200+ Lion Tattoo Ideas to Bring Out Your Inner Animal

From cubs and skulls to movie-based designs, there are lots of lion tattoos for you to select from!

Maybe it is my love of cats, but I have always loved doing lion tattoos for my clients. The tattoo designs are always so majestic and depict strength and power. It is also great that this is a classic tattoo concept that won't go out of style.

In this post, I will show you the top lion tattoo ideas and give you some insight into the meanings behind the designs:

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The Best Lion Tattoo Ideas

Here are the top lion tattoo ideas for you to choose from:

Lion Cub Tattoos

A truly adorable lion tattoo would be a lion cub tattoo! Not only can this kind of lion tattoo be really cute, but it can also have a lot of meaning behind it as well.

A lion cub tattoo can indicate your inner child. It could be a way to remind yourself to always keep that innocence and playfulness intact. Or, your lion tattoo could be a reminder to protect your inner child.

This can actually be a great way to commemorate your child. It can be a unique alternative to getting their names or likeness inked on you.

Simple Lion Tattoos

Do you like the idea of a lion tattoo but don't want anything too complex? In this case, a simple lion tattoo is the way to go.

For this kind of lion tattoo, you more or less get the outline of the lion or lion head inked on your body. In short, you only add just amount of detail to make the lion recognizable in your tattoo.

However, it is up to you and your tattoo artist to determine just how much detail to add to the picture. Such a lion tattoo works really well if you are looking for a small lion tattoo.

Due to the simplicity and size of these lion tattoos, they are most likely to be done up in black and gray ink. However, if you would like to do something different with your lion tattoo, then you can certainly add in a pop of color.

Lion Head Tattoos

Technically, to make a lion tattoo work you only have to include the head. After all, this is the most recognizable part of the animal. Just one look and you know that the tattoo is of the king of the jungle.

One of my favorite parts of this kind of lion tattoo is that it allows you to include additional elements to the tattoo design. If you want a realistic lion tattoo, here are some pictures that you can show to your tattoo artist:

If you really want to make a splash with this lion head design, then you can get a lion neck tattoo!

Of course, a lion head tattoo is also a good option if you want a smaller tattoo. As you are only including the lion head, you can virtually fit the design anywhere.

In fact, with a talented tattoo artist on your side, you can actually get a lion head tattoo on your finger! Just take a look at these gorgeous lion finger tattoos to get an idea of what can work for you:

Once again, you will notice that many of these lion tattoo ideas are done in black and gray. Still, you can talk to your tattoo artist about adding in some color to the mix.

Roaring Lion Tattoos

If you are looking for powerful or awe-inspiring lion tattoo ideas, then you should consider getting a roaring lion tattoo.

After all, there are a few things more impressive than hearing a lion roar. In doing so, the creature announces its presence to enemies. Not to mention, once you hear a lion roar, you are far less likely to mess with one.

If you, too, want to announce your power or position or to simply let people know that you mean business, then this is a great lion tattoo for you to get.

To really make this lion tattoo pop, you should talk with your tattoo artist about getting a lion chest tattoo.

Here are some lion tattoo ideas that you can show to your tattoo artist to create your own work of art:

If you want a lion neck tattoo, then this design can work as well, especially for front of the neck lion neck tattoos. Check out these cool lion tattoo ideas based on this concept:

Lion and Flower Tattoos

This is a fairly new kind of lion tattoo but it is common enough that your tattoo artist is likely to be familiar with it.

For this kind of tattoo, the lion is surrounded by flowers. Sometimes, the design also includes jewelry, adornments, or ornamental design elements.

What I love about this kind of lion tattoo is that it is meant to create a contrast. The lion is seen as this fearsome creature but the jewelry and other adornments help to soften those rough edges.

Of course, there is another way to see this kind of tattoo. Lions are often associated with masculinity.

Therefore, by adorning the lion in items that are traditionally considered feminine, it can send a message that there is more than one way to depict and enjoy your masculinity.

The most common version of this tattoo can be a black and gray design. However, to create some contrast or elements of interest, you can ask your tattoo artist to add little pops of color. You can use blue for the eyes or color in certain parts of the flower for additional effect.

Lion Skull Tattoos

Want a different take on typical lion tattoo ideas? Then, you may want to think about getting a lion skull tattoo.

This is a lion tattoo that can look totally badass. It can also be a reminder for you to keep being strong and courageous until the very end.

An interesting lion tattoo concept would be to get a lion face right beside the skull. This can be a comparison between life and death.

Traditional Lion Tattoos

You may be wondering what traditional means in this scenario. Well, 'traditional' refers to a particular tattoo style.

This is one that is dominated by thick black lines and bold colors. One of the things that I love about the traditional lion tattoo is that it gives your tattoo a gorgeous vintage look.

For this kind of lion tattoo, you can only include the lion. However, traditional tattoos typically include other elements such as flowers, daggers, etc.

So, this is something that you may want to consider using in your tattoo.

If you are curious about what this may look like, here are the lion tattoos that you should check out:

Tribal Lion Tattoos

I do feel like I should define what a tribal lion tattoo is. See, when it comes to tattoos, the term tribal is used quite a lot.

As a result, it has become a rather broad term, used to define tattoo ideas that involve tribal-like patterns.

In reality, tribal tattoos are those that are inspired by Polynesian and Maori tattoos. However, in traditional tribal tattoos, lions aren't a main feature as they aren't associated with these countries or cultures.

That being said, you are free to get a lion tribal tattoo that is based on this original concept. It is a good idea to work with a tattoo artist who is familiar with such artwork if this is the kind of final result that you want.

This kind of design looks amazing as a lion shoulder tattoo, lion chest tattoos or a lion sleeve tattoo.

Other people see these lion tattoo ideas as designs that are made of spiky black lines and curves that were popular in the early 2000s. There are also those that include ornamental elements in their lion tattoo.

Here are the lion tattoos that you can show to your tattoo artist to give them an idea of what you are looking for:

Christian Lion Tattoos

The lion is often considered a symbol of Jesus. So, if you are religious, then a lion tattoo can be a great way for you to proclaim your faith.

So, what can you include in such a tattoo?

Well, the most common element to include in such a tattoo would be a cross. At the same time, you may also want to consider other Christian imagery. This includes doves and heavenly beams of light.

You can also go all out with the Christian imagery if you want. Therefore, you can include an image of Jesus, a scene of the crucifixion, or bible verses.

Geometric Lion Tattoos

Do you want to give your lion tattoo a more modern twist? If so, a geometric lion tattoo is one that you should consider for yourself.

A geometric tattoo is one that is made up of lines. With some geometric tattoos, curves or angles may be included, but this rarely happens.

One of the reasons that I like this kind of lion tattoo is that it is a different take on a traditional design. Such tattoo ideas are also very structured and can work well as a lion forearm tattoo or an upper arm lion tattoo.

This is yet another lion tattoo where black and gray tattoo ideas are dominant. However, asking your tattoo artist to sprinkle in some color can definitely help to set your tattoo apart from the rest.

Lioness Tattoos

As you may have noticed, lion tattoos for men tend to be pretty predominant. Of course, this doesn't mean as a woman that you can't get a lion tattoo - you certainly can.

However, it may not always feel like the right fit for you. You may feel better off with a female lion tattoo instead.

In fact, as a woman, a lioness tattoo may be the way to go for you. This is because lionesses are so badass! They are the hunters of the pack and are more than capable of holding their own against a lion.

At the same time, they are incredibly social and nurturing creatures. Not only do they take care of their own cubs but they have even been known to watch over the cubs of other lionesses in the pride as well.

Check out these female lion tattoos to show your tattoo artist what you would like to get for yourself:

Lion Family Tattoos

A cute lion tattoo idea to consider is a lion family tattoo. These tattoo ideas would consider of a lion, a lioness, and their cubs.

This is a great choice if you would like to get a tattoo of your own family but aren't keen on using their likeness.

They are plenty of tattoo ideas for this kind of concept. You can have a family portrait, similar to what humans would get. Or, you can have the cubs playing around their parents.

If you have a non-traditional family unit, then you can still make these lion tattoos work in your favor.

For instance, you can simply get a lion with his cubs or a lioness with her cubs.

In any case, this can make for an excellent lion arm tattoo, lion thigh tattoo, or you can get lion forearm tattoos instead.

King Lion Tattoos

It is common knowledge that lions are known as the king of the jungle. They are fierce, strong, and powerful. As a result, they tend to win quite a few of their fights.

Now, if you want to depict this sentiment in your lion tattoo, a cool way to do this is to lion with a crown tattoo. There is no better way to send a clear message.

One of the elements of these kinds of lion tattoos that you can really go crazy with is the crown. You can make it look as detailed or bedazzled as you possibly want.

Lion King Tattoos

Now, I can't talk about lion tattoos and not mention The Lion King! If you were like a lot of people, then The Lion King was likely one of your favorite movies growing up.

That movie had everything - a strong parental bond, a thrilling villain, a coming-of-age story, and the best friends a cub could ask for. Not to mention, the soundtrack was pretty awesome too!

If you do want a Lion King tattoo, then there are plenty of options for you to choose from! You can choose to get a simple tattoo or go all out and get a realistic representation of the main characters.

Warrior Lion Tattoos

A lion is often considered a symbol of a warrior or a soldier. Therefore, drawing a lion and a soldier together makes sense, especially if you are someone who has battled through life or has spent time in the military.

To make this kind of idea look really cool, you may want to take a more classic or old-fashioned approach to the design.

Here, combine elements of gladiators or Spartans, or other ancient soldiers with the lion design. Not only can this make your tattoo feel more powerful, it certainly makes it look more aesthetically appealing as well.

Mountain Lion Tattoos

For the sake of covering all lion tattoos, I will also include the mountain lion. The reality is that the mountain lion, also known as the puma, has almost nothing in common with lions, apart from being big cats.

In fact, pumas have more in common with the household feline than they do with an actual lion.

That being said, mountain lion tattoo designs do look really cool, so here are some ideas you can show to your tattoo artist:

What Does a Lion Tattoo Symbolize?

A lion tattoo can actually symbolize a lot of different things.

One of the most common things that a lion tattoo symbolizes is leadership. This is because the lion is seen as one of the most fearsome creatures in the animal kingdom. It is considered to be at the top of the food chain and, as such, few animals dare take the lion on in combat.

So, if you are someone who is consistently in a leadership role, then a lion tattoo may be the perfect tattoo for you.

In general, a lion tattoo is associated with courage, strength, and even wisdom.

Lions can also be a symbol of fatherhood. This is because lions are in charge of their pride of lionesses and cubs.

Many people also associate the lion and the lion tattoo with Jesus Christ. This is because, in the Bible, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Lion of Judah.

Judah is a reference to the lineage of kings, including Judah and David. And, so by calling Jesus the Lion of Judah, it is a way of saying that he is the king of kings.

Why Do Lion Tattoos Have Clocks?

Clocks in a lion tattoo can signify a couple of different things. A clock can be a way of symbolizing either a birth or a death. It can also be used to remind people of how life is short and that you can't get back the time that you have lost.

Can a Woman Get a Lion Tattoo?

Yes, of course, a woman can get a lion tattoo - this tattoo design is a gender-neutral one.

If you would like a tattoo that portrays female strength and power, though, you may want to consider a lioness tattoo instead.

As you can see, these are some pretty cool tattoo designs. It doesn't matter if you are looking for something cute, sweet, badass, or meaningful, you can find all the ideas you need right here!