10 Most Popular Tattoo Designs That Never Get Old

Of all the things that will surprise you, the most popular tattoo designs probably aren’t one of them. From the controversial tribal tats to the fine line artwork currently dominating the industry, we’ve got some of the most popular tattoos in the biz.

You can’t relive the naughty nineties without busting out your tribal armband tattoo. Tribal-style tattoos, with their blackwork and traditional motifs, were everywhere. Thankfully, they fell out of favor, and these tattoos aren’t nearly as popular as they once were.

Today, we can recognize the problematic nature of tribal tattoos being applied to non-community members of the groups whose art and symbolism they use. It’s a vestige of colonialism at its finest and has been on the outs for years.

If you were an adventurous gal in the 1990s and early 2000s, you probably have a half-faded butterfly tattoo somewhere. Whether it’s at the nape of your neck, stretched across the top of your foot, or tucked into a tramp stamp, butterflies remain a popular tattoo design today.

Nowadays, a triple butterfly motif in motion is a common choice and shows how even popular tattoo designs can change over time.

D helped revitalize the star tat in the 2010s with his outlined elbow star tattoo.

Nautical stars, in particular, have been a mainstay in tattoo culture for a few decades. While the refined shapes we know today might not have been the exact ones sailors were getting in the late 19th century, they bridge the gap between early tattooing and modern practices.

From full-on bouquets to every rose design under the sun, flower tattoos are a dime a dozen. Since flowers can be molded into practically every tattooing style, they’re a perfect gateway design for first-timers. It’s so customizable that it’s not surprising they’ve stayed as popular as they have.

Dragons are incredibly popular choices, though people who love Chinese and Japanese art styles are particularly drawn to them. Though you can get small dragon tattoos, most people prefer to save large parts of their bodies for big pieces.

From arm or leg sleeves to full back pieces, dragon tattoos, with their fierce faces and winding bodies, are a classic design option.

Related: Tips to Make DIY Temporary Tattoos Even Tattoo Artists Will Be Jealous Of

Skulls might be the gothiest of the tattoo designs on our list, but they’ve been around for decades. The possibilities are endless, from having flowers bursting out of the back to hiding a plain skull on the palm of your hands. Pay homage to the edgy nature of tattoos with a well-placed skull.

Cats are elegant predators, capable of both grace and violence. It’s unsurprising that they’d be a huge appeal for guys, gals, and nonbinary pals around the world. These majestic creatures might have been novel a few years ago, but they’re par for the course today.

Interestingly, religious symbols are another popular tattoo design. Though this feels like an oxymoron — as the taboo history of tattooing doesn’t jive with most traditional and fundamentalist religious doctrine — people love to wear their devotion on their skin. And when it comes to religious tattoos, crosses, fish, and bible verses make up a large majority of them.

Memorial tattoos can be literally anything, but they’re one of the most common types of tattoos. In many cases, they’re someone’s first and only tattoo. These incredible pieces of artwork are reflections of the beauty that can come out of grief. And since everyone experiences grief at some point in their lives, it’s no wonder that this category would call to people the whole world over.

Undoubtedly, the latest trend to really take over the tattooing world is fine-line tattoos. These ultra-wispy designs often feature flowers, birds, or cursive lettering in grayscale. These tattoos stand in stark contrast to the American traditional style and its thick outlines/bold color that broke onto the scene 70+ years ago.

Though these tattoos have their fans and detractors, they don’t look like they’re disappearing anytime soon.

Tattoos can elicit the same shock and awe that artwork on the walls of a museum can. They’re simultaneously personal and public. Invite the world to see your personality and life experiences in a new light through one of these iconic tattoo designs.