small tattoo

In the most recent years, tattoos have been making their way into the fashion world. World-renowned model-celebrities like Chiara Ferragni, Cara Delevingne, and Jourdan Dunn have small tattoos somewhere on their body parts. This consequently encourages younger women to get inked in their arm, wrist, neck or ankle.

A simple reminder

In most cases though, small tattoos are highly preferred by the latest generation because they can easily hide them under the (long) sleeves, denim pants, collars, or socks. Or, it is because a nickel-sized tattoo is not that noticeable. However, you should bear in mind that getting a tattoo no matter what the size is permanent and costly. Plus, given the fact it can be painful sometimes is another factor to take in mind before getting one.

If you think you are physically and mentally ready for it, here are some small tattoo design ideas that have been trending for the past few years.

Triangle Tattoo

small triangle tattoo

This design marked its place on the tattoo world in 2012 when celebrities begin to ink themselves with this symbol. It appealed to a lot of people’s taste because of its mysticism despite of it being a basic shape. The triangle tattoo has multiple meanings such as harmony, the Holy Trinity, homosexuality, illumination, and earth elements.

The inspiration for this design came from different cultural and historical sources. In terms of harmony, it can mean fire, water, earth and air and when two triangles are combined in an upside-down fashion, it symbolizes balance.


Arrow Tattoo

small arrow tattoo

An arrow is a meaningful tattoo design for it serves as a reminder to always look forward to something great once you’ve overcome a particular struggle in life. It gives some sense of direction to people that only want optimism to prevail over problems. The best thing about this tattoo is it can be designed with different patterns and styles. Arrow tattoos can be placed on your arm, on the spine or feet.

Heart Tattoo

small heart tattoo

This design is classic and timeless because everybody can relate to its message, which is love, life, passion, and the like. You should get a heart tattoo if you want to show your romantic side specifically. Around the heart, you can add more details to convey your message powerfully. Some heart designs are accompanied with a life line, angel wings, crown, a pair of broken hearts, among other details that speak volumes of meaning.


Musical Notes Tattoo

small musical notes tattoo

This small design is typically placed behind the ear. The placement seems to imply listening to music and obviously one’s interest in music. The design can be a g-clef or musical notes and the way they look like is perfect for narrow body areas such as the finger, wrist or neck. It’s one of the best ways of showing your love for music.


Letter Tattoo

small lettering tattoo

It can be a single word such as your name, love, hope, etc. This design is the simplest means to giving out a message to everybody with one word. Plus, letters or words can be designed easily by your own especially if you know a bit about typography or lettering. No wonder this is a popular choice among tattoo enthusiasts, particularly women.


Cross and/or Religious Tattoo

small crux tattoo

This is another popular choice among tattoo fans. They simply wanted to express their devotion to God or a relevant holy person. The cross is the ubiquitous symbol for faith, which can be placed at the nape, behind the ear, spine or near the heart. This symbol can be designed after the cross of certain religious orders such as the Dominican Cross.


Star-Inspired Tattoo

small triangle tattoo

This design is usually related to expressing something glamorous and fab. It’s a small tattoo that is commonly preferred by women like Rihanna and Avril Lavigne for example. It can be anybody’s favorite shape or they simply want to send a message that you’re worth the attention.


“Family” word

small family word tattoo

For people who are family-oriented would love this design. It can be done in lettering format like these: Family, Family, or Family. Whichever font style you may prefer, be sure to have it clearly inked on your body part. You can perhaps position it in your back, fingers or chest. You will surely make your family members feel special!


Bird Images

small bird tattoo

Perhaps you would agree on the fact that you regularly see birds in flying motion on women. It’s a popular design that really looks captivating when placed on the rib cage, shoulder, clavicle, or on the thenar space (the space between your index and thumb fingers). Plus, you may opt to have it in multicolored version to enhance its overall appeal.


Floral Tattoo Design

small flower tattoo

This design is unarguably timeless for it has always been a top choice among tattoo fans. It can be inked somewhere on your hands, neck, shoulder blade area, nape, hip bone, or feet. A floral-inspired tattoo look perfect on women as it emulates femininity and elegance, although men can also have this design too.


Mustache Design

small mustache tattoo

Mustache tattoo has been pretty popular these days. It may look rather odd on women’s fingers but it can actually look charming in its own way. This tattoo looks good on both genders so couples or an entire circle of friends may opt to decide to have it on their body, to symbolize belongingness with one another.


Arm Band Tattoo

small arm band tattoo

This tattoo is popular among men and it is usually designed with tribal details. It is traditionally placed on the biceps and it should look good on toned arms. You can also easily cover it with the sleeves of your shirt in case you need to avoid demerits at your workplace for having a tattoo. You can take inspirations from Celtic, tribal, Hawaiian or plain arm band designs.


Three-Dot Tattoo

small three dot tattoo

This is a prime example of a prison tattoo because three-dot represents your membership with a gang in the prison, particularly in Germany. It has different meanings in Europe though like in France for example, these dots mean “Death to Cows” or “F**k the World”.

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