Lily Tattoo Ideas

Popular Lily Tattoo Styles

Lily tattoos are prizes for the deep symbolism they represent, including femininity, devotion, renewal and purity. They are also very versatile, offering you the choice to go in a number of different directions with style based on what you want it to mean.

Some popular artistic styles include realism, watercolor, traditional and geometric — each of which can convey a different meaning.

Best Lily Tattoo Placements

The placement of a lily tattoo can enhance its meaning. Because of the nature of lilies themselves, they can be created to fit various parts of your body.

Larger designs are great for the thigh or back, which offer plenty of space for elaborate designs. Looking for something smaller and more subtle? Then, look toward the wrist, ankle or forearm.

Women’s Lily Tattoo Ideas

Lily tattoos are naturally associated with women, due to the femininity they often exude. Women love these tattoos because of the spirituality and beauty that the flower represents.

By following a watercolor design, you enhance the lily’s beauty in a very artistic way and incorporate splashes of soft colors such as purples and pinks. You can integrate stems and vines for larger designs on certain parts of your body. And you can even integrate other symbols such as the butterfly.

Men’s Lily Tattoo Ideas

Lily tattoos aren’t just for women, though. You can take a bolder approach and create a masculine version that can be just as stunning and powerful. 

Using strong outlines and dark shading can represent more masculine themes revolving around the lily. Integrating skulls, blacks and grays can represent a mix of life (lily) and mortality (skull).

Men often opt for larger designs with lily tattoos, since that can take on a more powerful meaning. In these designs, many men will integrate crosses that can symbolize not only devotion but faith.

Lily Tattoo Meaning

A lily tattoo can take on many different meanings, which can be heavily influenced by the different style, placement and other items that are integrated into it.

The lily is frequently associated with innocence and purity, and it’s prized in both Eastern and Western cultures. Many times, the lily will represent rebirth and love, sometimes even symbolizing a new or fresh start.

Some people will take a unique approach and use a water lily, which can symbolize experiencing spiritual awakening. This is especially true of the lotus, which can represent how the soul takes a path to enlightenment out of the darkness of ignorance.

Ultimately, you can design a lily tattoo that represents your own personal meaning based on how you design it.