10 Hummingbird Tattoo Meanings
Table of Contents
Image courtesy of Instaloverz @ Pinterest.com
Curious about hummingbird tattoo meanings? We’ve got you covered!
Hummingbirds are literally the fastest flyers in nature.
They’ll zip in to drink nectar from a flower and be gone in seconds and you won’t even know what happened.
They’ve been loved and admired by various traditions throughout history. And nowadays, these naturally beautiful and stunningly fast creatures have become an incredibly popular choice for tattoos on both men and women alike.
But what exactly does a hummingbird tattoo mean? And is this the right design for your next ink?
Below we’re exploring the different meanings of a hummingbird tattoo and helping you explore different styles, designs and ideas to choose from.
10 Unique Meanings Of A Hummingbird Tattoo
Whether modern or ancient, the hummingbird can carry a lot of deep meaning and artistic expression including being a symbol of:
- – Freedom
- – Happiness
- – Spirituality
- – Love
- – Romance
- – Resilience
- – Adaptability
- – Beauty
- – Vibrant energy
If you look throughout history and in different cultures you will find all sorts of different meanings that a hummingbird tattoo might symbolize.
Here are some of those meanings you might want to choose for your own tattoo.
#1 – Showing off one’s free spirited nature
If you’ve ever watched a hummingbird buzz around it’s easy to see why they can be a symbol of a free spirit. They flit around in the present moment and can get from A to B in seconds. So they can be a great tattoo that symbolizes one’s own free spirited nature.
#2 – Freedom and love of life
Because of their speed and free spirited nature hummingbirds are a profound symbol of freedom. So if freedom and love of life have any personal significance to you, a hummingbird tattoo might be just what you need to show off your true character.
#3 – Natural beauty and uniqueness
Hummingbirds often have brightly coloured feathers. Females are usually less colourful. But males display bright colours. Either way their colourful exteriors are a great way to embody natural beauty and individuality.
#4 – Messengers of hope and happiness
Some people view hummingbirds as messengers of hope and happiness, especially in the western world and some forms of medicine. The hummingbird is sometimes seen as a symbol that brings joy, happiness and hope to those suffering with terminal diseases.
Image courtesy of The Eagle Tattoo & Art Studio @ Pinterest.com
#5 – A spiritual connection
Like many other natural elements people often believe hummingbirds to have a special connection to the spiritual world. Some people think hummingbirds are the souls of deceased loved ones who now have the ability to fly around in total freedom.
#6 – Fleeting nature of time
Because of their lightning fast speed and their being remarkably agile hummingbirds often represent the fleeting nature of time. The bird’s connection with nature and the way it flies around make it a powerful symbol that can be used to represent the futility of all existence.
#7 – Love of birds
Yes, the hummingbird represents many deeper meaning. But some people might also just get a hummingbird tattoo because they like birds. Whether you are a birder and avian enthusiast yourself it’s easy to see why people might want a hummingbird for their next tattoo design.
#8 – Love and balance in the natural world
Hummingbird designs can also be used to symbolize love and the balance it provides to the natural world. Although they don’t mate for life or form long term pairs, certain Native American and south American cultures see hummingbirds as profound symbols that represents love and romance.
#9 – A symbol of healing and personal growth
Whether you’ve been through trauma or have overcome challenges in your life the hummingbird can be a great symbol to represent your ability to overcome adversity.
#10 – Other personal meanings
Sometimes the meaning behind body art has nothing to do with traditional meaning or symbolism. Instead people might choose a hummingbird tattoo just because they like the way they look.
How To Design A Great Hummingbird Tattoo
These birds are stunning. But they are quite common tattoos which means creating a unique hummingbird tattoo design can be tricky.
Here are a few unique tattoo ideas to help you design something totally original.
- – Include unique geometric patterns around your hummingbird
- – Design a tattoo that focuses on the bird’s intricate features like its beak, tongue, wings or other parts of the hummingbird’s form
- – Base your hummingbird tattoo on a watercolor painting
- – Look through artwork from Native American tribes for inspiration
- – Add abstract elements to your tattoo design
- – Simple, minimalist or small hummingbird tattoos
- – One larger hummingbird surrounded by other tiny birds and intricate detail
Image courtesy of Tattoofilter @ Pinterest.com
You can talk to an experienced tattoo artist about the different ways to bring your tattoo to life.
Just remember that including additional elements is usually the best way to create a great and unique tattoo design.
You can mess around with different colors that can influence the overall visual representation of your hummingbird. Or you can include lines, words, or other designs to give it a more ethereal feel if that’s what you’re going for.
And you can also try out AI tattoo maker and explore different ways to design your new bird tattoo.
Type in a few of your design ideas and our AI takes it from there. Within minutes you’ll have a totally unique tattoo design that you can download, print and get inked.
Hummingbird Tattoo Meaning – FAQs
Now let’s review a few questions we often get from our readers about hummingbird tattoo meaning.
Where should I get a hummingbird tattoo?
Up to you… Hummingbird tattoos can be designed in a huge range of different designs that can be placed anywhere on your body. We recommend choosing tattoo placement based on the body’s natural shape. So a hummingbird often looks great on a shoulder, hip or when paired symmetrically with another bird.
Are hummingbird tattoos only for women?
Many women have hummingbird tattoos. But that doesn’t mean hummingbird tattoos are only for women. Men too can get hummingbird tattoo either because they like what they symbolize or even just because they like the way they look. Tattoos are personal choices and anyone can get any type of tattoo on their body.
