The Fox Tattoo Meaning and 55+ Beautiful Designs to Choose From

From intelligence and cunning to prosperity and protection, there is an incredible amount of meaning behind a fox tattoo.

As an artist who loves to travel, fox tattoo designs have captured my interest more than any other concept. This is because they are so prevalent in different countries and cultures. I loved learning all about them as I travelled and then translating these meanings into tattoos.

In this post I will guide you through the various designs and the fox tattoo meaning attached to each of them. Let's get started.

What Do Foxes Symbolize?

You are likely to find stories and myths related to the fox in most cultures. Foxes are found in almost every continent in the world. Not to mention, these creatures have been known to live side by side with humans.

It is due to this that the fox and fox tattoo meaning involves endurance and adaptability. These creatures can be found in both urban and suburban areas as they are excellent at adapting to almost any environments that you can imagine.

If you are someone who is similarly great at adapting to new situations or have a personality that can fit any atmosphere, then this fox tattoo meaning is just right for you.

In Native American folklore, the fox can be either a symbol for good or the nefarious, depending on the different tribes.

For instance, with the Northern Californian tribes, the Silver fox is believed to be the creator of the world. Due to this, the creature is associated with wisdom and a benevolent nature.

With the Apache and the Blackfoot, however, the fox is associated with the sun and fire. According to some myths, it was the fox who stole fire and gave it to the humans.

In this case, your fox tattoo meaning could be a symbol of hope or heroism. After all, fire is incredibly important to people. Not only does it provide warmth, fuel for cooking, and light, it is also seen as protection from wild animals.

In some cases, the fox is a minor spirit that can sometimes take on the form of people. The fox spirit will help and defend good people who have proven themselves worthy. At the same time, these spirits are also known to the punish the evil and undeserving.

So, your fox tattoo meaning could mean justice or righting the wrongs of the world.

The fox tattoo meaning isn't always a positive one in Native American cultures, though. In some instances, the fox is seen as an intelligent and wily creature, much like the coyote. Due to this, they are also considered tricksters.

If you tend to be one step ahead of the others or likes to misdirect people, this could be the perfect fox tattoo meaning for you.

Foxes also have a strong presence in Asia, in Japan in particular. In Japanese folklore, foxes are associated with magical abilities and are considered rather mysterious.

Some of the most popular Japanese culture stories revolve around the kitsune, shape shifting foxes. They often take the form of beautiful young women, although they can transform into anyone. These fox spirits are involved in all kinds of trickery and are known for punishing the wicked.

The kitsune are often depicted as having many tails. As the story goes, the kitsune powers grow the older that the fox spirit gets.

Then:

What does 9 tailed fox tattoo mean?

The number of tails indicate the level of power. So, a nine tailed fox is quite powerful indeed.

Foxes are often associated with the god Inari - god of rice and protector of rice cultivation. Foxes are said to be a messenger for this God and will often protect the shrines as well.

Considering that rice is an important part of life and that foxes help to protect this, your fox tattoo meaning could be one of protection and prosperity.

The red fox is also a part of Celtic folklore. This is due to Brigid, patroness saint of Ireland. She is said to have performed many miracles and was so gentle that all animals were charmed by her, especially foxes.

According to one story, Brigid was able to charm a fox so well that she resulted in saving a young man's life. Therefore, one fox tattoo meaning could be about being saved, forgiveness, or hope in general.

Foxes also hold symbolism in Africa. According to a popular story, the fox was a child of Mother Earth. While the rest of Mother Earth's children were born as twins and represented balance, the fox was born too early and without a twin.

Due to this, the fox was constantly up to no good, playing tricks and causing mayhem. In general, the fox is associated with imbalance.

As a result, your fox tattoo meaning could be that you feel imbalanced. This could be because something is missing in your life and that you are searching for what completes you.

Or, this tattoo could be a reminder to constantly find a way to balance yourself so that you are on the right track. Another fox tattoo meaning here could be one of chaos. So, if you find yourself in a rather unstable or difficult time right now, a fox could be a good indicator of what you are going through.

Some people also see the fox tattoo meaning as humanity. As with foxes, people aren't all good or all bad. Rather, there are two sides to most people and it is up to you to decide which of those sides you choose to reveal.

Interestingly enough, foxes can actually be associated with persecution. This is because for the longest time, fox hunting was a major sport. Here, dogs chased after the foxes while people on horseback followed.

Therefore, your fox tattoo meaning could be one of feeling like you are always on the run and constantly having to fight for your survival. A fox tattoo could also indicate that you are misunderstood.

The Top Fox Tattoo Designs

Here are the fox tattoos along with their meanings to help you decide on the right one:

Fox Face Tattoos

If you are looking for cute fox tattoos, a fox face tattoo is one to get. After all, can you resist that adorable face with the pointed snout?

These are also great tattoos to get if you want a small fox tattoo but also want to preserve the original fox tattoo meanings at the same time.

Here are some of the fox tattoo design ideas that you can check out for your own ink:

Red Fox Tattoos

The red fox tattoo is arguably one of the more popular designs when it comes to the fox tattoo. This is largely because red foxes can be found in almost every part of the globe. So, they are quite recognizable.

However, it is also due to the symbolism of the red fox tattoo. What does red fox symbolize?

The red fox can symbolize so many different things. This includes intelligence, cunning, compassion, success, and prosperity.

Looking for a watercolor fox tattoo? Here is one for you:

Here are some curled fox tattoo ideas:

This works well as a running fox tattoo:

Grey Fox Tattoos

If you want a fox tattoo that is close to the Native American legends, a grey fox tattoo is the way to go.

You can choose to get a simple tattoo or to include elements or symbols that relate to Native American culture in your fox tattoo design.

Celtic Fox Tattoos

If you enjoy fox tattoo meanings that are related to nature, or, if you prefer the more positive elements associated with foxes, a Celtic fox tattoo could be the right tattoo for you.

There is no specific design for Celtic foxes. Due to this, you can get a fox tattoo with Celtic knots. Not only are these knots incredibly beautiful but they have their own meaning.

Celtic knots are typically about the connection between two or more things. This could be between people and nature, two people, or anything else really.

So, if you want to link the fox tattoo meaning along with the meaning behind the knots, you can create a truly inspiring tattoo.

Here are some of the fox tattoos that boast such beautiful designs.

Tribal Fox Tattoos

Before you get a tribal fox tattoo, know that there aren't specific tribal tattoos.

Instead, this is a term given to thick spiky and flowing lines that can be included in your fox tattoo.

As I mentioned earlier, some fox tattoos symbolize a protective nature according to indigenous myths. If you would like your fox tattoo to have a similar meaning, this is the kind of concept that you can go for.

Here are some of the top fox tattoo ideas you can consider for your own design:

Japanese Fox Tattoos

If you want to get a Japanese fox tattoo or a Kitsune tattoo, there are quite a few options for you to choose from.

I would suggest that you read through the various stories cult regarding the kitsune before you get such a tattoo. Doing some research will give you a better idea of what kind of kitsune tattoo you want.

Also, prior to getting a Japanese fox tattoo, keep in mind that there are different kinds of kitsune. Therefore, if you want to indicate a powerful spirit, you should draw inspiration from the nine tailed foxes.

Now, if you do want to get a nine tail fox tattoo, you are probably wondering:

What color is a Kitsune?

Well, kitsune are typically depicted as being white. However, this can be tricky to depict in your nine tail fox tattoo so you will have to ask your talented tattoo artist to create the illusion of white.

Here are the nine tailed fox tattoo ideas and kitsune tattoos you can borrow ideas from:

Floral Fox Tattoos

As foxes are such a big part of nature, a floral fox tattoo makes sense, particularly if you want your fox tattoo meaning to be a connection between nature and you.

Here are the floral fox tattoo ides you can choose from:

Geometric Fox Tattoos

Looking for something a little different but still want to maintain the deep meaning of the fox tattoo? Then a geometric fox tattoo is just the right pick for you.

Check out how good the geometric fox tattoo ideas can look.

With so many designs and meanings to choose from, you are spoiled for choice with fox tattoos. All you need to do now is to choose which one has the right feel for you.