Lion Tattoos That Will Remind You to Stay Strong

Lion tattoos are exceedingly popular today with people turning to the big cats to symbolize strength. The beautiful felines are common tattoos for both men and women as they are endlessly inspiring and lasting reminders to emulate their fierce loyalty and strength. If you’re thinking about getting a lion tattoo, you will be in very good company. On Instagram alone, there are over 1 million photos tagged as lion ink. That’s a whole lot of cat tattoos (cattoos).

We wanted to get a better idea of the trends around these sorts of tattoos so we took a look at the tagged photos we just mentioned to discover the limitations and boundaries that are being pushed with this feline ink. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that so many of these tattoos are real standouts. There is a surprising amount of diversity with these designs and we can’t wait to share what we found with you. Take a look!

These Lion Tattoos Symbolize Strength & Loyalty!

Meow!

Lion tattoos with flowers are extremely popular as they marry beauty and majesty. In this black and grey example, we find a true stunner.

Style to Spare

Here’s a very stylized and original lion tattoo with a rose. We’re very much into the shapes that have been created to add texture and contour to the lion’s face.

Lion King

As you might imagine, lions with crowns are popular choices for tattoos. Here’s a modest-sized one with a completely dazzling crown.

Feline & Florals

Ask you can see, people really love pairing their florals with big cats. We love these pink, blue, and purple flowers that bring out the blue in the lion’s eyes.

Lion Lady

Here’s a unique design that finds a lion and a lady sharing a face. It’s an intriguing and mysterious design that we imagine a lot of folks will be attracted to.

A Diamond

Here’s a cool way to frame your lion tattoo, with geometric, diamond shapes. The clean lines add so much to the typical lion design.

With Ornamentation

We find a lion truly decorated to the nines with beautiful ornamentation. Simple black lines with a white ink highlight bring so much to this design.

Watercolor Cat

Watercolor tattoos are all the rage right now. We find a brilliantly colorful example in this vibrant tattoo that looks as if it’s been painted on.

Lion Love

In this meditative piece, we find two lions in a kitty embrace. It’s romantic and magnetic. What a dream of a tattoo.

A Big Deal

Believe it or not, we came across several huge lion tattoos that span the entirety of the back. Here’s one with some lovely leaves floating around.

Can’t Wait to Be King

People really cherish their Disney tattoos. It should come as no surprise that there is no shortage of lion tattoos inspired by characters like Simba from The Lion King.

Ferocious

A king of a different kind! Here’s an example of one of the many lion tattoos that include crowns. If you want a tattoo that says “be a king,” something similar would be fitting.

An Impression

Wow! Here’s a lion’s face swirling in a pool of gorgeous color. Water color tattoos meet lions in the most evocative ways.

RELATED: 25 Lion Chest Tattoo Ideas That Are Fierce AF

Thrilling

Red and black ink look so phenomenal when paired together. If you would like to take a black ink tattoo to the next level, consider adding some red features to make it pop.

For the Leo

Astrology tattoos are so popular today. If you’re a Leo, consider celebrating your sign with a lion tattoo paired with a constellation like this.

The Fam

We found a number of mamas sporting lion tattoos that celebrate their Pride. Lions work beautifully as symbols of family loyalty.

On the Inside

Here’s a statue tattoo that looks like it’s from antiquity. What’s new is the lion that appears to be escaping from inside. It’s a very original idea and a great way to visualize inner strength.

Cosmic Kitty

While not an astrology tattoo, we do find a lion with stars once more in this intergalactic lion tattoo. Blue, purple, and pink prove a beautiful pool for this cat to be swimming in.

In Shapes

Geometric tattoos are so fun because they play with composition in a refreshing way. How great does this angular lion look? We saw a lot of lion faces done in this fashion but we found the profile-look to be very refreshing.

Pretty as a Portrait

Wow! This tattoo will take your breath away! Go ahead and celebrate the fierce lioness with a meditative portrait like this one.

The Colors

Here’s yet another watercolor tattoo of a lion. It’s packed with a vibrant energy that feels emotional and very special.

Mind the Mandala

Mandala-inspired tattoos are a huge trend right now. We did not expect to see one that incorporates a lion but we think it turned out very nice!

Macabre

Here’s a lion tattoo that might leave you feeling a touch uneasy. We find the beast with his teeth wrapped around a skull. Yikes!

Sketched

Another trend that often gets lumped in with watercolor tattoos is sketch tattoos that look more like doodles and drawings than a classic tattoo. Take a look at all of those lines that give movement to the design.

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A Stunner

We leave you with this handsome lion with haunting blue peepers. This tattoo feels totally inspired and original. Work with a tattoo artist with a point of view for something equally as cool.

There you go! We hope these lion tattoos inspire you to invest in your own fierce ink. Lions are endlessly inspiring for a variety of reasons. They symbolize strength, loyalty, and celebrate family. Whatever your reason for getting a big cat tattoo, know that you’ll be in good company as these designs are wildly popular.