If you are lucky enough to share a strong father and daughter bond, the get a tattoo to celebrate it. From meaningful portraits and quotes to funny cartoon characters, there is a father and daughter tattoo design for everyone.
Father and Daughter Tattoos: 80+ Best Design Ideas (And Meanings Behind Them)
Whether you want to get matching tattoos, themed designed or are memorializing a lost parent. Get a tattoo dedicated to your children or get one dedicated to your beloved father. Here are some of our favorite father and daughter tattoos.
Father and Daughter Realistic Tattoo
What better to celebrate the special father and daughter bond that getting a realistic tattoo. Keep your near and dear close to you with a portrait of your father or your daughter or recreate your favorite family photo on your skin.
Did you know:
The quality of your reference image you give your artist directly correlates to the quality of your portrait tattoo. Even the best portrait artist needs a good reference image.
Father and Daughter Silhouette Tattoo
A popular father and daughter tattoo is the silhouette tattoo. Simple and effective, recreate an old image or special moment. This design is a lot easier to pull off compared to portraits as there is less detail.
Fictional Father and Daughter Tattoo
There are many fictional fathers and daughters that make the ideal tattoo. Perhaps you connect with their relationship and see yourselves in them, or maybe they come from a show, video game of movie you love watching together.
Animal Father and Daughter Tattoos
Animals also form bonds with their children, they protect and care for their young which makes them the ideal father/daughter tattoo design. Whether you choose independent birds, fierce lions or cute ladybirds, animals are a fantastic way to represent a bond.
Did you know:
Lions have a strong familial bond as well as looking majestic, making them a fantastic tattoo choice. Wolf packs are also strongly bonded, with a clear leadership goal. Elephant is another commonly used tattoo as they travel together and have strong protective instincts.
American Traditional Father and Daughter Tattoos
The American Traditional tattoo design style uses heavy black outlines with minimal color for a bold impact. They are usually darker in appearance and the color choice is limited to simple colors such as average blue, red, green and yellow. American traditional uses lots of banners and hearts, where you write the name of your loved one of simply the word ‘Dad’.
Father and Daughter Quote Tattoos
Sometimes you need to express your love via word. There are many ways of writing about your bond via tattoo. Whether you choose a famous quote, a personal saying or a few choice words, they can make a huge impact. Quotes can be worn alone or as part of a bigger design. You can even add a quote tattoo to an existing piece.
Music Themed Tattoo
Did you bond over music? Perhaps one of you is a musician or you grew up always surrounded by music? Get a music themed tattoo, which looks cool and holds lots of meaning. From musical notes to instruments, song lyrics or musical scales, this can be a great matching tattoo for a father and daughter.
Also Read:60+ Best Music Tattoos To Show Off Your Love For Good Tunes
Landscape Tattoos
If you grew up sharing outdoor experiences with your family, getting a landscape tattoo can remind of the good times. Get an exact depiction of your favorite vacation spot, your home or even your local village. Perhaps you want to get a tattoo that celebrates an achievement like
Date Tattoos
Celebrate an important date with this simple yet meaningful style of tattoo. Although commonly a birthdate, it could also be another significant date like wedding, an important surgery or the date of the passing of someone. You could choose traditional numbers or roman numerals.
Did you know:
Kanye celebrated his daughter North by getting her birth date inked on his wrist. He also had his late mother Donda’s birth date tattooed on his other wrist.
Family Tattoo
Getting the word family, or the alternative in your language, is simple yet effective. This powerful word can be tattooed in a range of styles, from big bold lettering to small script and italic fonts. Father and daughters could both get this tattoo in different fonts in different locations.
Also Read:30+ Tattoo Ideas That Symbolize Family
Flower Father and Daughter Tattoos
Flowers are attractive and a popular tattoo for all people of all ages. Flowers tattoos can be as small or big as you like, from delicate fine line designs to huge sleeves of bold shades.
Did you know:
- The following flowers represent family.
- Chrysanthemums represent fidelity and loyalty.
- Hydrangeas represent the loving bond between people.
- Roses are the most popular tattoo design for people with a special bond.
- Sunflowers are bright and friendly, often found in fields together.
- Tiger Lilies represent happiness and prosperity.
- Peonies symbolize compassion, prosperity and a happy life.
- Carnations represent pride and love.
- Lilacs are associated with youthful innocence.
- Gardenias represent purity and sweetness.
- Daisies are a symbol of reliability and stability.
Small Father and Daughter Tattoos
Father and daughter tattoos don’t have to be big and in your face, they can be small and delicate. If this is your first tattoo or you have a job where these designs are frowned upon, this is ideal. As long as it means something to you, it doesn’t matter how big the design is.
Sun and Moon Tattoo
The sun and moon make perfect complementary designs for father and daughters. Although opposites, one would not exist without the other. The sun represents masculinity, and the moon is the symbol of feminine energy (but you can easily swap this around if it better suits your personalities.
Take My Hand Tattoo
The image of a father taking a little girl’s hand is iconic and makes a fantastic father daughter tattoo. Opt for detailed design, a silhouette or something a little more abstract. Some father’s even choose a tiny hand to hold, reminding them of their daughter as a young child.
Celtic Knot Tattoos
The Trinity knot is a common Celtic knot with a continuous line interweaving around itself. It symbolizes the unity of family and the endless love family members have for each other. It also represents the unity of soul, heart, and mind.
Watercolor Father and Daughter Tattoos
A watercolor tattoo is a bright, vivid design made up of subtle color gradients and techniques that create a unique color fade-out. This tattoo effect is intended to mimic the characteristics of a classic watercolor painting. Watercolors can be added to a black and gray tattoo, or worn alone.
Tribal Father and Daughter Tattoos
Tribal tattoos have a rich and long history, used since the bronze age to express power and signify the warrior of a tribe. Every tribe have their own tattoo style, with different meanings and they have their own unique way of celebrating family.
Did you know:
Some people find tribal tattoos are form of cultural appropriation. Always get more information on the culture and design before getting it permanently tattooed.
Fine Line Tattoos
Fine line tattoos are made of thin lines that form an outline. There are no graduations in colors, instead they are made from solid pigment. These tattoos are ideal if you want a small subtle inking that can be hidden at work. Fine line tattoos can come in any type of design, making them a hugely versatile style.
Protective Father and Daughter Tattoos
A father will always be protective of his little girl, no matter how old she gets. Get a tattoo to symbolize your role as protector and guardian. Whether this is a guardian angel or with a shotgun, celebrate your protective bond.
Also Read:50 Best Girl Tattoo Design Ideas (On Different Part Of Your Body)
Color Father and Daughter Tattoo
Make a big impact by choosing a color tattoo. They may take longer to execute but they are a fantastic way to let the world know how much you love your family. From cartoon characters to bright flowers and feathers, the choices are endless.
Did you know:
Lighter colors will generally fade quicker than darker colors, so keep this in mind when choosing the colors for your tattoo. Also note that different colors look different on different skintones.
Key and Lock Tattoo
Key and lock tattoos are one of the most popular matching tattoo styles. This tattoo can be as simple and understated or as big and elaborate as you want. One has the lock, and one has the key tattooed on them.
Coordinate Tattoo
While the coordinates can represent a number of different things, most father and daughters get the longitude and latitude of their happy place (like the place they were born or where they grew up) or specific coordinates to commemorate a life-changing moment. It’s sentimental without being too cheesy and it’s subtle and not too obvious to someone who doesn’t know the coordinates.
Signature Tattoos
Get the signature of your loved one tattooed on you. It’s unique to them and is a fantastic way to celebrate them. Signature tattoos are small and dainty, ideal for those who want an inking that can be hidden or for someone getting very first tattoo.
Zodiac Father and Daughter Tattoos
Represent your loved one by getting their star sign tattooed on them. Zodiac tattoos can be executed in a variety of ways, from star symbols, constellations or simply written in script. It’s a subtle way to celebrate the day your daughter was born and brightened up your life.
Family Tree Tattoo
Trees have long been used as a symbol of life as well as family. The tree grows and branches out, much like a family does. The family tree tattoo could include names, include the Celtic knot, or could simply be the tree alone.
Abstract Father and Daughter Tattoos
There are no rules when it comes to father and daughter tattoos. You could get any style and design you like. As long as it represents your relationship and you both like it, you can get what you like. Of course, it helps if it is legible and looks good alone as it does whilst together (because you won’t always stood by each other).
Father and Daughters Tattoos: More FAQ
Which Famous Father and Daughters Have Tattoos?
Zoe Kravitz has ‘Free at Last’ tattooed on her left forearm in cursive handwriting, her father Lenny Kravitz also has this tattoo. Lenny also has a Z tattooed on his finger in tribute to his actress daughter.
Paris Jackson has her late father Michael’s Dangerous album cover inked on her forearm. Ewan McGregor has an elaborate crest tattooed on his arm in tribute to his wife kids. Dax Shepherd has a bell tattoo on his ring finger for his wife Kristen Bell. Inside are the initials K, L, and D, for Kristen and daughters Lincoln and Delta.
David Beckham has a hand tattoo of a little drawing done by his daughter Harper. The footballer also has her name inked on his chest. Zelda Williams has a hummingbird tattoo in honor of her late father Robin Williams. Matt Damon has his four children and wife‘s name tattooed on his arm. Johnny Depp has his daughter’s name tattooed on his chest.
Can You Tattoo Older Skin?
Yes, in fact tattoos are becoming incredibly popular with the over 60s. Tattoos are for everyone, no matter race, age or gender. The simple fact is that as we age, so does our skin, which means that someone in their 20s has more supple skin than someone in their 50s.
We recommend getting an artist who has experience working with older skin. This is because older skin is softer, less elastic and can be prone to bruising. Because the skin is fragile, it means some of the more intricate designs can be harder to ink. Big and bold designs that are simple but attractive will translate the best on aging skin. To keep the tattoo looking as good as the day it’s inked, use sunscreen and moisturize regularly.
Regardless of your age, the pain of getting a tattoo is relatively the same. Meaning, it is relative to your own personal pain tolerance. What hurt for one person, won’t to another.
Where Should I Get My Father Daughter Tattoo?
You can get your father daughter tattoo anywhere you like on the body. They can be prominently featured on the leg or arm, or they can be more discreetly hidden in places like the chest, back or feet. The placement of your father daughter tattoo will depend on the design you choose.
The more detail you get, the bigger it needs to be. Even the best artist will struggle to get huge amounts of detail into a small piece. So, when you consider your tattoo placement think about:
- How visible you want it to be. Some jobs still don’t accept visible tattoos.
- The design you want. Some designs suit different areas better.
- Your pain threshold. Areas close to the bone or close to nerves (for example, feet, hands, and ribs) will hurt more than the forearm or the thigh.
- How big the tattoo you want is. Bigger tattoos suit arms, back, chest and leg. Smaller tattoos look better on feet, hands and neck.
- Where your other tattoos are. You want all your tattoos to make sense together.
- If you want matching tattoos, consider the placement of them together.
- Remember, father daughter tattoos don’t have to be in exactly the same place.
Did you know:
If you are truly stuck on the placement for your father and daughter tattoo, speak to a tattoo artist. Show your design to the artist and they will happily give the professional opinion on the best place to get it inked.
Do Father Daughter Tattoos Have to Match?
No, although matching tattoos are popular, there are limitless options. You could the same tattoo in different colors or in a different font. It’s also common for the daughter to get the same tattoo but in small (for example a lion cub whilst the dad gets a lion with a full mane).
If you get matching tattoos, they don’t have to be in the same place. Men and women’s bodies are different, so you may want to choose different yet complimentary locations. Choose a tattoo that goes well together but are not identical, for example, a lock and a key or two puzzle pieces. Many dads get a tattoo with a part missing, with the area missing tattooed on his daughter.
Obviously, name, signature and date tattoos will not match. To ensure cohesiveness, use the same artist, recreate the same font, placement, and size.
Which famous father and daughters can we get tattooed on us?
Want to celebrate your father daughter relationship by getting a Check out this list of the best famous father and daughter characters.
