realistic heart is a little more edgy as there is realism attached to it. A typical real heart will have the shape of a biological heart with arteries and veins running through and across them. Of the number of heart tattoo designs for women and men, this has become a hot favorite in recent times. If one has to look at these tattoos, symbolically, they are not different from the other designs.

When you decide upon a heart design, you should decide what you would want the tattoo to symbolize. There are various other additions which you can add to the image of a heart to make it unique and also customize it according to the meaning you want it to reflect. Take your time before you decide on the design. Remember, it is going to be a permanent mark, so choose wisely!