Are you stalking over the internet on your hunt for the perfect Tattoo Design? Well, worry not. There’s no need to be a lone wolf, as we’re here to help you track down some of the best Wolf Tattoo Designs that the internet has to offer.
What Does A Wolf Tattoo Mean
A Wolf Tattoo can have a variety of different meanings that can associated with a wolf’s wild and loyal nature.
These can include survival and endurance due to wolves’ survival instincts and hunting prowess, intuition and wisdom due to wolves’ heightened instincts, and strength and courage, as wolves are fierce predators known for their strength and determination.
A Wolf Tattoo can also symbolize family bonds and loyalty, as wolves are highly social animals who live and hunt in packs.
However, the image of a lone wolf has come to represent themes of freedom, independence, isolation, loneliness, or individual strength and determination, with the wolf leaving the pack behind to forge its own destiny.
Best Wolf Tattoo Ideas
Now that we know a little about Wolf Tattoos, let’s take a look at some of the best Wolf Tattoo Designs we could find.
Standard Wolf Tattoo
Your standard Wolf Tattoo carries with it all the symbolism of loyalty, wisdom, courage, and everything else associated with a Wolf Tattoo. This excellent Tattoo Design features a fierce-looking Wolf snarling its teeth at something that may be threatening it.
Traditional Wolf Tattoo
Traditional tattoos, or Old School tattoos, are a classic style characterized by specific elements that give them their distinct and timeless look.
These include bold black outlines, a limited color palette, and minimal shading.
The designs are usually simplified with little detail, which is a characteristic of the bold, iconic look. The focus is on clear, easily recognizable imagery rather than intricate detailing.
Geometric Wolf Tattoo
Geometric tattoos are a visually striking style that focuses on symmetry, precision, and mathematical patterns.
These tattoos are composed of precise shapes like circles, triangles, squares, and hexagons, often arranged in complex, intricate patterns whose shapes can form stand-alone designs or be part of larger pieces.
Neo-Traditional Wolf Tattoo
Neo-traditional tattoos are inspired by the Traditional Tattoo style but use modern colors, smaller line weights, increased details, varied line sizes, and dramatic highlights.
While the designs still maintain a cartoonish or illustrative style, they often incorporate more realistic portrayals of subjects like animals, portraits, and flowers.
Minimalist Wolf Tattoo
Minimalist tattoos focus on simplicity by using basic shapes, lines, and small symbols.
These designs are straightforward without excessive detailing, making them visually striking in their simplicity.
These tattoos are typically smaller in size compared to other styles, often occupying small areas of the body, making them subtle and discreet.
Realistic Wolf Tattoo
Realism Tattoos, or photorealism tattoos, are designed to look as realistic and life-like as possible, often resembling photographs or highly detailed images.
These tattoos focus on intricate details to create a tattoo that looks as close to real life as possible, with every small element carefully crafted to give the tattoo a sense of depth and dimension.
Howling Wolf Tattoo
If wolves are known for one thing, it’s their howling. While it is a myth that wolves howl toward the moon, they instead do it as a social rally call, a mark to engage on a hunt, or as a territorial expression.
Skull Wolf Tattoo
Skull Tattoos can have a range of meanings depending on personal expression or cultural contexts. These can include mortality and death, expressing the fragility of life and serving as a reminder that life is temporary and that death is an inevitable part of the human experience.
However, in some cultures, skulls symbolize not just death but rebirth and transformation. A skull tattoo can represent overcoming obstacles, personal growth, or significant life changes, signifying that from death or endings come new beginnings.
Wolf Pack Tattoo
Wolves are social creatures who live in packs that typically consist of 5 to 10 members. At the core is the alpha pair, which includes the dominant male and female. The alphas are typically the only ones who can breed in the pack and make key decisions regarding hunting, travel, and territory defense.
Bear And Wolf Tattoo
Bear Tattoos, have a range of meanings that can overlap with your wolf tattoo’s meaning. These can include calmness and furiousness, strength and patronage, self-confidence, and power.
While bears and wolves often interact in the wild, little is known about how this competition shapes the lives of both predators or how it affects the ecosystems they inhabit.
Maned Wolf Tattoo
The Maned Wolf, found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay, is the largest canine in South America.
The maned wolf is an omnivore that eats small animals and plant matter. A large portion of its diet comes from fruits and vegetables, particularly the lobeira, a tomato-like fruit native to South America.
Wolf Pawprint Tattoo
Pawprint Tattoos can represent many things, including your love for your pet, a commemoration of a lost pet, or just your admiration for animals. However, Pawprint Tattoos can also symbolize all the meanings associated with the animal to which the pawprint belongs.
Fenrir Wolf Tattoo
Fenrir is an offspring of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda, who plays a central role in the events leading up to Ragnarök. Scared of the wolf’s potential, the Norse Gods sought to bind Fenir by commissioning the dwarves to create a magical ribbon called Gleipnir, made from seemingly impossible ingredients.
To trick Fenrir into being bound, the gods convinced him it was merely a test of strength. As a safeguard, Fenrir demanded that one of the gods place their hand in his mouth as a sign of trust. Týr, the god of war, volunteered, and once bound, Fenrir realized the deception and bit off his hand.
Sköll And Hati Tattoo
Sköll and Hati are the relentless pursuers of the celestial bodies, the sun and moon. In Norse mythos, the pursuit of the sun and moon is believed to cause the day and night cycle. During Ragnarök, it is foretold that Sköll and Hati will finally catch and devour the sun and moon, bringing about darkness and chaos as part of the world’s destruction.
Helm Of Awe Wolf Tattoo
This Wolf has a Helm of Awe Tattoo on his head. The Helm of Awe is an ancient Norse symbol believed to offer protection, strength, and invincibility to its bearer.
Traditionally depicted with eight arms or spiked tridents that branch out from a central point, these arms are arranged symmetrically, forming a circle that represents protection, dominance, and the ability to strike fear into enemies.
Wolf Skull Tattoo
Unlike the Skull and Wolf Tattoo from earlier, this time we have a Wolf’s Skull Tattoo. This Tattoo Design can carry both the symbolism of Skull Tattoos as well as Wolf Tattoos.
This design also features some lovely fine-line detailing on the temple and a nice sun in the background.
Good And Evil Wolf Tattoo
If you love themes of God vs Evil, then check out this amazing piece by bk_tattooer. This lovely design features a white wolf at the top and a black wolf at the bottom, representing the good and evil in all of us that one chooses to feed.
Landscape Wolf Tattoo
If you’re looking to add a little more depth to your Wolf Tattoo, why not incorporate a landscape into its design? Different species of Wolves can live in various habitats, from forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, mountains, taiga, swamps, and prairies.
Werewolf Tattoo
This Mythological Tattoo is of a Werewolf, a creature known for its ability to transform from human form into a wolf, often during the full moon.
Stories of humans transforming into wolves can be traced back to ancient times, with the earliest story coming from Greek mythology, where King Lycaon was transformed into a wolf by Zeus as punishment for serving the god a meal made of human flesh.
Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing Tattoo
A wolf in sheep’s clothing” refers to someone who disguises themselves as harmless or trustworthy while hiding malicious intentions. This expression comes from Aesop’s Fables of ‘The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,’ where a wolf disguises itself in a sheep’s skin to infiltrate a flock, planning to prey on the sheep without being detected by the shepherd.
Demon Wolf Tattoo
For something a little different, try out this Demon Wolf Tattoo idea. This super cool idea features a vicious-looking wolf with multiple manic-looking eyes all over its face and plums of smoke or dark energy emanating from it.
Sword Wolf Tattoo
Sword or dagger tattoos can carry rich symbolic meanings depending on the cultural context, design, and personal interpretation. Swords can symbolize strength, bravery, and the willingness to face challenges, with a sword tattoo representing someone prepared to fight for what they believe in or defend themselves and others.
However, Dagger Tattoos, on the other hand, can symbolize betrayal and deception, with daggers being used for treacherous purposes, such as secret assassinations or betrayals.
Half And Half Wolf Tattoo
Another unique design for this list, perhaps this gorgeous half-and-half Wolf Tattoo will inspire you. This lovely design is done by artist burakuslutatts who does a lot of this half-and-half designs as well as a ton of other red and black work designs for you to check out.
Wolf Frame Tattoo
Another unique idea for your Wolf Tattoo is to have it within the confines of a frame. This design is super unique, so much so that I have no idea what it means. Maybe the design will speak to you in a way more than it speaks to me.
Shadow Puppet Wolf Tattoo
I’m sure at some point in all our lives, particularly when we were children, we’ve tried to make some kind of shadow puppets, whether they be eagles, dogs, cats, or whatever else. So, if you want to commemorate a cherished pastime from your childhood, why not get something like this wonderful Shadow Puppet Wolf Tattoo?
Armoured Wolf Tattoo
Wolves already symbolize strength and power, but if you really want to emphasize those characteristics or just have a love for the fantasy genre, why not try gearing your Wolf out with some armor?
Romulus And Remus Wolf Tattoo
Romulus and Remus are legendary figures from Roman mythology who are traditionally regarded as the founders of Rome. The twin sons were born to Rhea Silviathe, daughter of the former King Numitor of Alba Longa. Their father was believed to be Mars, the god of war, giving the twins a divine heritage.
Longa’s throne was usurped by Amulius, Numitor’s brother, who forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin. When she gave birth to Romulus and Remus, Amulius feared the twins would someday challenge his rule, so he ordered them to be cast into the Tiber River to die.
Saved by the river god, Tiberinus, when the babies washed up on the riverbank, a she-wolf found the twins and, instead of harming them, suckled and cared for them. The wolf became one of the most iconic symbols of Rome, often depicted in art and statues.
Red Riding Hood Wolf Tattoo
Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most famous fairy tales known for its themes of innocence, danger, and the struggle between good and evil. When a young girl is sent by her mother to visit her sick grandmother, she meets a wolf who learns of her destination and devises a plan.
The wolf arrives at the grandmother’s house first, eats the grandmother, and disguises himself as the old woman by wearing her clothes. Depending on the version, she is initially fooled by the wolf’s disguise but is saved by a hunter or woodsman who rescues her and her grandmother from the wolf’s belly, or she outsmarts the wolf herself.
House Stark Wolf Tattoo
The House Stark sigil is one of the most iconic symbols from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series and the HBO show Game of Thrones. The Stark sigil is a grey direwolf, the large, powerful wolf-like creature native to the North in Westeros.
The direwolf represents strength, loyalty, and family, characteristics deeply valued by House Stark. These beasts are known for being fiercely protective of their pack, much like the Starks are known for their strong family bonds and protectiveness over the people of the North.
Beastars Tattoo
This Anime Tattoo is of Legoshi, the main protagonist of the anime and manga series Beastars. A complex character who grapples with his identity, instincts, and emotions, Legoshi exists in a world where carnivores and herbivores coexist in a society filled with tension and prejudice.
Moro Wolf Tattoo
This Studio Ghibli Tattoo is of Moro, the three-hundred-year-old wolf goddess and leader of the wolf tribe. After witnessing her parents destroying the forest, the wolf attacked San’s family. In response, they threw the infant child at her feet as a sacrifice. Rather than devour the child, Moro raised her as her own.
Amaterasu Wolf Tattoo
This Video Game Tattoo is of Amaterasu from the Okami video game. Amaterasu, the sun goddess, takes the form of a white wolf who has divine powers and the ability to restore nature and balance to the world.
The goddess is tasked with restoring Nippon (Japan) from an evil curse that has spread darkness and destruction across the land. Using her divine powers, she can manipulate the world around her using the Celestial Brush, a mechanic that reflects her role as a deity of creation and light.
Wolf Link Tattoo
This Zelda Tattoo is of Wolf Link, a version of Link playable in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Due to the corruption of Twilight on Hyrule, Link is transformed into this form. The people of Twilight believe this form is their savior who will free them. Midna rides on Links back in this form, taking advantage of his newfound speed and agility.
Bigby Tattoo
Bigby Wolf is the protagonist of the 2013 Tell Tale Game, The Wolf Among Us. Formerly The Big Bad Wolf, he is now the sheriff of Fabletown, an enclave where many Fables fled to escape a tyrant known as ‘The Adversary.’ Here, Bigby must protect Fables from the average humans referred to as mundys, as well as Fables from themselves.
Fantastic Mr.Fox Wolf Tattoo
Near the conclusion of the Fantastic Mr.Fox film, Fox meets a lone Wolf standing in the snow. Fox tries to communicate with the wolf verbally, however, he doesn’t respond. Only when Fox raises his fist in the air does the Wolf respond with a fist of his own before being wished good luck and leaves.
The wolf represents the untamed, primal side of nature that Mr. Fox has somewhat distanced himself from. Mr. Fox is depicted as clever, civilized, and sophisticated, often behaving more like a human than a wild animal. The wolf, on the other hand, embodies true wildness, free, untamed, and completely removed from the human world. This contrast highlights Mr. Fox’s internal struggle between his natural instincts and his desire to live a more civilized, human-like life.
The Big Bad Wolf Tattoo
This Disney Tattoo is of the Big Bad Wolf, the main antagonist of the Silly Symphony short The Three Little Pigs. Believing that being bad is what wolves are supposed to do, he disguises himself in order to fool and catch the three little pigs for food.
The cartoon saw controversy as, in its original airing in 1933, the wolf disguised himself as a Jewish peddler, forcing Disney to reanimate the scene for its 1948 re-release after the conclusion of World War 2.
Great Grey Wolf Sif Tattoo
This Dark Souls Tattoo of the Great Grey Wolf Sif. Sif is the wolf companion of Sir Artorias, the Abysswalker, who, after his death, Sif became the guardian of his grave. True to his oath, regardless if you save young Sif he will still commence in battle with you even after recognizing you as the one who saved him in the past.
Lycanroc Tattoo
This Pokemon Tattoo is of Lycanroc, the 745th Pokemon in the Pokedex. Evolving from Rockruff at level 25, Lycanroc has three potential forms: Midday, Dusk, and Midnight.
While its Midday form resembles that of a wolf, its Midnight form looks more like a werewolf. The Dawn form can be achieved when a Rockruff with the ability Own Tempo is leveled up during the evening, with this form having traits from both its Midday and Midnight forms.
Sesshomaru Wolf Tattoo
Sesshomaru is a character from the InuYasha anime series. The older half-brother of the hanyō Inuyasha and the firstborn son of Tōga, he had no interest in possessing a shard of the Shikon Jewel, deeming those who sought its power for selfish gain as pathetic.
This Sesshomaru wolf form is done in artist Brando Chiesa’s parasitic style.
Where To Get Your Wolf Tattoo
Design is one thing, but you also need to consider where to get your Wolf Tattoo. So, let’s take a look at some of the best positions for your potential new ink.
Back Wolf Tattoo
The Back is the quintessential place to get your Wolf Tattoo if you’re looking for a large, expansive design with a ton of detailing. With its flat plane and plenty of space, you can go wild with your design, but keep in mind that the bigger it is, the longer you will be in the chair.
Wolf Tattoo On The Chest
The Chest is a fantastic place for those looking to show off their Wolf Tattoo with pride. Positioned on the chest, your Tattoo gives off the impression you are wearing your colors into battle for all to see. While the chest offers a lot of space on the pectorals for men, women may need an inventive design that takes advantage of the anatomy of the breasts.
Forearm Wolf Tattoo
If you want to show off your Wolf Tattoo as often as possible but also conceal it at a moment’s notice, then the forearm is perfect for you. The forearm also has a lot of muscle and fat, which will protect you from feeling too much pain, so it is a perfect place for first-timers or just those worried about getting hurt.
Hand Wolf Tattoo
Like the forearm, the hand is a perfect place for those who want to show off their tattoo design all the time. The only difference is that it is much harder to conceal than the forearm, and it’s going to hurt a lot! The hand doesn’t have much fat or muscle, so the tattoo needle will be working very closely to your tendons and veins.
Wolf Tattoo On The Leg
Lastly, the leg is another great place to get inked for those afraid of pain. Areas like the calf and thigh have a lot of muscle or fat that will help dampen the pain, but be aware that the back of the knee and knee itself will be very painful.
Conclusion
So ends our hunt for the perfect Wolf Tattoo Design. We hope with our help, you’ve found the design or ideas that speak to you the most. But hey, if Wolf Tattoos still don’t inspire you, why not check out these Elephant Tattoos, these Tiger Tattoos, or any of these Animal Tattoos to get even more inspiration?
