There are few tattoo designs that can rival the beauty and elegance that floral tattoos bring to the table. And as far as floral tattoos designs go, few flowers are as popular as the rose. As we all know, the rose is one of the most common and at the same time one of the most beautiful and meaningful motifs in the art of tattoos. Most of those who choose a rose tattoo are doing it only for aesthetic reasons or for the obvious symbolism (delicate beauty or love) but you should know that there is a wealth of culture behind rose symbolism that can be different based on different elements, like color, whether or not the rose is “open.”, etc.

If you’re among those who besides the aesthetics of a tattoo, take in consideration the symbolism behind it (the wise thing to do), in the lines below you’ll find what you should know about the meaning of a rose tattoo.

Roses are not only a beautiful flower but have been popular choice for both men and women for a tattoo since the 1930’s. So what does the rose tattoo symbolize ? As we mentioned above, your first thought may be in regard to its delicate beauty or its representation of love, inner and outer beauty and whilst you would be right there is also so much more to this beautiful flower.

What does a rose tattoo symbolize?

There are a vast number of rose tattoo designs, meanings and ways that they are incorporated into a design – some of which may include:

– femininity – roses are often strategically placed on a woman’s body to highlight areas that the wearer would like to highlight. In addition, roses –whether or not they are the focus of the tattoo – bring a feminine touch to any design, even more ‘masculine’ tattoos such as weaponry.
– spiritual allegiance – roses are commonly used to border tattoos depicting a thorny crown, sacred heart, Buddha, or any number or religious images.
– sexuality – Symbolism used to signify sexuality can be positive or have a darker meaning; for example, a bed of roses beneath a woman might signify confidence, power, or owning one’s sexuality, while thorny roses are sometimes used to signify a rough sexual history that one has overcome.
– love – this is probably the most common metaphor for roses. This meaning is used in tattoos that pay tribute to loved ones, those created to represent a relationship, or even to signify that one is unlucky in love or that love remains elusive.
– tribute – roses appear frequently within tattoos that are created for loved ones who have passed on, and the wearer may select a color based on the relationship shared with the deceased.

Besides those mentioned above, you should also know that the color you choose for your rose will have a different meaning ( for example, yellow rose historically meant jealousy but is now a symbol of happiness, safety against envious lovers, and a mature love, a black rose can represent death, farewell/goodbye, sorrow, loss, love that continues after death, dying love, and sometimes it can stand for beliefs or an affiliation such as: black magic, anarchy).

Also, the number of petals on a rose is associated with numerology and whether or not your rose is open or still in bud.

Another aspect that you must consider if you opt for a rose tattoo is represented by the additional elements that you can incorporate into the design ( for example, add a dagger and you have a love-hate relationship, or a cross and you have a memorial tattoo for a beloved one).

Jaw-dropping rose tattoo designs to immortalize beauty on your skin

For whatever reason you go with the rose tattoo , it’s going to be beautiful, colorful and best of all full of nuances and meanings that will make you smile just by looking at it. This is what people who get tattoos dream off – something beautiful that is rich in symbolism, has a weighty history and is great to look at.

In the image gallery below you’ll fin ad selection with 50 of the most beautiful rose tattoo designs from our point of view so go ahead and feed your ink addiction!


yellow rose tattoo

 tattoo artist © Freddie Albrighton Tattoo

rose tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Edan Weiss

awesome rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Michelle Maddison

rose tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

rose tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Joice Wang

black & gray rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Lazer Liz

back rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Zoe Elliot

jaw-dropping rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

awesome black & gray rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Deanna Smith

rose armband tattoo

tattoo artist © Jefree

awesome rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Cristian Romero Magdalena


minimalist rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Cansu Olga

rose tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Antonina Troshina

creative rose tattoo designs

tattoo artist © NIK SQUARE

beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Anna Yershova

minimalist rose tattoo design

tattoo artist © Júlia Saccardo

neck rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Gregorio Castaño Gallego

awesome rose tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Antonina Troshina

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Yeliz Ozcan

cool rose tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

cool rose tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Anna Yershova

awesome rose tattoos

tattoo artist © André Felipe

tattoo artist © Yeliz Ozcan

cool rose tattoo designs

tattoo artist © tattooist_banul

most beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Andrés Acosta

cool rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Chloe Aspey

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Vlad Tokmenin

awesome rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Joice Wang

rose tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Georgia Grey

creative rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Steph Hesketh Tattoo

awesome rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Bobby Loveridge

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Joice Wang


black & gray rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Edan Weiss

jaw-dropping rose tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Anna Yershova

creative rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Dragon Bang Bang NYC

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Steph Hesketh Tattoo

abstract rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Vlad Tokmenin

colorful rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Freddie Albrighton

black & gray rose tattoo

tattoo artist © olga_tattoos

spine rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Bethany Rivers

awesome yellow rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

foot rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Robson Carvalho


rose in glass tattoo

tattoo artist © Joanna Litwin

colorful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Bryan Gutierrez

awesome rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Serge Tattooer

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © OXEL®

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Bethany Rivers

cute rose tattoos

tattoo artist © tattooist_banul

black rose tattoo

tattoo artist © olga_tattoos

beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Antonina Troshina

watercolor rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Anita Olivetti

spine rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Anna Yershova

colorful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © OXEL®


black & gray rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Anatole Bang Bang NYC

awesome watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © LCjunior – Juninho

 

beautiful yellow rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Antonina Troshina

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Chloe Aspey

X-ray rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Joice Wang

beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © LCjunior – Juninho

watercolor rose tattoo

tattoo artist © Anita Olivetti

black rose tattoo

tattoo artist © olga_tattoos

minimalist rose tattoo

tattoo artist © STUDIOBYSOL_donghwa

illustrative rose tattoo by Robson Carvalho

tattoo artist © Robson Carvalho

beautiful rose tattoos

tattoo artist © Pony Wave

rose tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Anna Yershova

rose tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Michelle Maddison

rose tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Antonina Troshina

For more ink inspiration, also see:

50 Eye-Catching Lion Tattoos That’ll Make You Want To Get Inked
Niki Norberg, the Master of Hyperrealistic Tattoos
50 Of The Most Beautiful Wolf Tattoo Designs The Internet Has Ever Seen
Deborah Genchi Creates Incredibly Versatile Tattoos
50 Meaningful and Beautiful Sun and Moon Tattoos