Adoption Symbol Tattoos That Celebrate the Journey to Family

Starting a family comes easier to some parents than others. No one parent’s journey to parenthood is the same and many turn to adoption for a variety of reasons. Adoption symbol tattoos have flourished in recent years as more and more people feel comfortable expressing their own path with ink. According to the Adoption Network Law Center, the symbol, which is a triangle married to a heart, has a very special meaning. The Adoptive Family and the Adoptee each represent one side of the triangle and the heart intertwining each side of the triangle represents the love that is involved in an adoption. 

How phenomenal is that? Whoever invented the symbol deserves some praise! We wanted to get a better idea of what adoption symbol tattoos folks were getting today, so we looked to social media to get a better understanding of the creative ways people are getting the symbol tattooed as well as the trends with this particular symbol. We discovered some handsome, moving, and genuinely heartwarming tattoos that we very much look forward to share with you. We hope these adoption symbol tattoos will inspire your own!

Marvel At These Gorgeous, Inspiring Adoption Symbol Tattoos!

The Basics

If you were having a difficult time picturing the adoption symbol, here’s a great first example that is a basic symbol that expresses the symbol’s meaning in a straightforward way.

The Basics Part II

Here’s another simple adoption symbol tattoo. The person who shared this image captioned it, “On this day 16 years ago, a man who shared no DNA with me decided he wanted to share his last name: the greatest gift. So thankful for my family- by birth and bond.”

Watercolor Goodness

Watercolor tattoos are a huge trend today with tons of people requesting the cool effect. We find the adoption symbol floating in a pool of gorgeous blue and purple.

A Mother of Three

We find this beautiful adoption symbol tattoo amid a beautiful floral design. Here’s the message shared along with this image:

“There’s not many things in my life I feel like I have been successful at, proud of, or deserving of..but these 3 children right here are my gift from God. I don’t know what I did for him to pick me to be their Mom, but I am eternally grateful.”

More Botanical Beauty

Here’s one similar to the previous with the adoption symbol inside but this one is done without colorful ink. If you want a black and grey tattoo, they are so sophisticated and subdued.

A Red Rose

Here, we find the adoption symbol inside a rose which looks so evocative and sweet. The word “chosen” has been worked into the “stem” which is a wonderful touch.

A Hopeful Journey

“This now-completed tattoo is a symbol of the hope, the journey, and the love of our path of parenthood,” the person who shared this image wrote. “The points of the adoption symbol triangle symbolize the bio-parents, the adoptive parents, and the child. I carry this art on me forever as a symbol of eternal gratitude for the greatest gift life has ever given me.”

A Half Sleeve

The person went the bold route with a big half sleeve tattoo. As with some of the other adoption symbol tattoos on this list, this one has also been swimming pretty flowers.

More Rainbow

“Today I’m showing off my adoption tattoo,” this person shared. “This is the adoption triangle. It is a triangle intertwined with a heart. The two bottom points of the triangle represent the mothers. One gave me the gift of life and the other gave me a life. The top point represents the person that their love made me.”

For Pets?

Here’s an adoption symbol tattoo with a paw print which is curious. Do you think people get these tattoos for their adopted pets as well?

Even More Rainbow

One thing this list has not been short on is adoption symbol tattoos paired with rainbows. Here’s a lovely example with a huge rainbow in the background. How breathtaking!

A Viking

This person got really creative and worked the adoption symbol into a Viking shield. We don’t know why and we don’t care! This is so creative and fun!

More Amongst the Flowers

How fabulous are these flowers with that watercolor effect? We love how the adoption symbol is done to look as if it’s been applied by a paintbrush.

With the Date

A great idea for adoption symbol tattoos is to include the adoption date for your child or dates for children. It sweetens the entire design by making it even more personal.

RELATED: Boy’s Entire Kindergarten Class Shows Up for His Adoption Hearing, Proving That Good Things Sometimes Do Happen

A Stunner with Names

Wow! Here’s a super creative tattoo that includes the names of this person’s adopted children. How very special in every way!

A Desert Scene

Here’s a scenic adoption symbol with a desert inside. This parent is located in Arizona which makes this tattoo feel even more appropriate.

With Ornamentation

If flowers aren’t your thing but you want something that will make your adoption symbol tattoo stand out, go with a cute ornamental detail like this. What a dream!

Daffodils!

How great do those gold flowers look next to that moody, black ink? We love that color pairing. Choose your favorite flower or your child’s most beloved blossom for a sweet tattoo like this one!

One Tender Moment

We’re not crying, you’re crying! The tattoo artist that shared this image mentioned that the hands belong to a mother and her adopted child. We find the adoption symbol in the center for something truly magical.

With First Initials

This adoption symbol includes the first initials for each of this mom’s three children. It’s a subtle touch that really makes this design stand out.

Lighten Up

We’ve seen a lot of visually heavy designs on this list so it’s wonderful to just see some crisp linework. Two roses flock the adoption symbol for a simple yet sophisticated design.

Bitterroot

The state flower for Montana is bitterroot. We find it next to the adoption symbol for this Montana mama. What a stunner!

Color Inside the Lines

It’s a mini-trend among adoption tattoos to have the heart shape contain the colorful ink. It turned out very nicely with this adoption symbol on top of a handsome rose.

2.

Adoption symbol tattoos are not just for parents! Adopted kids who grow up might feel gratitude and a special kind of love that only an adopted child feels. Expressing it in tattoo form is such a wonderful way to show that love!

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Chosen Baby

Here’s another adoption symbol tattoo for an adopted child. This design is just so full of life and symbolism. We find a heart, a strand of DNA, and much more in this one-of-a-kind adoption tattoo. Work with a tattoo artist to express your story and you won’t regret it!

There you go! We hope you feel moved by these beautiful adoption symbol tattoos and will consider one for yourself if you’ve been on this very special journey. No one’s journey to parenthood is the same and adoption is such a special means to that end. Let’s lift each other up and celebrate family with these amazing adoption symbol tattoos!