Feather Tattoo Meaning and 105 Inspiring Tattoos to Choose From

The feather tattoo meaning depends on what kind of feather it is - from eagle feathers to angel feathers, the options are endless!

As an artist, I have always been fascinated with the symbology behind various signs. As feather tattoos have become increasingly popular, I decided to delve into the meaning behind each option to be sure that I did each design justice.

Come along and learn what the various feathers mean.

Meaningful Feather Tattoos

Here are the feather tattoo designs that you should consider if you're looking for ink with meaning:

Small Feather Tattoos

Just because you want to get a feather tattoo doesn't mean you should go all out. You may want something delicate or subtle.

If this is the case, a tiny feather tattoo is just the right option. When you think of a small design, you might imagine a simple feather tattoo.

Well, if you prefer something more minimalistic, your small feather tattoo can be more simple. On the other hand, it is possible for a small piece of ink to be incredibly complex too.

It all depends on the feather tattoo design that you prefer as well as the meaning you would like to depict with it.

Eagle Feather Tattoos

As you might have guessed already, eagle feathers are held in the highest esteem in many cultures, but it has particular importance in Native American culture.

Eagles are the strongest and the bravest of all the winged creatures. Due to this, Native Americans see eagle feathers as a symbol of the bravest, strongest, and even the most spiritual. Therefore, there is a lot of respect placed on this feather.

Native Americans perceive wearing an eagle feather as a sign of bravery. It is often given to people and must be earned.

If this feather is waved over one or more people, Native American wisdom views this as bestowing a blessing.

It is also a Native American folklore symbol of the link between a person, the Creator, and the eagle from which the feather came from.

Native Americans also believe that this feather may be sent to people unexpectedly but it is always sent for a reason.

Of course, you may want to get an eagle's feather tattoo because it is the national bird of the United States.

In any case, getting an eagle feather tattoo is quite symbolic, particularly if it's in relation to Native American culture.

So, make sure that you get an arm feather tattoo or one on the upper part of your body as a sign of respect.

However, if you choose the feather tattoo for its association with bravery rather than spirituality, you can ask your tattoo artist to place it anywhere you like.

If you're looking for a small and simple eagle feathers tattoo design, here is a cute one to choose. It is small enough to fit behind your ear.

If you want the focus to be on how imperial and stoic this kind of tattoo can be, these are the feather tattoo designs to consider:

If you want it to appear as though you're wearing the feathers, here are the feather tattoos to check out:

In case you're looking for colored feathers, here is a great concept to borrow from:

This is certainly a different take on this design:

Although the bald eagle may be the most popular of this species, don't forget that there are plenty of other eagles to choose from.

So, if you want something unique or unusual, you may want to research what feathers from other sub species may look like.

Peacock Feather Tattoos

A peacock feather tattoo may hold symbolic meaning due to its aesthetic. The feathers have a motif that looks like an eye at the top.

This is considered by some to be the evil eye or an emblem that wards away evil, curses, and ill intent.

At the same time, some people believe that peacock feathers shouldn't be kept in the home as they bring bad luck.

There are also those that see a peacock feather tattoo as a symbol for perseverance. Despite their delicate and beautiful plumage, peacocks are hardy creatures and can thrive almost anywhere.

So, if you see yourself as someone who is pretty on the outside but tough on the inside, or if you have had to go through many obstacles to get where you are today, then a peacock feather tattoo can be a great design to commemorate this.

The peacock has been mentioned in the Bible and has links to ancient Christianity. It is said to represent eternity or eternal life.

Peacocks are also associated with royalty as only kings and nobility could rear these birds.

Therefore, a peacock feather may be a sign of a regal bearing or pedigree.

Contrary to popular belief, this feather tattoo doesn't necessarily have to be colorful. If you want a black feather tattoo, here are the feather tattoos that you can draw inspiration from:

If you do want a colorful feather tattoo, these are the top design options for you:

How about the best of both worlds? Black with a little bit of color mixed in? This is what it can look like:

Want to throw all the color rules out the window? These are the tattoos that will appeal to you:

Raven Feather Tattoos

You would be hard-pressed to find a bird that's held in higher esteem than the raven.

Ravens aren't just a part of Native American cultures but of other cultures too. They are seen as incredibly intelligent, to the point of being cunning and deceptive.

As they are related to shape shifters, ravens are associated with transformation. This is why raven feathers are one of the more commonly used feather tattoos.

They are also seen as messengers. Some cultures think they carry messages from the other side while others see them as messengers of omens and signs.

If you think raven feathers for your feather tattoo has to be simple, think again. While some choose to feature it as a plain black feather tattoo, there are other design options.

Some choose to include shades of blue and purple to mimic the reflection of light. This also makes feather tattoos stand out more.

So, if you want a colorful feather tattoo, a raven feather tattoo could be it.

Owl Feather Tattoos

Owls are wonderful birds and hold a great amount of significance in different cultures. They are symbols of wisdom and are believed to be incredibly intelligent.

They tend to have a supernatural association as well. Some believe them to be magical while others see them as the bird spirit that guides people into the afterlife.

At the same time, there is no doubt that the owl is a fierce and brave hunter. They are predators who don't hesitate to assert their dominance.

Due to this, owl feathers can be seen as a balance between brains, brawn, and spirituality. Needless to say, these feather tattoo designs symbolize these elements.

Turkey Feather Tattoos

If you're considering getting a feather tattoo on your body, a turkey feather tattoo may not be your first choice. Well, that is until you understand the true importance of turkeys.

Turkeys are a symbol of interconnectedness. They are a symbol of the association with land, nature, and each other.

As a result, they are reminders that as the land nourishes us (physically and emotionally) we are responsible for nurturing the land and the people around us.

It is due to this cyclic meaning that a turkey feather tattoo can be a great idea.

If you wear feather tattoo like this, it can also be a reminder of how you should take care of yourself and others so that your community can keep thriving.

Angel Feather Tattoos

This may be an unexpected addition to this list, but I have to include angel feathers. More than any other type, this feather symbolizes faith.

Angels were present during many important events in the Bible. This makes them important Christian symbols.

What is interesting about this kind of feather tattoo is just how many different meanings it can have.

For some, this feather tattoo can symbolize protection. These heavenly beings are seen as guardians and protectors.

For others, they are messengers of God. Therefore, this feather tattoo is well-suited to someone who feels like they have been called to do God's work.

These beings have also been known to be wrathful and can be considered avenging as well. So, if you are someone who believes in justice and righting the wrongs of the world, this feather tattoo can be a good fit for you.

Dream Catcher with Feathers Tattoos

You may be quite familiar with dream catchers. You may have even owned a few, but not many people know the full story behind them or why the feathers on them are so important.

Certain Native American tribes believe that the night air is filled with both good dreams as well as bad.

The dream catcher helps to capture the bad dreams and only filter through the good dreams. This is what the feathers do.

When day breaks, the bad dreams drift away.

If you want to get a dream catcher tattoo, it is important to remember that these are elements of Native American heritage. Due to this, they shouldn't be taken lightly.

Do your research to make sure that you're copying the right design and not a commercialized one. It is the only way to be certain that your feather tattoo will have the right meaning attached to it.

Feather Tattoo with Birds

The feather tattoo with birds is certainly a popular one, although you may not know much about it.

In this feather tattoo, the meaning is all down to the individual. For some, it's about freedom - the combination of feather and birds is about leaving your shackles behind and achieving freedom.

Of course, it is just as possible for this kind of feather tattoo to be about family if it consists of a flock of birds. After all, you have heard the saying "birds of a feather".

Infinity Feather Tattoos

This is an incredibly popular piece of body art. So, do these feather tattoos carry any symbolism?

Well, there isn't a special meaning behind an infinity feather tattoo, but you can certainly infer it your own.

An infinity tattoo speaks for itself but this could also refer to the circle of life, patterns, or a specific friendship or relationship.

When you add in a feather tattoo as well, the meaning can change a little.

It could be a sign that, despite some things being inevitable or continuous, you should still live life with some lightness.

For others, the feather tattoo may be a symbol of faith, hope, or a belief in something better.

In the above examples, a lot of the tattoos have incorporated birds into the infinity sign. So, if you like both designs and want to find some way to combine them, you can do so this way.

Feather Pen Tattoos

A feather pen tattoo is really a quill tattoo. Quills were used for hundreds of years as writing implements and they are still popular to some extent today.

You might want to get this kind of feather tattoo because you are writer, poet, or songwriter. It can be a good option for anyone in the literary industry.

These feather tattoos are also a great option if you are a true believer of the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword".

You may believe that communication is all you need to change the world.

This kind of feather-based tattoo designs are also great for someone who enjoys a vintage or antique style.

Arrow and Feather Tattoos

This feather tattoo design makes more sense than people realize.

The feathers in an arrow help your aim. In this sense, they can be a guiding force either in your life or regarding a goal that you would like to achieve.

What's interesting about the feathers on an arrow is that they are not meant to be there for long. Once the person masters the art of aiming, they will no longer add the feathers.

In this case, the arrows symbolize a temporary crutch you can grow out of once you have transformed into the person you were meant to be.

With this feather tattoo, the feather is actually an eagle one. As this signifies virtue, it could also be a symbol of how your goal in life is virtuous as well.

What Do Feather Tattoos Mean for Men?

The feather tattoo meaning is the same for men and women. However, you should know that this element has different meanings.

Keep in mind that the symbolic meaning may change depending on the type of bird feather - eagle feather, peacock feather, etc.

For some people, a feather represents freedom, the ability to fly and reach new heights in life. It could also be a symbol of hope - to improve or better your life in some way.

A feather can represent strength as well. Some people also associate it with bravery.

Feathers can also have a spiritual meaning. The feather is often a symbol of communication with the spirit world. Some people think that it aids in transcending or ascending from the earthly realm.

Others believe that feathers represent dreams - they are beautiful to think about but aren't always easy to grasp.

Is a Feather Tattoo Feminine?

Feather tattoos are often worn by women tattoo lovers, but this doesn't mean that it's a feminine symbol.

It all depends on the feather tattoo design. It can be drawn so that it looks feminine, masculine, or gender neutral.

What Tattoos Go With a Feather?

There is no limit to the designs you can pair with your feather tattoo. Feather tattoos are quite versatile and can work with everything from birds and trees to dream catchers and hearts - there aren't any limitations.

It all depends on what feather tattoos symbolize for you and how you would like the other designs to work with it.

The designs don't always need to be similar - they can be completely different, in fact. It is all down to the symbolism of the images.

What Does a Feather Tattoo with Birds Flying Out Mean?

This type of feather tattoo doesn't need to mean anything. It is a design aesthetic but for others, this feather tattoo could hold symbolic meanings.

One of these is transformation - you have developed into a bird capable of full blown flight and casting off the shackles that held you down before.

So, this type of feather tattoo may hold a strong meaning for some people.

In other instances, this feather tattoo may be seen as a memorial tattoo - a reminder of a person or people they have lost.

There you have it - all the feather tattoo ideas you could possibly want. From simple to bold and daring, there are many different designs and meanings to choose from.

All you have to do now is decide which one is suited to your personality or current circumstances. Good luck in making the right choice.