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If I told you about turtle tattoo, maybe your first impression is like turtles are not one of the main tattoo designs in the world but, in fact, turtles are one of the Top10 animals tattoo for years and years.
Moreover, turtles are present in a lot of different cultures around the world, so they have some special and fantastic meanings, as you can see further on this guide.
But, let’s go step by step, on this guide this is what I want you to learn about:
- First, I’m going to tell you about the meaning of the turtle tattoo in Western culture.
- Secondly, let’s see some meanings in other cultures all around the world.
- And, finally, a lot of different turtle tattoos for you!
Table of Contents
Some Top Turtle Tattoo Meaning
There are a lot of different meanings for a turtle tattoo in Western Culture, but I want to show you the Top 3 ones (in my humble opinion).
Micro Realism Turtle Tattoo
This is the first example of this guide and, as you can see, a very nice one!
This tattoo is about a turtle in micro realism style, a huge trend globally in the tattoo world.
I love the detail level and the fineline work there, very delicate and harmonic, all with black ink, with the two circles, giving the composition some geometric pattern.
This fantastic work is done by Sophie, a delightful woman tattoo artist working at Exphaus, in London, UK.
A Turtle Tattoo Meaning Is About Longevity
The first meaning for a turtle tattoo in the US or in Europe is, clearly, longevity.
Because, you know, turtles are animals with a spectacular long life. For example, the Seychelles Giant Turtles (Aldabrachelys gigantea holissa in latin) more ancient one, is 191 years old, but it seems these turtles can be up to 500 years.
So, if you want a tattoo about long life and, moreover, about perseverance, maybe a turtle tattoo is the right one.
But Turtles Tattoo Are for Wisdom Too!
If you mix turtles can live for centuries and, moreover, they move slowly, the result is that turtles are a symbol of wisdom.
In fact, turtles know a lot about the different sea paths and they can move from one place to another, like the Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) for example. These turtles migrate to their feed areas to the beaches to nest their turtle babies.
Into this “wisdom” meaning area, turtles are for patience too.
And Turtles Are for Protection, of course
Turtles do have a shell and it is well-known that turtles carry their home on their backs, so, another turtle tattoo meaning is about protection or security.
Moreover, in some cultures turtles are a survival symbol, so a turtle tattoo can symbolize strength too.
Colorful Turtle Tattoo
Looks good, isn’t it?
This time, another turtle tattoo but, this time, in realism with a colorful design that is very eye-catching, and the detail of the word “Boston” just up the turtle.
I love the movement feeling in this tattoo and the color palette chosen from the tattoo artist, this is a very nice work!
This tattoo is done by Kim, an incredible woman tattoo artist working in Perth, Australia, focused on illustration and color tattoo with tons of very nice works there.
Turtles Meanings in Other Cultures
But, as I told you just in the beginning of this guide, turtles are a very important animal in some cultures, and I want to highlight three of them:
Turtle Tattoo Meaning for Polynesian and Hawaiians
For Polynesian and Hawaiian people, the sea and the ocean is his life, and turtles are a very important animal there.
In fact, turtles are usually a good luck symbol, and a guidance one and, because of this, in Polynesian tattoo turtles are a very usual pattern in different ways, sometimes it is the main concept of the tattoo, sometimes, they are inside the pattern.
Ah, one more thing, turtles in Polynesia are called honu.
Turtle Tattoo in Japan and China
But, in Japan and in China there are a lot of turtles too, but with another meaning.
In Japan, China and in a lot of Asian cultures turtles are for wisdom (as well as in Western countries) but for immortality (one step further of longevity, you know) and cosmic balance.
So, it is a very nice tattoo meaning there, isn’t it?
Turtle Tattoo Meaning for Native Americans
Finally, there is a meaning for turtles in Native American people, and I do celebrate this.
For Native Americans, turtles are for stability and to be linked to Mother Earth so, if you want another very nice tattoo idea, this can be a nice one!
And Now, Some More Turtles Tattoos for You!
One by one, with all the explanation, as usual:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tattoo (Yes!)
Yes, technically speaking, this is just another turtle tattoo but, you know, about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic or TV show, and I have to include this wonderful work on this list because, you know, humor is always a good thing!
This tattoo is, of course, done in cartoon style about the TMNT but when they were babies, and, of course, with a pepperoni pizza and their weapons.
This fantastic tattoo is done by Vasif Terim, and outstanding tattoo artist focused on cartoon tattoo and working from Istanbul, in Turkey,
(Very) Micro Realism Turtle Tattoo
This is another micro realism tattoo about a turtle with some water splash, this time very, very micro, because the tattoo is about 5 cm, about 2 inches.
And, as you can see, the detail level for such a small tattoo is marvelous, so the fineline work here is impressive, you know what I mean.
This tattoo is done by Leeyu, a fabulous woman tattoo artist focused on animal or botanical tattoos but in micro realism with fineline and black and gray ink, and I do think you should follow her.
Very Cute Turtle Tattoo in the Sea
Look at this very cute tattoo!
As you can see, micro realism is a huge trend in turtle tattoos, and I can understand it, because the final results are fantastic.
This time, you can see a wonderful very detailed and tiny turtle tattoo with black and gray ink like flying over the sea waves, done with another color palette but with a perfect linework, with a perfect finish.
The tattoo is done at About Ink Tattoo, a stunning tattoo studio located in Jena, Germany. There you can find Nik and Anastasia, and they very focused on black and gray tattoo in realistic style and fineline.
Old School Turtle Tattoo
This tattoo is a very different one, isn’t it?
This time is a very old school tattoo with a classic design we love here about a turtle, but a very special one.
This turtle is called the Eastern Painted Turtle and it has some superpowers, because they can hibernate underwater, and they do not freeze because they have something like anti-freeze technology in their blood.
The tattoo is done by Phil, an exceptional tattoo artist with his own personal tattooing style, working at Flow Tattoo, in Toronto, Canada.
Other Classical Turtle Tattoo
And here you can see another very classical design for a turtle tattoo, mixing some illustration and classic American tattoo styles for this colorful and spectacular tattoo.
This tattoo was made by Avalon Todaro, a brilliant woman tattoo artist with a very special tattoo style I think you should follow.
She is in Melbourne, Australia.
Very Simple Turtle Tattoo
Yes, another very cute turtle tattoo, and I do love it.
Maybe this is one of the simplest tattoos on earth for a turtle, but the point is this tattoo is really remarkable, because with just a few lines the tattoo artist can create a lovely turtle, and I think it’s beautiful.
This tattoo is done by Roxansink, a wonderful woman tattoo artist focused on black ink tattoos with geometric patterns and a very nice shadowing work, so go and follow her. Now.
Japanese Turtle Tattoo
Look at this astonishing turtle with a design 100% Japanese for this beautiful piece of work!
Because, yes, this is how turtles are drawn in classical Japanese folklore, and it is a beautiful and different way to do it here, isn’t it?
This tattoo, done with mastery in black ink and a classical illustration tattoo is done by Suz, an amazing woman tattoo artist based in Tokyo, Japan, with tons of very nice illustration tattoos in color and black ink, she is very talented!
Turtle With the Globe in the Shell Tattoo
Look at this very nice idea.
Is a turtle tattoo, this time in a bird’s eye view, perfectly finished with a fantastic linework, but, moreover, with the globe painted in the shell.
The tattoo finish is terrific, very detailed and just perfect, but the idea is even better, I do love it.
This tattoo is done by Twist Tattoo, a phenomenal tattoo artist very focused on fineline and illustration tattoo in Ubud, a town near Bali, in Indonesia.
Neo Traditional Turtle Tattoo
This is another turtle for you, this time made in a completely different way.
This tattoo style is called Neo Traditional, because it mixes the best traditional elements of traditional tattoo styles with some vibrant and nice color palettes resulting in something between Victorian illustration and something completely new.
Just something cool and new, you know, and this tattoo is just a perfect example.
The tattoo is done by Luna Mila, a glorious woman tattoo artist completely focused on this neotraditional tattoo style working at Great Heron Tattoo, in Helsinki, Finland, and you should follow her.
Turtle Chimera Tattoo
And this very special and wonderful tattoo is about a turtle, but not a common one, instead of that, a chimera turtle!
As you can see, this turtle has wings and a woman face, and it is done with a very special and powerful tattoo style.
And this is because this is the personal tattoo style from Max Murphy, a magnificent tattoo artist from Ellicott City, in Maryland. You should follow him.
Traditional Thai Turtle Tattoo
Well, this one has a story too.
This turtle tattoo is a very classical thai design with some sacred writings and the classical design for a turtle in Thailand.
This wonderful work is from Chang Tattoo Krabi, a fantastic tattoo studio in Thailand working with electric machines and handpoke.
Old School Colorful Large Turtle Tattoo
Now, a very bold tattoo like this one in half of the back.
This tattoo is done with a very classical and old school design, but with tons of bright colors in a very, very large and bold tattoo.
I do like the red one in the color palette, as well as the shadowing work, in fact, a very, very nice work here!
This tattoo is done by Elisia Lee, an impressive woman tattoo artist very focused on that kind of classical tattoos you should follow.
Honu Polynesian Turtle Tattoo
And now, a Honu tattoo.
Yes, the Polynesian traditional way for the turtle, something remarkable and very bold, as you can see here.
This tattoo, with a very nice size and shape in the complete shoulder, all in black ink with some blackwork is another masterpiece.
This tattoo is done by Danny Tzschirner, another marvelous tattoo artist from Germany, and Dan is focused on tribal and linework tattoos.
Belly Honu Tattoo
Yes, this hurts. A lot.
This is another Honu tattoo, another Polynesian design that I love, but I want to remark on the placement for this tattoo, because this belly and underboob tattoos are really painful, surely in the Top 5 of pain points in all the body.
This fantastic artwork is done by a tattoo artist called Sol Keen, tattooing at Dependable Tattoo, in Medford, Oregon, and you should follow this Instagram account.
Turtles Tattoos Are a Very Good Option with a Nice Meaning
So, this is the end of this guide and, if you want to get inked with some animals, maybe the turtle is your choice.
As you can see, there are plenty of options in almost every tattoo style, black inked or colored, and the meaning is a very nice point.
I hope you have enjoyed this guide!
Turtle Tattoo Meaning FAQs
What is the meaning of turtle tattoo?
It depends on the culture, in the US and Europe is about longevity and wisdom, but in Polynesia is about good luck and guidance
What does the turtle symbolize?
Usually, longevity, wisdom and protection in the US and Europe, but in Polynesia is for good luck and guidance and in Asia for the cosmic balance
Is a turtle tattoo good or bad?
There is not a “bad tattoo”, but turtles tattoos are really a good one, because they have a very nice meaning, they are for wisdom
What tattoo is good luck and protection?
Turtles are for good luck in Polynesian culture and for protection (and longevity or wisdom) in the Western cultures like the US or Europe, so a turtle tattoo is what you are looking for.
