The Cherry Tattoo Meaning and 110 Designs That are Ripe with Symbolism

Cherries and the cherry tattoo can have rather conflicting meanings. In some circles, it is associated with Christianity, innocence, and purity. For others, this tattoo has a far more erotic significance.

In my years of studying art history, I found that cherries and their trees cropped up quite a bit in historical pieces. Here, they were all about virtue. When I was introduced to literature, though, I realized just how naughty the cherry symbolism was there.

To clear things up for you, I am going to take you on a journey of the cherry tattoo meaning in all cultures and environments. Let's begin.

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What is the Cherry Tattoo Meaning?

Cherries and cherry tattoos have a number of meanings. This isn't too surprising considering that it is one of the world's oldest cultivated fruits.

The first thing that I want to touch upon before moving ahead is the difference between the cherry and cherry blossoms as well as cherry blossom tattoos.

The cherry is the fruit of cherry trees. Cherry blossoms, on the other hand, is a flower of trees belonging to the genus Prunus or Prunus sub genus Cerasus. So, the cherry and the cherry blossom are very different from one another and shouldn't be confused.

Now, then, let's move on to the cherry tattoo meaning.

Believe it or not, the earliest cherry, cherry tree, and cherry wood meanings were associated with Christianity. In certain religious works, it is mentioned that the pregnant Virgin Mary and Joseph stopped by a cherry tree orchard on their way to Bethlehem.

Mary asked Joseph to pick the delicious fruit to nourish the child and Joseph rudely tells her that the father of the child should pick the cherries. A branch of one of the trees bends lowering the fruit to Mary. Joseph repents his words.

There is another story where a night prayed for wealth under a barren cherry tree and shortly after, fruit sprung up on the branches.

Due to this, the cherry and the cherry tattoo meaning is often associated with miracles. This tattoo could be a symbol that a miracle was performed in your life or you are hoping that one will be performed in the future.

In religious works of art, the cherry tree is often a prominent feature. So, a lot of people believe that cherries are one of the fruits of paradise.

In this instance, the cherry tattoo can be a promise of something better. The tattoo could also be a symbol of a reward for good behavior and righteous living.

In Chinese culture, red is a prosperous color. It is said to bring good luck and fortune. Due to this, red cherries are given to people during auspicious times as a symbol of good luck.

Therefore, your cherry tattoo meaning could be prosperity and luck.

The cherry is an incredibly sweet fruit. It is why many people claim it as their favorite fruit. In this sense, the cherry tattoo meaning could be the sweetness and passion of life - it is yours to enjoy if you are willing to grasp it from the tree.

You may have noticed that the cherry and the cherry tree have a fairly short season - it is over in just a couple of months. This could be one of the reasons that it is associated with youth and innocence.

Keep in mind that both youth and innocence were widely prized in the olden days, much like the cherry itself. At the same time, as the cherry season is fleeting so is youthfulness and innocence.

As time went on, though, the cherry and cherry tattoo meaning began to take on a more sensual symbolic meaning.

In literature, cherries were used to describe the more erotic zones of both the male and female anatomy. The red of the cherry was also compared to a woman's lips.

However, these days, cherries and the cherry tattoo tends to be associated with female sexuality. This is especially since the cherry was used as an analogy for the hymen.

So, the loss of virginity is often referred to as popping one's cherry for this very reason.

The cherry can also be considered an aphrodisiac, especially when paired with whipped cream.

Cherry Tattoo Designs

Now that you are aware of the basics of the cherry tattoo meaning, let's take a look at some of the cherry tattoos that you can consider:

Basic Cherry Tattoos

The most basic of the cherry tattoo design is the tattoo with two cherries.

So:

What does the 2 cherries mean?

Keep in mind that two cherries in a cherry tattoo doesn't necessarily have a special or particular meaning. Most people will draw two cherries attached by stems as this is one of the ways to identify the fruit and the tattoo as cherries. This is why this kind of cherry tattoo is so common.

That being said, it can have its own meaning. A cherry tattoo with two cherries can refer to a close female relationship.

For instance, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare uses the phrase “Like to a double cherry: seeming parted, but yet a union in partition, two lovely berries molded on one stem. So, with two seeming bodies but one heart” to describe the friendship between Helena and Hermia.

Some people also use this cherry tattoo to describe a close romantic relationship between two people. Here, the cherry tattoo meaning could be that although they are independent individuals, they are still bound together.

Here are the cherry tattoo design ideas that you should consider for your own body art:

Traditional Cherry Tattoos

This refers to the traditional style of tattooing. Here, the cherry tattoo is done up in bright colors and bold black lines.

While you wouldn't imagine that there is a cherry tattoo meaning here, this isn't entirely the case. See, the traditional form of tattooing is often a classic type of throwback. So, getting your cherry tattoo done up in this style could mean that you prefer the classic, raunchy behind this piece of ink.

It is also the mark of a true tattoo enthusiast.

Heart Shaped Cherry Tattoos

Considering cherries are associated with passion, it isn't surprising to learn of heart shaped cherry tattoos. As you can imagine, the symbolism behind this tattoo design is quite clear!

When getting this tattoo, make sure to discuss with tattoo artists about creating a tattoo that looks both like a cherry and heart at the same time!

Dripping Cherry Tattoos

If you have seen tattoos with one or more cherries dripping, it is only natural to wonder about the cherry tattoo meaning here.

Then:

What does a dripping cherry tattoo mean?

This kind of cherry tattoo is a rather sensual one but it can have one of two meanings. It could indicate a plucked cherry - someone who has lost their virginity.

It can also apply to someone who enjoys passion and the sensual pleasures of life. Some believe that this cherry tattoo is a sign that someone is up for a good time.

Skull Cherry Tattoos

This is certainly one of the more unusual cherry tattoos around but still a pretty cool one.

So:

What does a cherry skull mean?

The most common skull cherry tattoo meaning is that this tattoo is a combination of innocence and something forbidden.

As I already mentioned, cherries are a symbol of female youth and the purity that is associated with it. Skulls, on the other hand, are signs of danger. As a symbol, it also indicates something forbidden.

So, when you put cherries and skulls together in a tattoo, it takes on another meaning entirely. This could be forbidden fruit, doing something that you shouldn't, or seeking dark pleasure.

Here are the tattoos that you can use for inspiration for this kind of tattoo design:

You can choose a cherry tattoo based on your own beliefs and experiences. I've included tattoos for every meaning so you shouldn't have an issue finding the right tattoo designs for you!