20 Small Tattoos With Big Meanings
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Meaningful Small Tattoos: 20 Tiny Designs That Speak Volumes

Tattoos with meaning you can't deny.

2965224
A young woman expresses herself with a small tattoo that carries great meaning

It's tough to find perfect tattoos with meaning.

You probably want something permanent on your body to mean something deeply, but how do you choose a tattoo that will still be significant in 5, 10, 15, or 50 years? Over time, tattoos have lost much of their stigma and many people consider them a form of art, but it's still possible to get a tattoo you regret.

So here are 20 tattoos you can't go wrong with. Each tattoo has its own unique meaning, but don't blame me if you still have to deal with questions that everyone with a tattoo is tired of hearing!

SEE RELATED: "Please Stop Asking What My Tattoos Mean"

A semicolon

A semicolon tiny tattoo

A semicolon indicates a pause in a sentence but does not end. Sometimes it seems like you may have stopped, but you choose to continue on.

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor."

A smooth sea-inspired lyrical tiny tattoo

Unclosed Delta, Strategy Symbols

An unclosed Delta tiny tattoo

Top symbol: unclosed delta symbol which represents open to change. Bottom symbol: strategy.

Open Moon

An open moon tiny tattoo

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."

Viking Symbol

A Viking symbol tiny tattoo

Meaning "create your own reality."

Greek symbol of Inguz

A Greek symbol Inguz tiny tattoo

Where there's a will, there's a way

Deer

A deer tiny tattoo

Psalm 18:33 "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights."

'Ohm'

An Ohm tiny tattoo

Represents 4 different states of consciousness and a world of illusion: waking (jagrat), dreaming (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti), transcendental state (turiya) and world of illusion (maya).

Alchemy

An alchemy tiny tattoo

Symbolizes copper, means love, balance, feminine beauty, and artistic creativity.

The Greek word “Meraki" 

A Greek word tiny tattoo

To do something with soul, passion, love, and creativity or to put yourself into whatever you do.

Malin (Skövde, Sweden)

A Malin tiny tattoo

You have to face setbacks to be able to go forward.

Symbol meaning "thief" from "The Hobbit"

A thief symbol tiny tattoo

It was the rune Gandalf etched into Bilbo's door so the dwarves could find his house.

“Lux in tenebris"

A Latin phrase tiny tattoo

Means "light in darkness."

Anchor Tattoo

An anchor tiny tattoo

Symbolizing strength and stability, something (or someone) who holds you in place, and provides you the strength to hold on no matter how rough things get.

Ad Maiora"

A Latin phrase tiny tattoo

Translated literally as "Towards greater things." It is a formula of greeting used to wish more success in life, career or love.

A glyph

A glyph tiny tattoo

Means "explore." It was meant as a reminder for me to never stop exploring.

"Aut inveniam viam aut faciam"

A Latin phrase for a tiny tattoo

Means roughly, "Either I shall find a way, or I will make one."

Lotus Flower

A lotus flower tiny tattoo

It grows in muddy water, and it is this environment that gives forth the flower's first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment.

The zen (or ensō) circle

A zen circle tiny tattoo

Represents enlightenment, the universe and the strength we all have inside of us.

The moon affirms life.

A moon-affirming life tattoo

It looks as if it is constantly changing. Can remind us of the inconsistency of life. It also symbolizes the continuous circular nature of time and even karma.



SEE ALSO: Sorry That You're Offended, But I Won't Apologize For My Tattoos

Report this Content
Student Life

100 Reasons to Choose Happiness

Happy Moments to Brighten Your Day!

32685
A man with a white beard and mustache wearing a hat

As any other person on this planet, it sometimes can be hard to find the good in things. However, as I have always tried my hardest to find happiness in any and every moment and just generally always try to find the best in every situation, I have realized that your own happiness is much more important than people often think. Finding the good in any situation can help you to find happiness in some of the simplest and unexpected places.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas

Remember The True Meaning of Christmas

“Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you?”

3334
A painting of the virgin Mary, the baby Jesus, and the wise men

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year. Christmastime is a celebration, but have we forgotten what we are supposed to be celebrating? There is a reason the holiday is called Christmas. Not presentmas. Not Santamas. Not Swiftmas. Christmas.

boy standing in front of man wearing santa claus costume Photo by __ drz __ on Unsplash



What many people forget is that there is no Christmas without Christ. Not only is this a time to spend with your family and loved ones, it is a time to reflect on the blessings we have gotten from Jesus. After all, it is His birthday.


Keep Reading...Show less
Golden retriever sat on the sand with ocean in the background
Photo by Justin Aikin on Unsplash

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore my dog. I am constantly talking about my love for her. I attribute many of my dog's amazing qualities to her breed. She is a purebred Golden Retriever, and because of this I am a self-proclaimed expert on why these are the best pets a family could have. Here are 11 reasons why Goldens are the undisputed best dog breed in the world.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Boyfriend's Christmas Wishlist: 23 Best Gift Ideas for Her

Here are the gifts I would like to ask my boyfriend for to make this season unforgettable.

89689
Young woman opening a Christmas gift

Recently, an article on Total Sorority Move called 23 Things My Boyfriend Better Not Get Me For Christmas, was going around on social media. I hope the author of this was kidding or using digital sarcasm, but I am still repulsed and shocked by the lack of appreciation throughout this article. I would like to represent the girlfriends out there who disagree with her standpoint -- the girlfriends who would be more than happy to receive any of these gifts from their boyfriends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Two teenage girls smiling

The 2000s were a time that many young adults today can look back on, joyfully reminisce and somewhat cringe at the trends and the fads that we all used to love and adore. Here's a list of things from the golden 2000s that will have one feeling nostalgic about all of those times.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments