110 Gothic Tattoo Ideas to Bring Out Your Darker Side

From roses and butterflies to skulls and architecture, there are many different ideas and elements for you to choose for your goth tattoo.

I went through a goth phase during my rebellious teenage years and even got a goth tattoo during this time! And, while I no longer identify as goth, the goth tattoo style has remained dear to my heart which is why I am always excited when a client requests for such a design.

In this post, I will show you the gothic tattoo ideas and provide a bit of explanation for each of these gothic tattoos.

The Best Gothic Tattoo Ideas

Here are the top gothic tattoo designs that you should check out:

Gothic Rose Tattoos

As you may have noticed, roses are a common part of gothic style as well as gothic tattoos. This can be a bit surprising considering how mainstream these flowers can be.

Well, once you understand a bit more about roses, you will see how they naturally fit into goth tattoos.

Roses, especially red ones, are associated with love and passion - these are all elements that you will find at the roots of gothic culture.

Although a lot of people assume that the gothic aesthetic was what kick-started the goth movement, this isn't the case at all. In reality, it was first gothic literature invented by writers such as Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe. Later on, the music scene pushed the gothic lifestyle into the spotlight.

Well, both gothic literature as well as gothic music is heavily influenced by themes such as love, loss, and mortality. Well, these are all things that the rose symbolizes as well. Due to this, it makes for the perfect gothic tattoo design.

Of course, in the case of gothic roses, the tattoo style tends to be a little different. If you are getting a red rose, then the color of the rose will be deeper and darker. The outline, the stem, the thorns will all seem a little spikier in your goth tattoo.

Of course, you can choose to go with the classic option with this gothic tattoo design and get a black ink rose instead.

Check out these rose goth tattoo ideas to see if this will fit in with your style:

Gothic Butterfly Tattoos

A butterfly can seem like another odd concept for gothic tattoo designs. Most people associate butterflies with light and nature.

What many people don't realize, though, is that the butterfly and the butterfly goth tattoo are associated with transformation. The caterpillar turns into the butterfly and it emerges as an entirely different creature.

This could be something that people who have adopted the gothic style can relate to. They may have been living much of their lives in the manner that everyone else wanted them to.

However, after they embraced their goth nature, they became who they were truly meant to be.

Now, as you can imagine, a butterfly gothic tattoo design is quite different to the butterfly tattoos that you will typically find.

For one thing, the butterflies in your goth tattoo will be done up in dark shades and in a more somber style. Also, the outline of these butterflies of your gothic tattoo may be spikier or have a less defined shape to them.

If you are curious to see if such gothic tattoos may be right for you, check out these gothic tattoo designs right here:

Gothic Insect Tattoos

As far as gothic tattoo designs go, insects are a very fitting idea. Most people are afraid of insects, especially spiders. However, they appeal to those who are into the goth lifestyle.

Of course, the goth style is all about subverting the norm. You choose to embrace the elements of life that others may find scary or unappealing.

MOTH GOTHIC TATTOOS

Moths tend to get a pretty bad rap in society. They are associated with destruction and many people are afraid of them.

They are associated with darkness, death, life beyond death, and the mysteries of the universe.

In reality, though, a moth and a moth goth tattoo actually has beautiful symbolism. For one thing, in many cultures, a moth and a moth gothic tattoo is good omens, bringing happiness and good luck.

For another, a moth and moth goth tattoo is also a symbol of transformation, much like butterflies but they aren't seen in the same way - this is something that people who follow a goth aesthetic may be able to relate to.

Last, but not least, a moth and moth gothic tattoo can actually be a sign of positivity. They may look dark and scary but the reality is that they are constantly drawn towards the light. If this describes you, then this is the perfect goth tattoo for you to get!

If you want a more detailed or creative moth goth tattoo, make sure to hire a professional tattoo artist for the job.

Here are some moth goth tattoo ideas that you should consider:

SPIDER GOTH TATTOOS

You would be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't afraid of spiders. As I mentioned, the gothic style is all about embracing the more unusual or fringe elements of society.

So, a spider goth tattoo is the perfect choice for you. The great thing about spider gothic tattoos is that there are so many different style options for your gothic tattoo.

You can choose to be as traditional or as creative as you like with your goth tattoo.

If you don't want a spider gothic tattoo, you may want to consider a spider web goth tattoo instead. It is very in-line with the gothic aesthetic and there are also many different goth tattoo design options to choose from as well.

Here's one spider web gothic tattoo you might like:

Gothic Bat Tattoos

Can you think of anything more gothic than bats? Probably not! These creatures of the night are associated with the dark side and the hunt. Bats are also feared because they can spread disease from one person to another.

In any case, this gothic tattoo design has become quite common among those who follow the lifestyle.

Now, if you want to get a scarier or more traditional version of this kind of goth tattoo, then you should consider getting a vampire bat gothic tattoo.

Check out these gothic tattoos for inspiration:

Gothic Cat Tattoos

If you want a gothic tattoo design but don't want anything too extreme, you should consider cat gothic tattoos.

While cats are beloved, there is also no denying that they can be an acquired taste. They are independent creatures who can be quite solitary. They are also fierce and know what they like.

There are many who believe that cats play an important role in the occult. If all these ideas appeal to you, then a cat gothic tattoo may be in order!

Here are some gothic tattoos that you should consider:

Gothic Tribal Tattoos

Such gothic tattoos are also referred to as neo-tribal tattoos. Traditionally, tribal tattoos refer to tattoos to related to Maori, Polynesian, or other indigenous tribes.

Over the last couple of decades, spiky, inky tattoos have also been referred to as tribal tattoos. Many people who identify with the gothic aesthetic have adopted these tattoos as they have many of the style elements that you would find in gothic fashion.

This black and grey ink designs also make for an excellent sleeve tattoo.

If these kind of gothic tattoos appeal to you, here are the goth tattoo designs you should check out:

Gothic Skull and Skeleton Tattoos

A skull or skeleton tattoo is very on brand for a gothic tattoo. While skulls and skeletons are typically associated with death and destruction, this isn't always the case.

These gothic tattoos can also remind you of the circle of life. Yes, things may not last forever but where there is an end, there is also a beginning.

If you like this concept, here are the gothic tattoos you need to check out:

Gothic Vampire Tattoos

Vampires and vampire goth tattoo designs have always been closely associated with the goth lifestyle. These mystical creatures seem to have the same interests that many goths do - life, death, and what comes after.

With their pale skin, bright red lips, and dark hair and clothing, vampires tend to possess the many gothic elements.

If you like this association, here are the gothic tattoo ideas you should consider:

Gothic Occult Tattoos

Not all goths are interested in or practice the occult. However, it is a part of gothic subculture. If this is a field you're interested in as well, your gothic tattoo should reflect this.

The good news is that there are plenty of goth tattoo concepts to choose from. It is up to you to decide how extreme the design elements of your gothic tattoo is going to be.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Gothic Architecture Tattoos

There is something incredibly haunting and beautiful about gothic architecture, which is why a gothic tattoo that includes structures and buildings is a great idea!

For this kind of goth tattoo, you can choose a particular building as inspiration. Or, you can create your own template for your gothic tattoo with the help of your tattoo artist.

In any case, here are some designs that can give you ideas for your own goth tattoo:

What is a Gothic Tattoo?

A gothic tattoo can refer to either a tattoo based on the goth lifestyle or one that relates to gothic style of literature, music, and architecture. The latter is inspired by a Victorian era of style.

There are plenty of goth tattoo concepts for you to choose from. Now that you know your options, making a decision will be easy!