60+ Dolphin Tattoo Ideas That You Can Dive Right Into

It doesn't matter if you prefer minimalistic, realistic, or creative dolphin tattoos - you will be able to discover this and a whole more in this post!

I have been obsessed with dolphins since I was a little girl so when a client comes in with a dolphin tattoo design, it always feels a little special. Most people tend to have really sweet reasons for this design and it is always fun to exchange stories with them.

In this post, I will share the top dolphin tattoo ideas and give you some insight into how to design your tattoo!

The Best Dolphin Tattoo Designs

Here are the top dolphin tattoo ideas for you to check out:

Minimalistic Dolphin Tattoos

Love dolphins but don't want a complex or large dolphin tattoo? Well, this isn't a problem since you can just get a minimalistic dolphin tattoo. Due to the simplicity of these designs, they work well as small dolphin tattoos.

For the most part, such dolphin tattoo ideas consist of just the outline of the dolphin. Thanks to the distinctive shape and silhouette of the dolphin, you can still tell exactly what your tattoo is of.

Of course, you are free to add any other details to your dolphin tattoo design that you like. In fact, with a little bit of shading, you can take your concept to the next level.

An interesting idea for such a dolphin tattoo would be to get a tattoo that looks like a sketch. This can be a good option if you are looking for a slightly more colorful tattoo.

Realistic Dolphin Tattoos

If you prefer a more complex tattoo, then getting a realistic dolphin tattoo is the way to go!

For such dolphin tattoo ideas, it is a good idea to start by learning about the different species of dolphins. This will help you narrow down the kind of dolphins that you want tattooed on you. You should also consult photographs or scientific sketches. These will show you all the small details that you need to pay attention to get a realistic dolphin tattoo.

Keep in mind that you will also need a good tattoo artist for a realistic dolphin tattoo so make sure to do your research and find the right artist for you.

Now, you would think that for realistic dolphin tattoo designs, you would need to match the exact shades and hues that you find on dolphins. While this can certainly help to bring your dolphin tattoo to life, it isn't completely necessary.

You can still get a realistic-looking dolphin tattoo with a white and black dolphin tattoo or a grey and black dolphin tattoo.

Now, just because you want a realistic dolphin tattoo doesn't mean that you can't be creative with your tattoo either. From watercolor dolphin tattoo ideas to vivid shades, there are lots of ways to make your tattoo stand out.

Dolphin Pod Tattoos

As you may be aware, dolphins are rather social creatures. They travel in pods with other dolphins and are known to be caring and protective of one another. Due to this, having a dolphin tattoo with two or more of them, can be a good way to depict relationships.

Two dolphins in your dolphin tattoo can be a great way to portray lovers, partners, or even a familial relationship. If you do want to depict the relationship between a parent and a child or siblings, then you may want to make one dolphin larger than the other.

Of course, two dolphins in a dolphin tattoo can also be used to portray a beautiful friendship. If you want to depict a larger family or friend unit, then three or more dolphins in a pod is a great way to do this.

Leaping Dolphin Tattoos

Seeing a dolphin jumping out of the water can be a highlight of any seafaring adventure. There is also something so lively and playful about a dolphin leaping out of the water.

Interestingly enough, some people also associate meaning with dolphins leaping out. They believe it to be a symbol of balance - it is a sign that the dolphin is of the air as well as of the ocean. Some people also see this as a balance between the mind, body, and spirit.

For this kind of dolphin tattoo, you can simply design the dolphin so that it is making a leaping motion with no other detail. This kind of dolphin tattoo can work well on the upper arm.

Or, you can add the ocean as an added detail to your dolphin tattoo. If you would like to keep things simple, then you can have a minimalistic wave done in blue ink or black ink.

In case you want your dolphin tattoo to tell a story, you can add in more complex or detailed waves or the ocean. For this kind of dolphin tattoo, there are a lot of backgrounds that you can go with. From a crescent moon dolphin to a sun dolphin backgrounds for you to choose from are plentiful!

Landscape and Dolphin Tattoos

For these kinds of dolphin tattoo ideas, it isn't just the dolphin that is the star of the tattoo. You pay just as much attention to the landscape.

However, if you want the dolphin to be front and center in your dolphin tattoo, then this is certainly something that you can do as well.

If you are looking for more traditional dolphin tattoo ideas, then naturally, the landscape would consist of an underwater view. You can choose a realistic backdrop here or take a more creative approach.

In case you are looking for a slightly unorthodox dolphin tattoo, then you can consider an above-water backdrop. This can consist of tropical islands, palm trees, or anything else that your imagination can conjure up!

These can make for some pretty cute dolphin tattoos.

Tribal Dolphin Tattoos

I should start off by saying that there are different kinds of tribal dolphin tattoo ideas. Some tribal dolphin tattoos involve tribal designs based on Maori, Polynesian, Hawaiian, etc. cultures.

Bear in mind that such tribal dolphin tattoo ideas can be considered sacred to these cultures. So, you need to do your due diligence here. This involves research into the different kinds of designs as well as what they mean.

The other kind of dolphin tattoos involve spiky, curved designs in black ink. These are a more modern invention and they became rather popular in the early 2000s.

For such dolphin tattoos, you can have the tribal patterns as a part of the dolphin or in the background.

Patterned Dolphin Tattoos

These designs can make for such cute little tattoo designs! It is also a great option if you are looking for more creative dolphin tattoos.

For these dolphin tattoo ideas, instead of going for the traditionally colored dolphins or the grey and black dolphin tattoo designs, you add patterns instead.

What's great about these cute dolphin tattoo ideas is that you can choose from any pattern that you like! If you want to stick to the oceanic theme, then choose aquatic plants or animals.

Or, if you prefer more unique dolphin tattoos, then you can go ahead with any kind of patterns that you like - flowers, hearts, etc.

Hearts and Dolphin Tattoos

This is a bit of an unusual concept for a dolphin tattoo but I do love it! Here, you find a way to include a heart in the dolphin tattoos. This can make for a beautiful tattoo and can be a great way to showcase an emotional bond between two or more people.

One way to make such dolphin tattoos work is to have the heart as a frame of some kind. You can have a traditional heart for these dolphin tattoos if you like. If you want something a little bit more aesthetically pleasing, then make it look like the heart is made out of water.

Another idea for such dolphin tattoos is to have the dolphins forming the heart, with their noses touching. This is a rather fitting dolphin tattoo idea considering dolphins are known for being affectionate at times.

Flowers and Dolphin Tattoos

This can be an even more unusual idea as dolphins and flowers aren't two elements that you typically think of going together

However, the flowers can be a great way to add some decoration to dolphin tattoos. These kinds of dolphin tattoos can also be meaningful. This is because different flowers have different meanings associated with them.

For instance, a hibiscus tattoo can indicate romance, love, passion, and even femininity.

In case you would like your dolphin tattoo to represent a loved one, you can consider including their birth month in the tattoo as a nod to them.

Creative Dolphin Tattoos

Not interested in traditional dolphin tattoos? If so, you may want to consider getting a creative dolphin tattoo. This is a rather generic term and can refer to any kind of wild and zany dolphin tattoo.

This includes crazy characters riding a dolphin like its horseback or having unusually designed dolphins. For instance, why not have a dolphin with an unicorn horn and angel wings?

To top things off, you can make this a watercolor dolphin tattoo!

The options really are endless for such dolphin tattoos. You can check out the designs that have been included here and take inspiration from them for your own!

What Does Dolphin Tattoo Symbolize?

There is a great deal of symbolism associated with dolphins. The meanings behind the dolphin - and dolphin tattoos - can vary across countries, cultures, and people.

Some people believe that the dolphin and dolphin tattoo depicts protection. This is because, for one thing, dolphins work together to protect one another. Also, there have been various reports of how dolphins have helped humans and other sea creatures to safety.

This may be one of the reasons that sailors believe that it is good luck to see a dolphin when you are aboard a ship or a boat.

Dolphins - and a dolphin tattoo - can also be associated with care, affection, and family. Dolphins are known to work together as a pod to care for one another. They are sometimes quite affectionate with humans as well.

Another thing that a dolphin tattoo can depict is playfulness. Dolphins tend to have quite a playful nature - both with other dolphins as well as with humans. So, if you are someone who is carefree or known for your free spirits, then this can be a good tattoo for you.

And, as dolphins are known for jumping and splashing around, there are also associated with an active life. So, if you are someone who is always on the move, a dolphin tattoo may be right up your alley.

In some cultures, dolphins are believed to help transport souls to the spirit world. As a result, dolphins and dolphin tattoos may be associated with rebirth and renewal.

There are many different stories involving people being turned into dolphins. In some cases, this is so that people may be better versions of themselves.

For instance, there is one myth where pirates who were attempting to do harm were cast into the water and turned into dolphins. They were then tasked with helping castaways to make their way to safety. So, in this instance, a dolphin tattoo signifies growth.

Now, in case you were wondering:

What does a dolphin tattoo mean for a female?

Well, dolphins can be associated with female power. So, if you would like to express your femininity, then getting a dolphin tattoo inked on you is certainly a great way to do this.

Why Were Dolphin Tattoos Popular?

Dolphin tattoos are a popular choice for lots of different reasons. For one thing, many people love dolphins and their personalities. There are also so many aesthetically pleasing tattoos to choose from. Finally, dolphins have various meanings and can be used to depict different things.

These are the top dolphin tattoo ideas that you should consider for yourself. With so much to choose from, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the right option for you!