105+ Initial Tattoo Ideas to Commemorate Your Loved Ones

From simple designs to matching ink, there are lots of initial tattoos for you to check out!

I have noticed that more and more of my clients are coming in with requests for initial tattoos. They appear to be the modern version of name tattoos. For one thing, these tattoos are more subtle and they can also be more elegant.

In this post, I will outline the top initial tattoo ideas and give you some insight into the designs and meanings behind them.

The Best Initial Tattoo Designs

Here are the top initial tattoo ideas that you should check out for yourself:

Simple Initial Tattoos

Do you want your initial tattoo to be subtle and understated? If so, then a simple initial tattoo is the way to go.

For this kind of initial tattoo, you simply have the letter - or letters - of your loved one inked on you without any other elements or symbols.

Of course, this doesn't mean that your simple letter initial tattoo has to be boring! One way that you can add flair to your initials tattoo is by choosing a beautiful or unique font.

With the right font or script, you can transform your initials tattoo into something flowing, elegant, and even meaning

Here are some of the initial tattoo designs that you should check out for such a simple tattoo:

If you want to do something truly unique with your initial tattoo, then you should consider a tattoo design such as the one below. With the right attention to detail, shadowing, and the right tattoo artist you can create a work of art with a single letter:

Initial Tattoos with Heart

The perfect accompaniment to your initials tattoo has to be a heart! The meaning here is pretty obvious - a heart represents love. Now, this isn't just about romantic love, however.

Hearts can also be used to signify parental or even platonic love.

With a heart initial tattoo, there are a few options available to you. For instance, you can get a small heart near the top or the bottom of the initial.

Another initial tattoo design is to have the heart in between two initials. Such an initials tattoo is great for showcasing a relationship between two people.

This is such a simple yet lovely initial tattoo. This kind of initial tattoo works well for anyone who wants something a bit more delicate or subtle. Here, the heart is tucked away within the design of the letter.

If you want a meaningful and beautiful initial tattoo, then you may want to consider a tattoo design like this. Not only do you have the heart in between the letters, but you also include the rhythm of a heartbeat. It is a beautiful way to say that your hearts beat in time for one another.

Looking for unique initial tattoos? Then you may want to consider this initial tattoo design. It is only when you take a closer look at the shadow that you see that the top of the letter is done up in a heart shape.

Initial Tattoos with Flowers

Considering the popularity of flowers and flower tattoos, it shouldn't be too surprising that flower initial tattoo designs are a top concept.

While such an initials tattoo can be used for anyone, it is most likely included for initial tattoos for children or women. However, you don't have to be bound by such restrictions and use flowers for any initial tattoo that you want!

For this type of initial tattoo, you are likely wondering which flower to go with. Well, an obvious choice would be to select someone's favorite flower or even your favorite flower.

Another option is to choose a birth month flower. Each person has one or two flowers that are related to their birth month. These flowers often carry special meanings.

This can be an excellent idea if your initial tattoo is celebrating the birth of a loved one.

Other initial tattoo designs that you may want to look into is the meaning behind flowers. Each species has its own meaning. Due to this, you could look for a flower that sums up the personality or essence of a loved one and ink that flower alongside the initials tattoo.

Naturally, the flower that you choose for your initial tattoo doesn't have to have a specific meaning. You are also free to choose one simply based on a design that you like.

Initial Tattoos with Vines

If you like the natural vibe of flowers but want a bit more of a unique initials tattoo, then you may want to consider going with vines instead.

Vines with your initial tattoo can be absolutely beautiful as they can be designed to take on various shapes and frames around the initial.

I also like that there is something a bit freer and wilder about vines as well. This can make for a great initials tattoo for anyone who doesn't like being defined or placed in a box.

Initial Tattoos with Butterflies

Butterflies are also a great option for a letter tattoo! For one thing, butterflies - and butterfly tattoo designs - are incredibly beautiful.

I also love that you can draw them as small and as delicately as you want. In this way, you can get a subtle initial tattoo. It also means that your initial tattoo can be small enough so that it fits behind the ear or on your ring finger.

You should also bear in mind that butterflies have a lovely meaning. They are symbols of transformation and are great for anyone who has changed or improved as a person.

Like flowers and butterflies? Here is an initial tattoo that combines both of these elements for you:

Initial Tattoos with Feathers

Here is an interesting concept for your initials tattoo - include a feather in the letter tattoo design!

For one thing, feathers are absolutely gorgeous and can really make your initial tattoo pop. The other reason to consider this initial tattoo is because it can be quite meaningful too.

See, feathers often have a unique meaning.

Eagle feathers, for instance, are signs of bravery and courage. Peacock feathers, on the other hand, are symbols of luck.

You can also choose someone's favorite bird as a representative of your loved one or best friend!

Initial Tattoos with Birds

One of the main reasons to get an initial tattoo is to depict a relationship between two or more people. By getting an initials tattoo, you are essentially saying that you and another person or other people are family.

Well, one of the ways that you can represent this beautiful sentiment is with a pair or crowd of birds. Birds are often used to represent relationships or families. Due to this, they make the perfect design for your initial tattoo.

There are lots of different initial tattoo designs for you to check out for this kind of concept.

For instance, you could have birds sitting in a line or sitting in a tree. You could also have birds flying away.

Initial Tattoos with Angel Wings

This is such a gorgeous initial tattoo idea to consider for yourself. Now, this kind of initials tattoo can be used to represent a few different things.

This initial tattoo can be a way to commemorate a loved one that you have lost. At the same time, such an initials tattoo can be used to depict the angel in your life or someone who is like a guardian angel to you.

Your initial tattoo can consist of a single angel wing or both wings. You can also choose to get a simple design for the wings or a highly detailed one, depending on the kind of initials tattoo that you want.

Initial Tattoos with Infinity Symbol

There is no denying that getting an initial tattoo is a pretty big commitment - after all, you are essentially getting someone permanently inked on your body.

Due to this, you may want to consider including an infinity sign in your letter tattoos as well. After all, this symbol is associated with eternity or a never-ending cycle. This could describe your love for another person perfectly.

You can also include various other elements in such initial tattoo designs. This includes hearts, flowers, feathers, birds, and anything else that you feel suits the style of the tattoo.

You can work with your tattoo artist to determine how these various concepts can be included in your initials tattoo.

Initial Tattoos with Crowns

I really like this initials tattoo idea! This is because a lot of people see their significant other as the king or queen in their life. So topping off an initial tattoo with a small crown is a great way to do this.

If you want a more subtle initial tattoo, then you can go with a simple crown - just an outline in fact. On the other hand, if you want to take your initial tattoo to the next level, then you can certainly do this!

You can add glam, jewels, details, and so much more! If you would like, you could make a crown for a man a bit more masculine and one for a woman a bit more feminine.

Or, any crown will do for this kind of initial tattoo. Here are some of the letter tattoos that make this idea really work:

Anchor Initial Tattoos

For a lot of people, their partner, best friend, or family can often feel like what is keeping them balanced and centered.

If this is true for you as well, then you may want to consider getting an anchor initial tattoo. It can be your way of depicting how your loved ones keep you in place.

What I love about this kind of initial tattoo is that there are so many ways to get creative with it.

For instance, check out this initial tattoo where the initial is created out of rope! How cool is that?

Compass Initial Tattoos

This compass initial tattoo is also a similar concept. Do you feel that your spouse, friends, or family members are the ones that help you find North in times of uncertainty? Then what better way to showcase this than getting their initial in the place of North on the compass?

If you want to commemorate a few different people, then each person can take a place around the compass.

This initial tattoo design works really well if you want a beautiful and intricate tattoo.

Matching Initial Tattoos

Do you and your loved ones want to reciprocate your love for one another? In this case, matching initial tattoos are the way to go!

Of course, such initial tattoos can look different, depending on the end result that you wish to get with your matching tattoo.

For instance, in some cases, you may want to get one or more initials tattooed on each person for your initials tattoo. Or, each person may wish to get the other person's initial in their initial tattoo.

It is up to you to decide just how matching your tattoos should be. If you and the other person have very different styles or personalities, then you may want to go with tattoo designs that suit each person.

Or, you can decide to have a theme or a common thread for your initials tattoo so that the combined look is a bit more cohesive.

What Do Initials Tattoos Mean?

When people say that they are going to get initials inked or tattooed on their body parts, it is a sign of love and commitment.

An initial tattoo is a permanent reminder of someone - a child, parent, partner, best friend or any other loved one really. It is a way of carrying a small piece of them with you, wherever you go.

Some get an initial tattoo after a significant event such as a birth or the passing away of a loved one.

People may choose to get an initial tattoo rather than a name tattoo for privacy reasons. Also, there is no denying that an initial tattoo looks more subtle and elegant. What's more, if you are looking for a small tattoo, then this is the perfect option for you.

Where Do You Put Initial Tattoos?

The beauty of an initial tattoo is that it can fit virtually anywhere if the tattoo design is small enough. For instance, your initial tattoo placement can be anywhere from behind the ear, to on your shoulder blade!

And, if you want to get a really tiny letter tattoo, you can get a finger tattoo. In fact, if you are getting an initial tattoo as a way to honor your partner, you can actually get the initial tattoo on your ring finger! It is a more permanent way of commitment.

The other option is to get your initial tattoo near your heart. This can be a beautiful symbol of love and remembrance.

Well, there you go - the best initial tattoos that you can get. As you can see, there are so many ideas and themes to borrow from. Now that you know what your options are, the only thing that is left for you to do is to determine which design works best for you!