Are you prowling over the internet on your hunt for the perfect Tattoo Design? Well, look no further. We’re about to aid you on your hunt as we bring you some of the best Lion Tattoo Designs from across the internet.
Table of Contents
What Does A Lion Tattoo Mean
Lions, often referred to as the King of the Jungle, although no Lion species actually lives there, symbolize strength, courage, leadership, royalty, and wisdom. They can also represent qualities like bravery, nobility, and power.
Lions have long been associated with royalty, as throughout history, they have been depicted on coats of arms and emblems for kings and queens. A lion tattoo can reflect a sense of nobility, authority, and high status, symbolizing someone who sees themselves as a leader or protector.
Lions are fierce predators, making them a universal symbol of bravery and fearlessness. Getting a lion tattoo can represent the courage to face challenges head-on and the strength to protect oneself and loved ones.
In many cultures, lions are seen as guardians, often depicted guarding temples or palaces. A lion tattoo can signify a desire to protect others or to act as a shield against negativity or harm.
Best Lion Tattoo Designs
Now that we know a little about Lion Tattoo’s meanings, let’s take a look at some of the best Lion Tattoo Designs from across the internet.
Traditional Lion Tattoo
Traditional Tattoos are characterized by their bold lines, limited color palette, and classic designs. The bold outline style ensures the design stands out clearly on the skin and ages well over time, and minimal shading contributes to the flat, 2D look that’s iconic to the style.
Neo-Traditional Lion Tattoo
Neo-traditional tattoos are an evolution of the classic American Traditional style that retains some core elements while introducing new artistic techniques and themes. While Neo-traditional tattoos keep the bold black outlines, they often feature more intricate and elaborate designs with finer details, use shading, and have an expanded color palette compared to their predecessors.
Fine-Line Lion Tattoo
Fine-line tattoos are known for their delicate, intricate designs and minimalistic aesthetic. This Tattoo Design uses ultra-thin lines to create extremely detailed or minimalistic pieces that doesn’t overwhelm the skin.
Colorful Lion Tattoo
If you want to brighten up your Lion Tattoo, why not add some or a lot more color to its design? This beautiful piece has all the colors of the rainbow in its design, making it explode with life.
Lion With Crown Tattoo
To really bring out the royal and noble symbolism associated with your Lion Tattoo, why not add a crown to its design? This beautiful piece features a black and grey lion with a fully colored gold crown sitting perfectly atop his head.
Abstract Lion Tattoo
Abstract tattoos are a modern and artistic tattooing style focusing on creativity, expression, and non-traditional designs. These tattoos often feature freeform designs that don’t necessarily represent anything specific but rather evoke a feeling, mood, or idea.
Minimalist Lion Tattoo
Minimalist Tattoos are a tattooing style that focuses on conveying meaning with as little detail as possible. They are usually smaller in size, subtle, and often designed to be discreet, making them ideal for those who want a tattoo that isn’t too bold or flashy.
Lion Skull Tattoo
Skull Tattoos are a classic symbol of death, reminding us of the inevitability of mortality. However, for many, a skull represents strength, courage, and the ability to overcome adversity. Skulls are also associated with rebirth and transformation, used at festivals such as the Dia de los Muertos in Mexico to celebrate the life of the deceased, as death is seen as an essential part of life’s process.
Floral Lion Tattoo
Flower Tattoos can have a wide range of meanings depending on which flower you choose to adorn yourself in. With between 250,000 to 400,000 flowering plants estimated throughout the world, you should have no shortage of symbolic meaning to pair with your Lion Tattoo.
Zeus Lion Tattoo
Light And Dark Lion Tattoo
If you want to add a little contrast to your Lion Tattoo, why not try out something like this Light and Dark Tattoo Design? While light and dark are often seen as opposites, expressing themes of good versus evil, they can also be seen as opposite yet complementary forces, such as in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang.
Lion And Tiger Tattoo
Tiger Tattoos symbolize independence and self-reliance. Tigers are solitary animals, unlike their African cousins. However, similar to Lions, Tigers can also symbolize strength, power, courage, fearlessness, beauty, and grace.
Chimera Lion Tattoo
The traditional Chimera is a mythical creature from ancient Greek mythology. It is a hybrid monster with the body and head of a lion, a goat’s head protruding from its back, and a serpent or dragon as its tail. This chimera differs from the Greek version, as this chimera has horns like a ram and wings from some species of bird that the Greek myth doesn’t have.
Watercolor Lion Tattoo
Watercolor Tattoos are a tattoo style that mimics the look of watercolor paintings. These tattoos are known for their soft, blended colors that often fade into each other without harsh outlines. The effect resembles the way watercolor paint spreads and blends on paper, creating a fluid, almost ethereal look.
Lion Claw Tattoo
If you want to have all the symbolism of a Lion Tattoo without committing to a full Lion, why not get something like a Lion claw mark tattoo? A lion’s claws can grow up to about 3.5 to 4 inches, with them being used primarily for hunting and defense. The curvature of their claws helps tear meat and climb, giving them an advantage when catching and overpowering animals.
Lion Sword Tattoo
Sword Tattoos synergize beautifully with Lion Tattoos, as they are also symbols of strength, bravery, and the warrior spirit. Sword Tattoos represent a willingness to face challenges, stand up for oneself, and fight for one’s beliefs and are also symbols of justice, honor, and protection, reflecting a strong sense of ethics and integrity, representing a person who values truth and fairness.
Lioness And Cubs Tattoo
If you have children and want to represent them without using a family portrait, you can also depict them through a Lion/Lioness and cubs. This beautiful Tattoo Design features a Lioness representing the mother on one side and the children represented by the cubs on the other in a half-and-half design.
Lion Dance Tattoo
The traditional Asian lion dance is a vibrant performance used during important festivals and occasions in many East Asian countries, such as China, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
The lion dance has ancient roots and has been a part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years. It is used to ward off evil spirits, bring good fortune, and celebrate festive occasions. Over time, the practice spread to other Asian countries, where local dance variations developed.
St. Jerome And The Lion Tattoo
St. Jerome was a Christian priest, theologian, and scholar best known for translating the Bible into Latin. One day, a lion limped into the monastery, startling the monks. While most feared the lion and fled, St. Jerome noticed the lion was in pain. Instead of running away, he approached the lion calmly and saw that it had a thorn lodged in its paw.
After the saint carefully removed the thorn from the lion’s paw and treated the wound, the lion, grateful for the saint’s compassion, became tame and friendly. According to the legend, the lion stayed with St. Jerome from that moment on, becoming his loyal companion and even acting as guardian for the monastery.
This tattoo of the Lion comes from a painting that has been used infrequently in meme culture due to the lion’s humorous expression on its face.
Lion Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoos, are most commonly associated with love, romance, and passion. The red rose, in particular, symbolizes deep love and desire, often chosen as a tribute to a loved one or as a symbol of a passionate, romantic relationship.
Aslan Narnia Tattoo
Aslan, from the Chronicles of Narnia, is a powerful and majestic lion who symbolizes hope, wisdom, and goodness. He is the true king and protector of Narnia, a magical land inhabited by talking animals, mythical creatures, and children who stumble upon it through a wardrobe.
Aslan acts as a protector of Narnia, saving it from the forces of evil on multiple occasions, and is often interpreted as an allegorical representation of Jesus Christ as Aslan is used to convey themes of faith, redemption, and sacrifice.
Realistic Lion Tattoo
Realistic tattoos are a style of tattooing that focuses on creating lifelike, detailed images on the skin. They are known for their intricate details, which are captured by shading, highlights, and fine lines. These tattoos capture every nuance of the subject, from facial expressions and textures to shadows and reflections.
Lion-O Thundercats Tattoo
Lion-O is the main protagonist of the animated television series ThunderCats. The ThunderCats are a group of heroes who escape their dying home planet, Thundera, and settle on a new world called Third Earth. Lion-O begins as a child, but during the journey to Third Earth, he is placed in a suspended animation capsule that malfunctions.
As a result, while his body ages into adulthood, his mind remains that of a young boy. Lion-O must quickly learn to mature and grow into his role as a leader, balancing his youthful impulses with the responsibilities of leading the ThunderCats.
Lightning Bolt Lion Tattoo
If you want to add a little more ferocity to your Lion, try adding a Thunderbolt Tattoo to its design. Lightning Bolt Tattoo’s symbolism is related to themes of power, speed, and inspiration. Just like how lightning strikes quickly and unexpectedly, it makes this tattoo design a symbol of speed, agility, and quick thinking.
Samurai Lion Tattoo
The Samurai were the warrior class of feudal Japan, known for their strict code of honor, discipline, and martial prowess. A samurai tattoo can symbolize honor and integrity, reflecting the values of the samurai code, known as Bushido, as well as strength, courage, and loyalty, a core principle of the Samurai code.
Shishi Tattoo
Shishi, or Fuu dogs, are stylized Lions from East Asian mythology, such as China and Japan. They were traditionally placed at the entrances of temples, palaces, tombs, and other significant buildings to ward off evil spirits and protect the structures.
A Shishi Tattoo can symbolize themes of strength, power, protection, and good fortune.
Lion And Wolf Tattoo
Wolf Tattoos are somewhat similar in meaning to Lion Tattoos as, like Lions, wolves live in their own large packs. A Wolf Tattoo can symbolize strength and courage, loyalty and family, instinct and intuition, as well as protection and guardianship.
Wolf Tattoos can also symbolize independence and freedom due to their association with lone wolves for those who choose to walk their own path and embrace their individuality.
Kimba White Lion Tattoo
Kimba White Lion is a character from Jungle Emperor (Jungle Taitei in Japanese), a manga series that began in 1950 and was later adapted into an anime series in 1965. “Kimba the White Lion” was the first Japanese TV anime series to be produced in color and was a pioneering work in the anime industry.
The story follows Kimba (Leo in Japan), a rare white lion who must become the king of the jungle after his father’s death. Kimba is born while his parents struggle against hunters trying to dominate the jungle. After his father’s death, Kimba escapes and eventually returns to the jungle to reclaim his father’s legacy and bring peace between animals and humans.
Lion And Eagle Tattoo
Eagle Tattoos are among the quintessential symbols of freedom and independence, largely because the Bald Eagle is the national animal of the United States of America.
Thanks to their incredible sight, they have become symbols of vision, focus, and insight. An eagle tattoo can represent a clear sense of purpose, the ability to see things others might miss, and a strong sense of direction in life.
Lion And Snake Tattoo
Despite their often feared reputation, snakes, and in this case, Snake Tattoos actually come with a lot of positive symbolism.
One of the most common meanings of a snake tattoo is rebirth. When a snake sheds its skin, it can be seen as a symbol of transformation, renewal, and the cyclical nature of life. A snake tattoo can represent personal growth, new beginnings, or a fresh start, signifying the shedding of the past to embrace something new.
Stretching Lion Tattoo
If you’re someone who has a lazy or laid-back approach to life, why not get yourself this super cute Stretching Lioness Tattoo? Lions are known for being quite lazy compared to many other animals, spending a significant portion of their day resting.
Lions sleep 16 to 20 hours per day to conserve energy for these intense activities and avoid the hottest hours when exerting themselves, which would be inefficient.
Liger 0 Zoids Tattoo
This Anime Tattoo is of the Liger 0. The Liger 0 is a Zoid, mechanized combat units that resemble animals or mythical creatures. Liger Zero is a Liger-type Zoid designed to resemble a lion or a large cat. It’s known for its sleek, agile design and is often considered one of the most versatile Zoids in combat.
Japanese Style Lion Tattoo
If you’re a lover of Japanese art, why not get yourself a Japanese-inspired lion Tattoo? This Lion design is done in the Irezumi art style, a traditional style of Japanese tattoos known for its bold, intricate, and colorful designs with roots dating back to the Edo period.
Over time, Irezumi became associated with the Yakuza due to laws that outlawed tattooing during the Meiji period. The ban forced tattooing underground, and it became a mark of defiance against authority. Many Yakuza members adopted Irezumi as a symbol of loyalty, strength, and solidarity, leading to its association with the criminal underworld.
Alex Madagascar Lion Tattoo
Alex is one of the main characters in DreamWorks Animation’s “Madagascar” film series. Introduced as the main attraction of the Central Park Zoo, he is proud of his status as the “King of New York,” enjoying the attention, adoration, and luxury that come with being the zoo’s star.
Unfortunately, after his best friend Marty leaves to experience life in the wild, Alex, along with Melman and Gloria, follows Marty. They all end up on a ship that takes them to Madagascar.
Here, Alex struggles to adapt to the wild as his instincts as a carnivore start to emerge, causing tension between him and his friends. He eventually learns to control his predatory nature and embraces life outside the zoo, though he longs to return home.
Lion Statue Tattoo
If you want a Lion Statue Tattoo design but don’t want to go for the Asian Shishi design, try going for something like this Greek Lion Statue design. The Greeks sculpted lions to symbolize might, authority, and dominance. These qualities were admired, especially in the context of warfare and leadership. Lion sculptures were often placed on monuments, tombs, and public buildings to convey a sense of protection and stability.
The Cowardly Lion Tattoo
The Cowardly Lion is an iconic character from the Wizard of Oz novel and film where he was portrayed by actor Bert Lahr. Due to his cowardice, he believes that he doesn’t live up to the image of a brave and mighty lion due to his fear of everything. Despite his worries, he is gentle and kind-hearted, often showing concern for his friends.
The Cowardly Lion expresses his deep desire to be courageous throughout the story. He believes that, as a lion, he should naturally be brave, but his fear holds him back. This longing for courage drives him to accompany Dorothy and the others to the Emerald City, hoping to find the courage he feels he lacks.
Sleeping Lioness Tattoo
Similarly to the stretching Lion Tattoo, you can also choose to depict a Sleeping Lion Tattoo to emphasize your laid-back or lazy approach to life. Lions often sleep close to each other, which helps strengthen social bonds within the pride. You’ll often see them lounging, grooming, and napping together, displaying affection and reinforcing their relationships.
Lion Pawprint Tattoo
Pawprint Tattoos often symbolize love for animals, loyalty, and guidance and can also represent a specific pet, an animal spirit, or personal traits associated with certain animals.
The most common reason people get paw print tattoos is to honor a beloved pet. This can be a way to celebrate the bond with a dog, cat, or other furry friend, symbolizing loyalty, companionship, and affection for your pet that is either alive or sadly deceased.
The Lion King Tattoo
Lastly, you can’t have a Lion Tattoo list without mentioning the 1994 Disney classic The Lion King. Set in the Pride Lands of Africa, The Lion King begins with the birth of Simba, a young lion cub who is the son of Mufasa.
Scar, Simba’s jealous uncle, seeks to take the throne by killing Mufasa and convincing Simba that his death was the young cubs’ fault. After years in self-exile, Simba returns home to defeat Scar and reclaim the throne, which was his birthright.
This Disney Tattoo features both father and son, along with the Simba Sigil.
Where To Get Your Lion Tattoo
Design is one thing, but you also need to consider where to get your potential new ink. So, let’s take a look at some of the best locations for a Lion Tattoo.
Lion Forearm Tattoo
The forearm is a great place to get a Lion Tattoo, particularly for first-time tattooers. This location has a lot of fat and muscle to help dampen the pain, leading to a more comfortable experience.
Leg Lion Tattoo
The leg is another great place to get your Leg Tattoo if you’re afraid of pain. While areas such as the knee and behind the knee are extremely painful, areas such as the thigh and calf have a lot of muscle and fat to dampen the pain.
Chest With Lion Tattoo
If you want to wear your Lion Tattoo with pride, then there is no better place to get inked than the chest. For men, the chest offers a lot of space on the flat surface of the pectoral muscle, but women may need to find a tattoo design that better complements the anatomy of the breast.
Lion Tattoo On The Arm
The arm is another great place to get your Lion Tattoo. The arm is one of the best places to get a tattoo that you can show off easily but conceal just as easily at a moment’s notice by rolling up or down your sleeve.
Back Placed Lion Tattoo
Lastly, the back is the quintessential place to get inked if you love large and expansive designs. This location has a lot of space on a flat plane that will allow your tattoo artist to go crazy with your design. However, you don’t need to go large on the back and can just keep it small like with this adorable design here.
Conclusion
As the sun begins to rise across the savannah, so too ends our nightly hunt for the perfect Lion Tattoo Designs. We hope with our help, you’ve found the perfect design that speaks to you. But hey, if Lion Tattoos still don’t inspire you, why not check out the Lion’s domesticated cousins with these adorable Cat Tattoo ideas, or if you prefer aquatic animals, check out these Whale Tattoo ideas, or you can check out a range of Animal Tattoos by checking out our Animal Tattoo Gallery.