Celtic Design Tattoos | Best Celtic Tattoo Design

The legend of Etain was the inspiration for numerous Celtic butterfly tattoos. This legend is a story that symbolizes love, treachery and transformation.

Celtic butterfly tattoos are attractive, colorful and very distinctive. Although these tattoo designs are generally more favored by women, there are some men who also get fascinated by the versatility of this design.




It is for this reason that the Celtic butterfly tattoo is usually incorporated in a lot of tattoo themes and designs among both men and women. In fact, it is a relatively common concept in tattoo art. It looks good whether it is worn alone or used as an add-on.

There are many ways in which the Celtic butterfly tattoo can be enhanced and styled. In fact, Celts are popular for a lot of knot work designs. This is because knots are symbolisms of the continuity of the life cycle. The Celtic butterfly tattoo can be done by forming the knots to form the image of a butterfly.

Celtic butterflies also symbolize resurrection or life after death. For some, they symbolize metamorphosis and beautiful transformation or change. However, in Ireland, butterflies also symbolize dead souls waiting to enter the purgatory.

In the world of tattoo art, Celtic butterfly tattoos symbolize the positive aspects of life such as grace and peace contrary to other people’s beliefs which associate butterfly with death and rebirth. These symbolisms only add up to the beauty and mystery of the butterfly design. People can never guess exactly what it means to the person wearing it.

One good thing about the Celtic butterfly tattoo is its beauty and diversity. You can experiment well with its colors and shape. Its versatility makes it suitable in any part of the body. The lower back and a small area behind the shoulder, along one side of the upper back are popular spots for this tattoo design.

Many women are drawn by the beauty and symbolic nature of the Celtic butterfly tattoo. It is suitable for every person’s unique personality and beliefs. Moreover, it also signifies the beauty and freedom of life. Open-winged Celtic butterfly tattoos are more common and popular than the close-winged designs.

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Celtic tattoo designs can make very attractive and interesting tattoos for both men and women. There are many Celtic symbols that have become popular as body art, and there are almost limitless ways to use them in original ways to suit your own preferences.



One of the cool things about Celtic designs is that there are some very simple yet beautiful types of images out of which many different types of tattoos can be created. The most basic of these is Celtic knotwork, which is the basis for much Celtic artwork. Celtic knots can be seen as symbolizing infinity, the way they intertwine in a continuous spiral. Celtic knots make great tattoos by themselves or they can be made into other designs, such as Celtic crosses. Knotwork can also serve as a border or addition to other types of tattoos.

Celtic crosses are also popular as tattoos. They can be used, like other crosses, as a Christian symbol, but they also have other meanings, as the cross actually predates Christianity as a symbol. The Celtic cross is also called the equal-armed cross, as the horizontal and vertical lines are of equal length represents balance between opposing forces.

Spirals are another type of Celtic symbol that work well as tattoos. One type of spiral, called the triskele, is a kind of triple spiral that was found in the British Isles dating back thousands of years, which even predates the Celts. This is a very interesting tribal type design that makes for a great tattoo.

Another type of popular Celtic design are zoomorphic or animal images. These can include birds, lions, serpents, dragons or other animals. Of course, any animal can be drawn Celtic style. If you look at one of the classic sources of Celtic art, the medieval Book of Kells, you can find many examples of this animal art. Many images from this book have been used as the basis for modern Celtic style tattoos.

Celtic tattoos work especially well with rich colors, which can be anything from the traditional green (at least traditional to Ireland) to blues, reds and any color combination you can imagine. Celtic knotwork in bright colors is very striking on the arm or anywhere else on the body.

Some people wonder about how “authentic” Celtic tattoos are. This is an interesting question, because there is no actual evidence that the ancient Celts even used tattoos! They did paint themselves, especially to prepare for battle, but whereas other ancient peoples, such as natives of the South Pacific, definitely used permanent tattoos to decorate their bodies, we really don’t know for sure if the Celts did.

This does not change the fact, however, that the symbols people use today to create Celtic tattoos are traditional to the Celtic lands. If we are using them today in a way that is different, that’s just part of the way cultural symbols and practices change and evolve over the centuries.

You can find many examples of Celtic tattoo designs in books on Celtic artwork, websites on these topics or in the studios of tattoo artists.

celtic design tattoos

There are many people out there who have Celtic tattoos, though they don’t the history of how these designs came about. It isn’t all that difficult to find out about them, and maybe you’re interested about where your Celtic tattoo came from. There isn’t a whole lot known about the Celts, but there is some that we know. Here is some of the interesting history of Celtic tattoos, and it is also brief.

This form of tattoo came from many different cultures influencing each other to make a new form of art. These tattoos are derived from a very old form of public relations. It is kind of a cross began pagans trying to just be themselves, and them being squelched by Christians. After Christians took control of the area they were in, they had to be careful about what they drew and such.

People aren’t sure if the Celts used their early designs as tattoos or not, it would be just impossible to tell. These tattoos are mainly focused on bringing about an emotion rather than just portraying something. The Celts had no written language, and this was kind of their way of communicating. Celtic tattoos are still popular for many reasons, mainly just because of the emotions that you can feel within them. Getting a Celtic tattoo may be something very fun and interesting to do.

If you’re going to get a Celtic tattoo, try to find somebody who specializes in them, because you want it done right. This is just a small bit of the history of Celtic tattoos, and I’m sure that there is much more that can be learned. Hopefully, this was helpful in your finding out where your Celtic tattoo originated from, the history of it and the people around it, and what it represents a little bit.

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Sleeve tattoos have become extremely popular in the past few years because they are an amazing way to tell a story or create a living work or art and expression. With different pictures working together, a person can evoke many feelings at once.

Dragon Tattoos

Dragons are a symbol of wild fire and excitement. A dragon interwoven into a sleeve tattoo can add red color and flare. Fire breathing from the dragon, circling the arm can really add an amazing effect to any tattoo.

Tribal Tattoos

These symbols with many meanings can be placed at the shoulder and chest area to create a design worthy of the style. You can create a picture just with this type of tattoo in plain black ink. If you use color on your arm and keep the tribal tattoo black you can create amazing contrast.

Celtic Tattoos

Adding Celtic Symbols to a sleeve tattoo adds a splash of culture to any piece of work. Their are a variety of different symbols you can use to convey the meaning you want.

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese symbols are a beautiful way to say many things at once. A single symbol can convey the meaning of peace on earth or love for all. This is a good way to keep things simple for the eye but leave the mind thinking about what it saw.

Creating this type of work of art takes time and effort. Many people build a sleeve tattoo over many years adding extra designs and symbols as they think of them.

Best Celtic tattoos

The Celts were known as tough fierce warriors by the Romans. They can trace their history for thousands of years. Their culture was renown for artwork in jewelry and metal. They were found predominately in the British Isles. Their culture spans the Romans and early British cultures.Celtic landmarks dot the Irish countryside.




Celtic symbols have evolved over time but are still present in today’s culture. Often it is a mark of pride of their ancient heritage. Celtic history has little written records but left many symbols. The Celtic tradition is alive with the infamous Celtic cross.

The most prolific land with Celtic influence is in Ireland. In fact, Trinity College in Dublin holds many Celtic manuscripts and archives Celtic heritage ad symbols. The Celts were renown for their symbols even in the early days.

The most popular Celtic symbol is the Celtic knot. The knots feature a loop with no end. It symbolizes the cycle of birth and rebirth and its everlasting cycle. Even Celtic animal symbols incorporate the never ending knot design usually in the animal tales. The symbol still keeps its meaning. Lately the end of the knot has incorporated a spiral symbolizing infinity.

The knots are also interlaced as well. It has a different meaning. It represents the crossing of the spiritual and physical worlds. It also symbolizes life faith ,and endless love. It has a very deep emotional and spiritual underlying theme.

Celtic tattoos are popular in the British Isles. It is especially prevalent in those of Irish,Welsh ,or Scottish descent. It represents the old culture before the Norman invasion. It has become a symbol of pride in their long heritage. The tattoos are often complex are require several hours or sessions to complete. The designs are often intricate and require a skilled tattoo artist.

If you are interested in a Celtic tattoos begin your research in that category. Several resources online can give you design ideas for a very reasonable price. Take care in choosing an experienced tattoo artist. Make sure they have done several Celtic designs before Consult his art book for examples. The tattoo often involves intricate details so pick the design and artist with care.

It is important to research your tattoo before you go to the tattoo parlor. If you take the time to explore the Celtic tradition and symbols, you can find the perfect tattoo that expresses your unique culture and symbols.

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Wonderful twists on two very popular designs are Celtic butterfly tattoos. Butterfly designs are by far the most popular designs for women. By adding the Celtic flavor, you can give your design a unique twist. Because so many people are still getting butterfly designs, you want to make sure you go to the best place to find unique tattoo designs. I’ll let you know where you can find high quality, unique Celtic butterfly tattoos.

The first thing to think about when considering Celtic butterfly tattoos is what are you trying to express. We all know the story behind the caterpillar turning into the beautiful butterfly. Is this the story you are trying to tell? Have you been through a rebirth and come out beautiful either in body or mind? A butterfly design can be a colorful display of your new self.

You can also display your new self with a Celtic butterfly tattoo. You can use the ongoing lines of the Celtic tradition to show everlasting life and the cycle of death and rebirth. You have been through a rebirth so this is relevant to you. You want to make sure you can tell a story when people look at your tattoo.

Even though it may seem that many people have Celtic butterfly tattoos, you don’t get one just because it’s cute. You need to be sure that it tells something about you. To add to your design you can include other animal images such as a fairy or add flowers to your design. This gives you a lot more room to design your own tattoo that you will be proud of for all the years that it is with you.

Online tattoo galleries will give you the best place to find thousands of high quality designs. You can search on many different categories, even Celtic butterfly tattoos, and come up with a wide variety of choices. Take some of those choices and mix and match to get your perfect tattoo.

Celtic Design Tattoos

Celtic tattoos have become very popular over the last few years. This is due to the simultaneous increase in the popularity of tattoos in general and a growing fascination with Celtic art and culture in general. Celtic, of course, refers to anything that originates from lands that speak (or originally spoke) Celtic languages, which are Irish, Scots, Welsh, Breton, Cornish and Manx. Celtic most commonly refers to the cultures of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Today, aside from artwork and tattoos, there is a growing interest in Celtic music, dance and languages.

The recent “tattoo phenomenon” we are seeing is quite diverse, with people choosing tattoos of every conceivable kind. However, there is a definite interest in tribal, shamanistic and spiritually symbolic designs. Many Celtic designs fit into one or more of these categories. There are several basic Celtic symbols that are quite striking and powerful by themselves, but which also work very well as the framework for almost any kind of design.

Celtic knotwork is probably the best known and most fundamental element of traditional Celtic art. The knot can be seen as a symbol of infinity, similar to the infinity symbol (which looks like a sideways number eight), sometimes called the lemniscate. The knot can also symbolize the journey through life, the spiritual journey and the interconnectedness of all things. Celtic knots are often incorporated into images such as Celtic crosses and zoomorphic images (involving animals, either real or mythic). Celtic knotwork has become extremely popular in tattoos. This is understandable, as knotwork can be expressed in a myriad of ways and made more striking by endless color combinations.

Spirals are also common in traditional Celtic art, as well as in contemporary tattoo designs. Spirals are also symbols of eternity, and suggest the movements of the cosmos, such as the planets around the sun or particles around the nucleus of an atom. Spirals are truly ancient symbols, which predate even the known history of the Celts. Spiral designs can be found on megaliths such as the one in Newgrange in Ireland. They are also found in the sacred artwork of many other cultures, such as the Aborigines of Australia. Interestingly enough, spirals are also common in crop circles, those mysterious patterns which appear in fields around the British Isles.

One interesting symbol that is found in Celtic, as well as other ancient cultures is the triskele (the word comes from the Greek, meaning “three-legged”). This symbol, which is a kind of triple spiral, was especially significant in the Celtic lands of Brittany and the Isle of Man. The number three has been important to many cultures. There is, of course, the Trinity of Christianity. Before that, there was the Triple Goddess. The triskele is not one of the more commonly used Celtic symbols today, but it is sometimes used in contemporary Celtic art, including tattoos.

A good old source for Celtic patterns is the Book of Kells. The patterns in this book include zoomorphic images, which are incorporated into the Christian doctrine of the book’s creators. For example, it portrays the four evangelists as animals, a form of symbolism which also found its way into many tarot decks. Zoomorphic patterns actually predate the Christian era in Celtic lands. These patterns, which may include dragons or serpents, various kinds of birds, fish and sea creatures or any other kind of animal, are often incorporated into tattoos, especially utilizing a knotwork pattern.

Some people get Celtic style tattoos because their heritage is from one or more of the Celtic nations. However, today people get tattoos that do not necessarily represent their own ethnic origin. For example, tattoo aficionados are rediscovering the ancient tribal designs of the Polynesian cultures (some of the earliest peoples to use tattoos). Similarly, many people are drawn to the beauty and mystical power contained in Celtic symbols. These designs are also very adaptable; you can use Celtic knots as a basis for almost any kind of image you want.

It is likely that as long as tattoos remain popular (and there is no sign that this is a short-lived trend), Celtic artwork and symbols will play a significant role in this exciting art.

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Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also Celtic animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet. The pure knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.

The meaning behind the knots in Celtic tattoos defies any type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper level. The interlacing of the knots expresses the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements. The strands and their never ending path is a popular design for Celtic tattoos, representing life, faith, and love. For many years, Celtics have used these designs for emotional as well as heritage purposes.

Those who are from a Celtic descent, Irish, Scots, or Welsh, normally find a Celtic tattoo to be a great way to express their heritage pride. These tattoos help to reestablish pride, and give tribute to one’s ancestors. The tattoos aren’t easy to do, most taking several hours. Unlike other tattoo designs, Celtic tattoos are among the hardest designs in the world.

If you are from a Celtic descent and have decided to get a Celtic tattoo, the first thing to do is find an artist capable of doing the tattoo. The designs are very difficult and not all tattoo artists can do them. It’s always best to find a tattoo artist who has a background in Celtic designs, as this will ensure the tattoo is done correctly. The artist who does the tattoo needs to have an eye for detail and exact line placement – which is a skill that not all tattoo artists possess.

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The history of the Celtic peoples goes back thousands of years. The early Celts displayed their skills in complex artwork particularly metal, jewelry and weapons as they were regarded as fierce warriors by the Romans. Evidence of celtic crossses and celtic artwork can still be found all over Ireland.

Modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and in the North American people of Celtic descentoften wear these symbols to show that they are of Celtic descent. The ancient Celts passed knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn’t keep many written records, consequently, there is little evidence of their tattooing remaining even though celtic cross tattoos and celtic know tattoos are very popular designs.

Most of Celtic tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts ‘The Book of Kells’, on display in the library of Trinity College in Dublin, my home town. This is a much later time period than the height of Celtic tattooing. Designs from ancient stone and metal work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic tattooing.

Celtic knot tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning symbolising the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Celtic animal (zoomorphic tattoo designs) designs are similar in construction but the cords terminate in feet, heads, tails. Pure knots are usually unending, unless the end of a strand is stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral.

Celtic knotwork’s meaning defies literal translation and is to be found at a deeper level. The repeated crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlace of the knots. The never ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the continuum of life, love and faith and for these reason celtic tattoos have become so popular.

For people who have a Celtic heritage, whether Irish, Scots or Welsh , getting a Celtic design can be a way of expressing pride in their heritage by reaffirming an affinity the indigenous artistic style of their ancestors. They are usually not easy designs to do, and it is strongly recommended to anyone contemplating getting one to make sure that the artist they are considering has experience in designing Celtic tattoos. Not all tattoo artist have the eye for detail and exacting line placement needed to draw the intricate patterns particular to Celtic art.

Celtic Design Tattoos

With wide-ranging meanings that span a multitude of cultures, Celtic cross tattoos join the abundant variations of one of the most widely known forms of expression and belief. The Celtic cross is a popular selection in tattoos because it showcases origins linked to both the Christian Cross and Celtic fertility symbols.

The Celtic tattoo design may highlight a series of knots in a cross, but is most often selected to show ties to the Irish culture. Today, the intricate artistic designs and never-ending possibilities of Celtic cross tattoos have gained a large following outside of this cultural symbolism.

When a Celtic cross tattoo is chosen for symbolic reasons, it often pays homage to the ancient culture, which shows through in specific knot patterns. In the center of the cross, plenty of expressive designs are available for those who are looking for non-cultural tattoo selections.

The Meaning and History of Celtic Cross Tattoos

The Celtic cross possesses a distinct and characteristic circle that is one of the most widely recognized of all Celtic imagery. The circle of the cross is often seen as a halo or a symbol of eternity.

In Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic locations, the establishment of imposing crosses made of stone (referred to as “High Crosses”) was known to emerge as a significant tradition in sculpture display. These arrangements date back to the 9th century or earlier.

Throughout the Celtic Revival, newer constructions in this same style blossomed in order to send out a message of Celtic heritage.

Throughout the years, the Celtic cross has been compared to pagan sun symbols, as well as connected to the mystical nature of early Celtic Christians. Overall, Celtic cross tattoos serve as a symbol of pride pertaining to ethnic heritage that relates to the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh.

Scandinavians are also attracted to this particular design, as Celtic art and Norse art share similarities and represent a historic exchange of culture.

In general, there has always been an attraction towards the spirals, mazes, and elaborate interweaving that represents the belief that there is no beginning and no end. Sometimes, the Celtic cross is used to represent the changing of seasons or refer to various stages in life.

Best Celtic tattoos