Forever in Ink: 25 Meaningful RIP Tattoo Ideas to Honor Your Loved Ones

When you lose someone close to you, it can feel like you’ve lost a piece of your heart. Finding ways to commemorate their life and honor their memory can be an important part of the grieving process. For many people, getting a tattoo that symbolizes their loved one’s life, personality, or spirit is a meaningful way to do just that.

In this post, we will be exploring 25 RIP tattoo ideas designed to pay tribute to those we’ve lost. From images of an angel or a loved one’s portrait to meaningful quotes and song lyrics, these tattoo ideas celebrate the lives of those who have passed on and offer a permanent reminder of their love and impact. So if you’re looking for inspiration for a tribute tattoo, read on for some heartfelt and meaningful ideas.

Always in My Heart

Although a touch morbid, this beautiful RIP tattoo includes the message “always in my heart.” Dates are also popular inclusions among memorial tattoo designs.

Wings

Another popular motif among RIP tattoos are initials or a name with angel wings. If you like the thought of your loved one in heaven, go with wings as a sweet reminder.

Candle Vigil

How gorgeous is this black rose RIP tattoo with a candle coming from it? We love this idea and it is not overly done so it would be a unique choice.

For a Furry Friend

Pet portraits are also extremely beloved among RIP tattoos. After all, pets are part of the family. This one has a charming watercolor effect.

For the Watchmaker

“RIP Watchmaker,” this meaningful RIP tattoo says. The clock appears broken but this tattoo will stand the test of time.

At the Pearly Gates

Another popular style of RIP tattoo is of the gates to heaven. This one paints a beautiful picture with an entire scene that forms a narrative.

A Sneaker for Chance

Here’s a unique RIP tattoo that includes a shoe for a beloved sneaker-head. Again, we find the watercolor effect here that adds to much movement and beauty.

A Simple Message

“Grandma I miss you,” this RIP tattoo that’s been made to look like a text message says. This design also acts as a reminder for others to speak to their grandparents more often. They’re not here forever.

Crosses Are Very Popular

Crosses in all fashions are wildly popular among RIP tattoos. This one has some tiny initials worked into the design for even more meaning.

Big Initials

We have seen a bunch of small initials thus far, but you can go big with them for a dramatic piece. As we mentioned, wings are a popular accompaniment.

A Sweet Sentiment

“You were my favorite hello and hardest goodbye,” this tender RIP tattoo reads. It is accompanied by meaningful imagery and a take on a family photo.

Portraits Are Also Popular

As you might have guessed, portrait RIP tattoos are wildly popular. A word of caution: not every tattoo artist is great at them so do your homework before committing to a portrait.

Angelic Pup

You’ve seen a cat and now it’s time for an RIP tattoo of a cute dog. We love the addition of the halo here that really helps sweeten things up.

The Lighthouse

Lighthouses are popular imagery as they symbolize hope, direction, and purpose. This person has gotten one with “Dad” emblazoned on it for good measure.

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Tombstone

Tombstones are also common among RIP tattoos and you can get creative with what it says. It can be as simple as a name and dates or it can convey another message.

A Gentle Reminder

When grieving, it can be difficult to understand the reason behind your loss. Things are simply out of our control. A gentle reminder like “everything happens for a reason” could be the right RIP tattoo idea for you.

A Promise Worth Keeping

“‘l’ll be seeing you,” this RIP tattoo says in blue ink. If you’re not married to black, try one of your loved one’s favorite colors for the design.

A Rose for Granny

Here we find a beautiful rose with the name Granny formed from the stem. This is a really popular style of design and it can be adapted to make it even more sentimental.

A Landscape of Love

How cool is this landscape tattoo? We love the initials in the cowboy hat. Think outside the box with your RIP tattoo and you won’t regret it.

Wish You Were Here

“Wish you were here,” this tombstone says. You get to make the rules with your RIP tattoo so your design can have a sense of humor if you want it to.

For a Dad Who Loved to Fish

Here’s a happy rainbow trout for this person who had a dad who lived to fish. Imagery that evokes memories shared with your loved one should be considered. Think of their hobbies and passions and turn them into a RIP tattoo.

For a Mom Who Loved to Sew

How darling is this?We find a spool of thread with a need that’s formed a heart. If your loved one loved to sew, you know what to do!

Memorial Stamps

We love the idea behind these memorial stamps that contain favorite flowers and dates. This is another idea that can be adapted to match the person you are memorializing.

Moto Memories

Here’s one of our favorite RIP tattoos because it contains so much color and movement. Anything goes so swing for the fences with your tattoo idea and let your artist realize your vision.

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Family Photo

Family photo RIP tattoos are fairly popular today and we like this simple line style that most artists are going to be able to nail. Choose your favorite photo of your loved one, and let the artist recreate it for you.

We hope that these 25 RIP tattoo ideas have provided you with some inspiration as you pay tribute to the memory of a loved one. Losing someone close to you is never easy, but finding ways to keep their memory alive can be a comforting and healing process. Whether you choose an image that symbolizes their personality, a quote that represents their wisdom, or a portrait that captures their likeness, we’re sure that your tattoo will be a tribute to their life and an important part of your healing journey.

For more RIP tattoo ideas, keep reading. We’ve got dozens of memorial tattoos to share with you.

Big Brother

This baseball tattoo is for a cousin who was like a “big brother” to the person who shared the photo. “A part of him will always be with me,” they write.

Danny for Dad

“This tattoo holds more meaning than face value,” the person who shared this image wrote. “My dad looked & behaved just like Danny… I joked with my dad long before he passed that this tattoo would eventually happen, and he gave me the ok.. What’s even more special about this tattoo is that I was able to put a little bit of his ashes into the ink.. He will always be apart of me… Physically and in my heart..”

Love to Mom

“Bound with Ashes,” this person writes. “It’s been six months and six days since you left Mamma. Still unimaginable and heartbreaking.” We hope this heartshaped ash tattoo offers solace.

For Mom & Dad

“This is an incredibly special piece, this piece is a beautiful memorial for Mary’s late mother and father, the black pigment contains their ashes making it so special!” the tattoo artist who shared the image wrote. A simple floral design is a great choice for these memorial tattoos.

From Mom

“Very fun tattoo I got to do today in loving memory of her mom,” the artist captioned this photo. “With her [mom’s] ashes in it. Her mom had the same tattoo and now so does she thank you for letting me do it for you.”

Signature

Here’s another beautiful floral design with the inclusion of gorgeous butterflies. This delicate tattoo includes the recently deceased’s signature. A nice to touch to help personalize this tat further.

Roses for a Friend

Yellow roses symbolize friendship. These absolutely breathtaking roses are a beautiful reminder of a lost friend. We love this idea.

For Liam

“Thank you so much Clint at This Is The Place Tattoo for my beautiful piece of Liam and the beginning to my half sleeve,” one woman wrote to her tattoo artist. “It has Liam’s ashes in the ink so he can be with me forever. Clint free hands all his work and does amazing for anyone who [knew] Liam you know it is totally him. I love it!”

Memorial

“Memorial for her parents tattooed with their ashes,” the tattoo artist who completed this job wrote. “Coordinates are where she spread the rest of their ashes at sea.” What a sweet and thoughtful tribute.

For Mum

For this person’s first tattoo, they decided to pay tribute to their late mother. The angel wings are a touching reminder of the gentle soul that’s now in heaven.

For Their Aunt

These cousins got matching tattoos for their aunt who had passed. She must have enjoyed unicorns. What a sweet and meaningful reminder of the things she loved.

Owl for Dad

“Love love love my second tattoo for my daddy,” this person wrote. This haunting owl is gorgeous. We love the inclusion of white ink to give it so much subtle depth.

A Lily for Mum

Floral designs that include a mom’s favorite flowers is a wise choice. Not only is it a beautiful design, but it also carries symbolic significance.

For Niko, the Dog

People aren’t the only ones being honored with memorial tattoos. This dog named Niko has always been tattooed with ink mixed with ashes. RIP, little Niko.

For Bo, the Cat

We were surprised to find so many ash tattoos of cats. People get a lot of them. Here’s one of our favorite designs that’s a portrait of Bo, the cat. What a cutie.

For Dad

“A rose for Sierra, with her dad’s ashes,” the artist wrote. “It is always an honor to be a part of someone’s healing journey.” This rose tattoo is beautifully done.

For Ben

This tattoo of butterflies is for this mom’s son, Ben. Ashes have been added to the darker-colored inks to make this memorial tattoo extra special.

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‘With You’

“I am right here with you,” is a message of solace. This very neatly done tattoo is a simple, yet effective tribute.

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Shades

The person with this creative raven tattoo got a very personal memorial to a loved one. It’s clear that the person being honored here had a love for nature and wildlife.

For Grandpa

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Musical ribbons and lilies remind the person with this tattoo of her grandfather. It’s such a beautiful piece.

For Nan

“I may not see you but I can feel you,” is a sweet, endearing message. The person with this tattoo referred to it as “eternal ink.”

For Grandfather

“A hammerhead shark with my grandfather’s ashes in it,” the person with this ink wrote. “I chose the hammerhead shark because our Hawaiian maiden name’s guardian is the shark. And in Hawaii, the hammerhead is known to be a sign [of] protection for your loved ones.”

For Isa

This tattoo is for a girl named Isabella who is lovingly referred to as Isa. This sweet childlike design is very moving.

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A Rose for Rosie

This stunningly dramatic black rose is one of our favorites on this list. The circle of dots acts almost like a halo. We understand that it might not be for everyone but we really love it.

There you go. 25 ash tattoos to memorialize the ones we love most. These tattoos are a way to grieve and move forward while allowing yourself something to remember with. We hope you feel inspired by these images and the deep meaning they carry.