The special meanings behind celebrity tattoos

March 19, 2018

<h2>ZAYN MALIK</h2>
In the wake of his break from ex-girlfriend Gigi Hadid, the former One Direction band member got a big rose tattooed on the back of his head. While the exact meaning of the tattoo is unknown, we're sure he put a lot of thought into this stunning piece of artwork.
<p>Photo: © Instagram.com/zayn

<h2>SOPHIE TURNER</h2>
The <em>Game of Thrones</em> star got inked by Toronto based artist Curt Montgomery. Some of her fans speculate this is an homage to the <em>Monty Python</em> movie, which features a killer rabbit.
<p>Photo: © Instagram.com/sophiet

<h2>JOE JONAS</h2>
It was a his-and-hers tattoo day for fiancés Sophie and Joe! The Jonas Brother got an outline of a woman, with a red accent just like his soon-to-be wife's. He also got his artwork done by Curt.
<p>Photo: © Instagram.com/joejonas

<h2>BROOKLYN BECKHAM</h2>
This Beckham takes after his ink-loving dad! Brooklyn sported an ode to his designer mom Victoria Beckham; an artistic heart with the word "mum" in the middle.

<h2>BROOKLYN BECKHAM</h2>
The eldest of the Beckham clan sported some new ink on his hand – "1975" to signify the year his father, David Beckham, was born.
<p>Photo: © Instagram.com/brooklynbeckham

BILLIE LOURD

Billie Lourd commemorated what would have been her mom Carrie Fisher’s 61st birthday on Oct. 21 in an incredibly moving way. The 25-year-old American Horror Story star, who had a very close relationship with her iconic mom, got even more linked with Carrie through ink! Billie showed off a cosmic tattoo on her right ankle (seen here on the right), an almost exact replication and placement of the one her mother had (seen left). The Scream Queens talent made the design her own, with updated outlines of the stars and planets. She also opted to get the work done in black and white versus Carrie’s choice of colour. However, it is a clear nod to her famous mama.

The ink art was done by L.A. celebrity tattoo artist, Doctor Woo, who also shared a post about the work. “For @praisethelourd . Tribute for her mom today, on her birthday,” the tattoo artist wrote along with star, prayer and heart emojis.

Photo: WireImage/Instagram/@praisethelourd

<h2>MAISIE WILLIAMS & SOPHIE TURNER</h2>They have been firm friends ever since they started playing the beloved Stark sisters - Arya and Sansa - in <i>Game of Thrones</i> back in 2009. And to prove their close bond, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams decided to get matching tattoos in celebration of their friendship. The British stars had their inkings done last September during a filming break. Explaining the special meaning behind their inkings, Sophie told Elle UK: "We always said that we wanted them so we got the date 07.08.09 on our arms because that's the date that both of us found out we'd got our roles in <i>Game Of Thrones</i>. So when we had a day off from filming in Belfast we just went to a tattoo place and got it done."

<p>Photo: Getty Images

<h2>JUSTIN BIEBER</h2>
In May 2016, the singer debuted his most visible tattoo to date - a small cross under his left eye. Celebrity artist Jon Boy told <i>US Weekly</i> that the new ink "represents his journey in finding purpose with God.”
<p>Photo: Instagram/@jonboytattoo</p>

<h2>LEA MICHELE</h2>
In April 2016, the actress took to Instagram to show off her two new minimal tattoos. A coffee cup to honour her grandmother, who gave Lea her first cup of coffee at age 8, and a second marking, the number 5, in tribute to her late boyfriend, Cory Monteith. The design represents his jersey number on the hit series <i>Glee</i>, on which the two met and fell in love.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@msleamichele, Getty Images</p>

<h2>PARIS JACKSON</h2>
After turning 18, Michael Jackson's daughter paid tribute to her late dad with a tattoo that says 'Queen of my heart' written in her father's handwriting. She later debuted a tattoo she got in honour of her grandmother Katherine Jackson, who has raised her since her father's untimely passing.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@parisjackson, Getty Images</p>

<h2>ANGELINA JOLIE</h2>
The Oscar-winning actress has an extensive collection that includes the geographical co-ordinates of Nice, where her twins Knox and Vivienne were born, etched onto her upper left arm below the longitude and latitude co-ordinates for the birthplaces of her other children.
<p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>

<h2>DAVID BECKHAM</h2>
Would a list about tattoos be complete without David Beckham? The father-of-four has over 40, each with a special significance. Recently, he took to Instagram to post these special designs, handmade by his children.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@davidbeckham, Getty Images</p>

<h2>KYLIE JENNER</h2>
Kylie Jenner and her best friend Jordyn Woods celebrated their friendship by getting matching "M" tattoos. The reality star also has her grandmother's name tattooed on her arm.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@kyliejenner</p>

<h2>RIHANNA</h2>
Rihanna has more than a dozen tats, but one of her most prominent is her very special chest tattoo. The singer had her life motto "Never a Failure, Always a Lesson" written backwards so she can read it ever time she looks in the mirror.
<p>Photo: Getty Images</p>

<h2>ADELE</h2>
Adele has a few inkings, each with special meanings behind them, from the 'One Penny' design in honour of her mother Penny Adkins to the "A" behind her ear for son Angelo.
<p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>

<h2>LADY GAGA</h2>
The singer and the 50 abuse victims who joined her onstage during her powerful performance at the 2016 Oscars all got matching tattoos representing "unity."
<p>Photo: Instagram/@ladygaga

<h2>ARIEL WINTER</h2>
<i>Modern Family</i> actress Ariel Winter took to her Instagram to share with her followers a new, "special" tattoo. Explaining the meaning behind the inked initials, she wrote, "My second and most special tattoo, the initials of five of the most important beings in my life: my nieces and nephew. Their initials are on my ribcage, on the side where my heart is. They are my inspiration, and my reason for living. Love these babies more than anything and proud to have their initials forever on my body."
<p>Photos: Getty Images/Instagram/@ArielWinter</p>

<h2>KANYE WEST</h2>
The rapper's wife Kim Kardahsian shared this picture of Kanye's new tattoos. On one wrist, he has the birthdate of his late mother Donda West and on the other he has the birthdate of his daughter North.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@kimkardashian, Getty Images</p>

<h2>ZELDA WILLIAMS</h2>
The late Robin Williams is the inspiration behind daughter Zelda's hummingbird design. Speaking to reporters, she once compared her father to the little bird, stating that both could never keep quite still. That, she added, was part of the appeal of Robin, who had millions of fans around the world.
<p>Photo: Getty Images</p>

<h2>HELEN MIRREN</h2>
The woman who played Queen Elizabeth in <i>The Queen</i> has a rebellious side! The interlocking Vs on her hand, though, aren't too controversial – they convey the simple message, she once revealed, of "Love thy neighbour."
<p>Photo: Getty Images</p>

<h2>CARA DELEVINGNE</h2>
The model, known for her quirky personality and independent streak, has an affinity for tattoos. In this image, we see the first tattoo she ever got – a lion's head on her finger. In addition, she has a heart tattooed in red ink and the word 'BACON' written in all caps on her foot. The model revealed that the latter isn't an ode to her love of bacon, instead, "I feel like something about bacon reflects my personality. It’s salty and it’s bad for you and it’s delicious."
<p>Photo: Instagram/@caradelevingne, Getty Images</p>

<h2>MILEY CYRUS</h2>
The "Bangerz" singer isn't afraid to do what she wants, including getting fun tattoos. Among her many tattoos on her hand is a heart on her pinky finger. The singer got the tattoo to match the one her father has in honour of her.
<p>Photo: Getty Images</p>

<h2>DAKOTA JOHNSON</h2>
The actress has 'amor' on the back of her neck – mom Melanie Griffith has the same ink in the same place as well – and 'Look At The Moon' surrounded by stars on her foot. She also has three birds... perhaps a reference to grandmother Tippi Hedren's iconic Hitchcock role? But those inspired to follow in her inked footsteps, take note: in an interview with <i>Net-A-Porter</i>, the <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> actress admitted that she wasn't happy with some of her tattoos.
<p>Photo: Getty Images</p>

<h2>DREW BARRYMORE</h2>
Drew Barrymore has the names of her daughters, Olive and Frankie, tattooed on her wrist.
<p>Photo: © Instagram/@drewbarrymore</p>

<h2>KALEY CUOCO</h2>
Previously, the <i>Big Bang Theory</i> actress had her wedding date tattooed to her back. After a difficult divorce, Kaley got rid of the reminder with a coverup tattoo depicting a butterfly. After the ink dried, she publicly thanked her tattoo artist for "helping me right my wrongs."
<p>Photo: Instagram/@normancook, Getty Images</p>

<h2>KENDALL JENNER</h2>
Talk about taking minimalism to a whole other level! Kendall went with a simple dot in white ink with a few of her good friends. “To her, it’s the little things that matter,” her tattoo artist JonBoy told <i>US Weekly</i>, adding that white ink is easiest to cover up for modelling.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@jonboytattoo, Getty Images</p>

<h2> HAILEY BALDWIN</h2>
Model Hailey has a few tattoos to her name. The first she got was of a 'g' behind her ear in homage to a friend's daughter who was born with an incredibly rare brain disorder.
<p>Photo: Instagram/@haileybaldwin, Getty Images</p>

<h2>MILEY CYRUS</h2>
<p>
Miley just loves getting her body inked. In July 2017, the singer-songwriter took to Instagram to show off another very special tattoo - a sunflower, which is the symbol for veganism. "Vegan for life!" the 24-year-old singer captioned the sentimental picture on the social media platform.
<p>Photo: Getty Images, Instagram/@mileycyrus

Celebrities love tattoos. It gives them a chance to show off their creativity and honour special moments and people in their lives. Stars like Lea Michele have gotten tattoos to commemorate their loved ones while others like Miley Cyrus get ink to show the many facets of their personalities.

Click through for some of the most fascinating celebrity tattoos and the meaning behind the ink.