The Rose Tattoo Meaning and 160 Ideas for You

There is no singular rose tattoo meaning as a rose stands for everything from love and loss all the way to death.

As an art history buff, I have traced the meaning of the rose from its early myths. So, I love to help people understand the different meanings associated with each design and color so that they can get a more significant tattoo.

Learn the meanings for each of these tattoo designs below.

The Legendary Meaning of Rose Tattoos

Are you looking for simple or small rose tattoos? Perhaps one that is devoid of too much color?

Well, there is a great deal of rose symbolism that you should be aware of. To begin with, did you know that there are certain myths surrounding the rose?

One of the best-known ones involve Greek mythology and Chloris, the goddess of flowers. One day she was working in the woods and stumbled across the lifeless body of a wood nymph. Saddened by this, she turned the nymph's body into a flower.

She then asked Zephyrus, her husband, to blow away the clouds so that the sun rays of Apollo would shine down on the flowers. She asked Aphrodite to add beauty, Dionysus to add an intoxicating aroma, and the Three Graces to bestow charm, splendor, and joy.

This flower was considered the Queen of Flowers and Aphrodite even fashioned a name for this flower from the name of her own son - Eros.

Therefore, it doesn't matter what kind of ink you want to get - whether minimalistic or realistic rose tattoos - you can guarantee that your tattoo is going to be special.

Rosebud Tattoos

A rosebud tattoo is actually quite unusual but it can be a beautiful rose tattoo design, nonetheless.

A rosebud is often indicative of youth and purity. It can be a symbol of your childhood or even that of your child.

Sometimes, a rosebud may also be a sign of innocence or hearken back to your childhood.

This is actually a great idea if you want a small rose tattoo, as these designs tend to be rather minuscule.

Rose Life Cycle Tattoos

Another interesting and unique design idea is a rose tattoo with the roses in different stages of life.

This could be the rosebud, the rose just beginning to blossom, and the rose in full bloom. Depending on what you would like to depict, you can have other stages in between as well.

In fact, you could also include the rose wilting too.

This rose tattoo is meant to symbolize the passage of time. You are born, you grow and develop, you are in full blossom, and then you depart from this plane.

This can be an excellent reminder to live life to the fullest. Or, it could also help you remember that some things are simply inevitable.

Dead Rose Tattoos

You might imagine that a dead rose tattoo depicts death. You would be right a certain extent.

Dead roses often are a symbol of death. However, it doesn't necessarily depict literal death.

This kind of rose tattoo can be used to symbolize some kind of failure. This could be the end of a relationship, friendship, or even a goal.

A dead rose is also a good reminder of what happens when a living thing isn't given the proper resources to survive. Therefore, you can use this rose tattoo as a way to remind yourself to treat people in your life better.

Red Rose Tattoos

Red roses and red rose tattoos are arguably some of the most popular rose tattoo designs around. In fact, it can be argued that it is one of the top designs around, period.

One of the reasons that the red rose tattoo is so prevalent is due to the meaning associated with red roses.

Red roses and a red rose tattoo is associated with romantic love. These roses and rose tattoos are also linked to passion and desire.

Interestingly enough, you should keep an idea of the exact shade of this kind of rose tattoo.

A light red is associated with passion and desire, which could ultimately mean lust. A deep and dark red, however, means an urge to form a deep bond with someone.

As far as rose tattoo meanings go, there can be more than one for this rose tattoo design.

The red rose is typically connected to the female spirit as well. The beauty of a rose is linked to the beauty and grace of femininity.

Many also see this kind of rose as a symbol for women in general. Despite appearing delicate and beautiful, the rose is also adorned with thorns. It can be a subtle warning to those who believe they can mess with women.

On the flip side, a rose can be a good reminder that sometimes, the best prizes are hidden behind a hardy or thorny layer. If you work to get past the thorns, you are rewarded with a beautiful flower or rather, person.

There is also a beautiful story behind this flower. Some believe that there were only white roses in early times. However, as Aphrodite rushed to save Adonis, her love, from a boar attack, she pricked herself on the thorns, blood drops splattering the petals and turning them red.

Pink Rose Tattoos

A pink rose tattoo can be a great idea if you love roses but don't want to get something too mainstream.

Pink roses also have a beautiful meaning attached to them.

Light pink roses represent grace and gentleness. They are also associated with joy and happiness.

A pink roses tattoo can be a great way to express that you are happy with your life, your goals, or even with a singular individual.

These roses are still incredibly feminine. It can feel like a celebration of womanhood or even motherhood. So, if you would like a rose tattoo that is soft and lovely, this is a great option.

There is also a meaning for dark pink roses. They depict gratitude and appreciation. They can also be about recognizing an important person in your life and what they mean to you.

If you like, this kind of rose tattoo can still be about you. You can be grateful about who you are as a person, what you have achieved in life, or simply the gifts and opportunities that you have been given.

At the same time, pink roses can signify relationships or people in your life. It could be about showing the world how grateful you are to have these individuals around.

This is certainly an interesting take on this rose tattoo as people often gift others a pink rose as a thank you.

This hue is also deeply associated with girls and young women. Therefore, it can be a beautiful celebration of youth as well.

Yellow Rose Tattoos

Yellow roses are the ultimate symbol of friendship. These are often given from one friend to another.

That being said, yellow roses and a yellow rose tattoo can convey a lot of meaning. After all, a friendship can be one of the strongest bonds between two people. Some friendships will also outlast other relationships in a person's life.

To add to this, many people prefer yellow rose tattoo designs due to their bright and cheerful color. It can improve your mood immediately.

Softer yellow roses also have the ability to be quite elegant. In any case, they can be a lovely departure from the more common rose tattoos.

Blue Rose Tattoos

Have you ever seen blue roses in real life? Probably not very often, as this is an incredibly rare rose.

What is really cool about the blue roses is that they don't exist in nature. They had to be modified.

This by itself gives your blue rose tattoo plenty of meaning. You can utilize it to signify a sense of unattainability. It could be something in your life that you don't feel you can accomplish. Or, it could be someone you just can't seem to reach.

Your blue rose tattoo could also indicate that you see yourself as being unattainable. You could put up walls that you need other people to break down before getting to know you.

Some believe that this rose and rose tattoo is about true love. It could signify a passion you hold for someone that can never be extinguished.

These roses are also said to depict unrequited love. So, if you have ever felt that you lost the love of your life or if they passed you by without ever returning your feelings, this is a great rose tattoo design to get.

White Rose Tattoos

It should come as no surprise to learn that white roses symbolize purity. They are also often used to depict innocence.

According to some myths, white roses were the first type of rose to be created. It is believed that they came into existence as Aphrodite was born, falling into the ocean.

As the sea foam touched the shore, a rose bush grew there.

Interestingly enough, white roses may also be associated with loyalty and new beginnings. This is why you will see them at weddings. Of course, it also helps that the white roses matches the bride's dress and the rest of the décor.

However, a white rose tattoo has nothing to do with a wedding or even love.

If you want to be a better person or focus on developing a purer heart, however, this can be just the right rose tattoo for you.

Also keep in mind that these kinds of roses are often seen at funerals. In fact, in some cultures, white is the color of mourning.

Therefore, this rose tattoo can be a memorial for someone's life or a loved one that you have lost.

What you need to keep in mind about this rose tattoo - or white tattoos of any kind - is that they are notoriously tricky. In fact, if you try to get an all-white rose tattoo, your tattoo artist may try to warn you away.

Not only does white ink result in less precise lines, but your rose tattoo is also likely to fade more quickly.

Don't worry, this doesn't mean that your tattoo is completely out of reach! There are many ways to make these types of rose tattoos work for you.

One thing you can do is to have the outline done in black and keep the rest of the petals sparse. Or, you can use shading to really make the tattoo design pop.

Black Rose Tattoos

Like the blue rose, black roses don't exist naturally. Some individuals have managed to get very close to the shade but most florists will dye the flower to make them appear black.

A black rose tattoo can have a multitude of meanings. As you can imagine, some of these are associated with death.

This doesn't necessarily have to do with the end of life, though. It could be represent the end of anything - a path, a relationship or friendship, etc.

This rose tattoo represents mourning as well. Once again, you don't need to be mourning a person. You could be mourning your childhood, a facet of your personality, an opportunity, or something else.

A black rose tattoo could also be about vengeance - you could be plotting your revenge or have already completed it.

This rose tattoo design can also signify elegance, mystery, and a desire to be different from the rest. The black rose's beauty is unorthodox but still quite undeniable.

If you also enjoy the gothic genre, such as books, fashion, or movies, then black roses could be a cool nod to your interests.

Purple Rose Tattoos

Purple roses are fairly rare too but they have a beautiful meaning nonetheless.

As the color purple is typically associated with royalty, this flower depicts power and position.

At the same time, this kind of tattoo design is a great way to acknowledge the value in others. You will usually present this flower to someone else when you want to show that you look up to them or that you value their contribution.

So, if you would like to get your rose tattoo to honor someone else, a purple rose may be the way to go!

Rose Hand Tattoos

It's likely that you have seen your fair share of rose tattoos on hands. But what do they mean?

There is no definite meaning for the rose hand tattoo. That being said, there is often a good reason why people get this tattoo on that particular part of their body.

This often has to do with love or longing. It means that the person who has gotten inked has a deep love for someone.

This kind of rose tattoo may also mean that passion and love play an important part in your life. You might be on the lookout for your one true love. In many ways, it is equivalent to wearing your heart on your sleeve.

This is quite fitting, considering that you will often find this rose tattoo on men. However, if you are a woman and would like to get this tattoo, then go ahead.

Rose and Butterfly Tattoos

A rose and butterfly tattoo is quite a common option. You might imagine that it's because these images work beautifully and naturally together.

While you would be right, there is a lot of symbolism here too.

Both the flower and the butterfly can represent you. On the one hand, you have grace, beauty, and strength. At the same time, you have the opportunity to transform and break free of the shackles of your life.

This can be an especially meaningful tattoo if you feel like you're ready to make a change or transition.

Rose and Christian Symbol Tattoos

Roses have long played a role in Christianity. Some believe that it is a symbol of heaven or the afterlife.

Others associate the flowers with Mother Mary due to their purity and beauty. The word rosary is, in fact, taken from the word for the garden of roses.

In the olden days, five petaled roses were carved around confessionals. This was known as the seal of sub rosa or under the rose, where everything spoken of remained confidential.

Some people also believe that roses were hung to identify places of worship when Christians were being persecuted.

With this kind of rose tattoo, you could have a number of Christian images or imagery alongside it. This includes everything from a cross or a rosary to Mother Mary.

Rose and Dagger Tattoos

You will often see this kind of imagery with a traditional rose tattoo. This tattoo style is well-suited to these elements.

Of course, the rose and dagger tattoo isn't just about looking cool. There is some symbolism here as well.

One way to interpret this tattoo design is to see how the two elements balance each other out. The rose is beautiful, feminine, and delicate. The dagger, on the other hand, is harsh and dangerous.

At the same time, it is a clever comparison. While the rose may not appear as dangerous as the dagger, it still has plenty of thorns. In that sense, it could represent that the wearer is hiding a dark nature beneath an attractive exterior.

When the dagger is piercing the heart, this tattoo design could mean a broken heart.

Rose and Skull Tattoos

It isn't uncommon to see a rose and skull tattoo. While these two images may seem to contradict each other, there is some beautiful symbology here.

Having something lively and beautiful next to a dark and decaying image creates quite the contrast. There is also the fact that the rose can make a skull seem more beautiful.

It doesn't matter if you're looking for rose shoulder tattoo or elaborate tattoos - you can find all the inspiration that you need for your next rose tattoo right here.

Find what holds the most meaning to you and show it to your tattoo artist. Good luck finding your inspiration!