If you are going for a robust and striking yet meaningful tattoo then getting a lion tattoo is your safest bet. For thousands of years, various cultures around the world see Lions similarly due to their ferocity in the wild. Because of the Lions’ fame, they became an essential and admirable symbol to many which eventually led them to become an excellent tattoo design choice.
A lion tattoo symbolizes power, courage, loyalty, and authority among other characteristics. The design, color, and size of a lion tattoo affect its look and feel while its placement can add more meaning to the tattoo. We have gathered the 110+ Fiercest Lion Tattoo Designs with Meaning to help you get more inspiration and ideas for your next tattoo.
Lion Tattoo: Meaning & Symbolism
Various cultures see a lion tattoo as a symbolism of a person’s strength, bravery, and power while others see it as a symbol of justice, authority, and protection. Since it is a tattoo, people can add meaning to it while others can give it other interpretations. We hope that you’ll be able to come up with some inspiration and design after you’ve finished this article.
110+ Unique Lion Tattoo Designs with Meaning
Tribal Lion Tattoo
Various cultures use tribal tattoos as a way to display their rank and authority in their society, while in the modern days, a tribal design lion tattoo gives the person who wears it a similar effect because of its ancient look.
Tribal Roaring Lion Tattoo On Chest
The tribal design of the lion complements its Samoan-inspired outline because of the balance achieved by the soft curvy lines and the linear framework.
Tribal Lion Tattoo On A Girl
The tribal lion tattoo has an exceptional tribal design where its edges are soft giving it a more feminine look.
Serious Lion With Crown Tribal Tattoo
The ferocity of the lion is well inscribed in this tattoo because of its white eyes and contemporary crown design.
Sideways Tribal Lion Head Tattoo
This tattoo gives a more simplistic look because of its two-dimensional sideways position. Its shoulder positioning gives it an aggressive look since it faces the same direction as its tattooee.
Minimalist Tribal Roaring Lion Head
A minimalist yet fierce lion tattoo due to its sharp points and roaring lion.
Tribal Full Body Lion Tattoo
This lion tattoo comes with a unique design of a full-bodied abstract lion, therefore, adding up to its uniqueness. The tattoo looks more like a symbol which certainly adds a puzzling attribute.
Lion Head with Tribal Sword Symbol
The lion head with the tribal sword design means aggressiveness, strength, and courage.
Standing Tribal Lion Tattoo
The standing lion tattoo is well-placed at the back of the person which gives more meaning to whichever quote you choose to put beside it.
Roaring Tribal Lion Head
A lion roars to announce its presence to everyone in the wild. Just looking at this tattoo indeed reminds us of its strength and ferociousness.
Wavy Tribal Lion Head
This tattoo has a more subdued design for the reason that it is drawn with more wavy lines.
Fiery Tribal Lion Tattoo
The tattoo’s dark red and black color with its shadow ash design goes well with each other consequently giving it a bold and ruthless appearance.
Tribal Lion Head On Shoulder
Tribal designs usually come with several sharp edges to project an intimidating and dominant feeling which in contrast to his lion tattoo, where its lines contain only two sharp edges arranged in a more low-key manner.
Geometric Lion Tattoo
In contrast to the tribal designs’ curvilinear patterns, geometric tattoos are more straightforward and linear. Geometric lion tattoos are becoming trendy nowadays because of their contemporary appearance.
Serious Geometric Lion Tattoo
This lion tattoo combines geometric and pointillism concepts without compromising the lion’s dangerous character due to its serious yellow eyes.
Realistic and Geometric Lion Hybrid
Combine a realistic depiction of a lion with an abstract geometric concept to give the tattoo more diversity.
Roaring Geometric Lion Tattoo
This geometric lion tattoo preserves its aggressive trait by using small and complicated geometric patterns.
Medieval Standing Geometric Lion
A standing lion symbolizes courage, strength, justice, and royalty. Its geometric shapes certainly add up to its dignified look.
Brown Spiky Lion Head
The usage of small multiple geometric shapes causes the tattoo to become more realistic-looking.
Forearm Real and Geometric Lion Hybrid
Abstract Geometric Lion Head
The abstract design of this lion tattoo conveys a profound meaning to itself. The lion’s disoriented state highlights its strength to overcome challenges in life.
Lion and Human Head Hybrid
The tattoo’s lion and human head hybrid imply that the lion is the man’s reflection.
Blue Eyes Geometric Lion
This tattoo suggests that there is a colorful side to what seems to be a tamed character.
Geometric Lion With Red Flower
In Greco-roman mythology, lions symbolize love which is nicely established in this tattoo because of its red flower design expressing desire and passion.
Contemporary Geometric Lion Tattoo
The lion tattoo’s pattern conveys the fragmented nature of the tattooee while its contemporary design makes it appealing to everyone.
Geometric Pointillism Lion Cub
The composition of the tattoo’s geometric shapes gives off a young looking cub. This tattoo means that the tattooee places importance on youthfulness.
Lion Tattoo: Which Body Part Should You Have It?
There are many places on the body you can choose to place your lion tattoo, but the famous ones are the following: sleeves, arm, chest, finger, hand, and thigh. These placements are chosen more often because of their high visibility. Since a lion tattoo provides you with a strong and fierce look, placing it on your arm, hand, fingers, on your ankle, makes it immediately noticeable while if you put it on your chest, thigh, or shoulder gives the tattoo limited exposure but creates a more powerful impact when others see it. Take some time to decide whether you’d like to make your lion tattoo easily noticed or give it a slightly covert placement but with an impactful meaning.
Lion Tattoo Sleeve
Placing your tattoo on your sleeve makes it easy for people to see. Because of the sleeve’s considerable area coverage, you can combine your lion tattoo with other designs such as with other animals and symbols to add more meaning to the whole tattoo.
Angry Lion King
The lion in this tattoo wears a crown on his scarred face which indicates achieving greatness requires hard work, sacrifice, and blood and sweat.
Greco-Roman Lion Tattoo
This particular tattoo got its inspiration from Greco-roman mythology since lions symbolize love and masculinity in their culture.
Fierce Animals Sleeve Tattoo
In this tattoo, the lion goes along with the other ferocious animals in the jungle such as the eagle, tiger, and leopard.
Roaring Lion Tattoo with Rose
This tattoo expresses passion and desire for love.
Lion Head with Moon Tattoo
The moon symbolizes wonder and balance. Consequently, this tattoo suggests that beneath the lion’s ferociousness, and fearlessness is a calm and composed individual.
Lion with Angel Tattoo
The lion is also a symbol of security which we can see in this tattoo where the lion is guided by the guardian angel.
Renaissance Sleeve Tattoo
This is another tattoo symbolizing authority and protection of the lion together with the angel, warrior, and his chariot.
Scarred Lion Head
The lion’s scars represent the tattooee’s mental scars he acquired throughout his life.
Realistic Lion Head with Roses
This tattoo expresses love, passion, and religious morals. The sleeve placement of this tattoo will undoubtedly steal the attention of anyone near you.
Statuelike Lion Head in Sky
Statuelike lion tattoos represent unwavering strength and courage while its sky background represents heaven.
Lion with Different Animals Sleeve Tattoo
This tattoo contains a lion, a rhinoceros, an elephant, a cheetah, and a bull which are some of the hardest and strongest animals in the animal kingdom.
Lion Head with Human Eye
This tattoo contains a lion’s head and a crying human eye which implies that tough and driven individuals also have a soft side deep inside.
Lion Tattoo on Arm
Forearm tattoos represent toughness and strength because of its prominent placement.
Lion Eyes on Forearm
This tattoo reminds people that you have eye’s watching your back because of its unique placement on the end of the forearm.
White Eyes Shoulder Lion Tattoo
The unusually cold look of the lion in this tattoo embodies the calm yet dangerous personality of the man.
Realism Forearm Lion Head
The lion’s yellow eye certainly is intimidating and scary while its placement on the forearm makes it very visible to anyone in front of you.
East Asian Lion Head Arm Tattoo
This beautiful tattoo is inspired by East Asian designs of the lion which gives it a more serious look because of its cold stare.
Lion With Crown Forearm Tattoo
This lion tattoo has a contemporary looking crown and head armor giving it a more subdued look.
Traditional Lion King Tattoo
Unlike most lions with crown tattoos, this lion has no scars.
Roaring Lion Tattoo on Forearm
A roaring lion overcoming the heights of a mountain intends everyone in its area to feel its presence.
Cartoon Lion with Crown
The cartoonish portrayal of this lion makes it look more two-dimensional without sacrificing its nasty look because of its angry stare.
Colorful Lion and Galaxy Tattoo
The colorful lion with the galaxy as its background signifies the tattooee’s grand ambitions.
Green-Eyed Roaring Lion
The lion’s anger is intensified by its wild green eyes and ravenous growl.
Old Lion Tattoo on Forearm
This tattoo represents a more mature and perceptive personality due to its calm and old-looking lion head.
Colorful Old Lion Tattoo on Arm
The colorful lion head’s placement on the top of the shoulder makes less visible when wearing a shirt but undoubtedly noticeable when wearing a sleeveless one.
Lion Tattoo on Hand
Hand tattoos are not familiar, and they symbolize boldness and courage, and inking in a lion design enhances its visual impact.
Roaring Lion Tattoo on Hand
His roaring lion tattoo boosts the boldness of the tattooee.
Brown Lion Tattoo
The brown color of the lion’s head complements the skin making the tattoo look more artistic.
Roaring Cartoon Lion Head
The angry roar of the lion in this tattoo is balanced out by the cartoonish design.
Serious Lion Hand Tattoo
The lion’s serious look paired with its prominent placement certainly makes you look distinct.
Roaring Lion with Rose Hand Tattoo
This tattoo is oozing with strength and passion because of its roaring lion and large rose design.
Lion Head with Girl on Hand
You can also put a complementing design in your other hand to give your lion design a partner.
Growling Lion Head
This lion’s old and gloomy look gives out a sharp yet strong impact.
Colorful Fiery Lion King
The lion’s king stature with its fiery eyes adds up to its tyrannical touch even more.
Anguished Lion on Hand Tattoo
The troubles of the one who had this tattoo are embodied by this tattoo due to its distressed mood.
Chinese Lion Palm Tattoo
The tattoo’s minimal Chinese lion design sends chills to my spine whenever I look at it because of its icy stare and very sharp fangs.
Mature Lion Hand Tattoo
Roaring Lion with Name
You can also put your name above your lion tattoo to give it a more obvious meaning.
Lion Tattoo on Chest
Chest Lion Tattoos are not visible when clothed, and are more meaningful because of their less obvious placing.
Two Lions and Crown
The standing lions with the crown in the middle make the tattoo look royal and noble.
Cubism Lion Head on Chest
Lion Head and Roots
Lion Versus Cheetah
This tattoo which depicts the clashing of personalities has a powerful impact because of its portrayal of the facing off of two powerful, angry beasts.
Angry Lion Head on Man’s Chest
Chinese Lion Head Chest Tattoo
This is another Chinese guardian lion depiction which closely resembles a dragon.
Blue Abstract Lion Head
Give your lion tattoo a more classy look by employing an abstract design with a different color.
Roaring Lion with Date
This chest tattoo is given more meaning because of the dates inscribed beside the roaring lion.
Abstract Lion with Compass
The lion with a compass tattoo outlines the person’s strong desire to find his life’s direction.
Colorful Asian Lion Chest Tattoo
The lion’s colorful design is balanced out by its calm mood.
Lion with King Tattoo on Chest
This tattoo implies that you are the king of your life and you are as fierce as a lion.
Lion Head with Samoan Design
Lion Versus Panther Chest Tattoo
Realism Roaring Lion on Chest
Lion Tattoo on Thigh
Placing a lion tattoo on the thigh is often a symbolism of the person’s sentiments because of its private placing.
Lion Family Thigh Tattoo
The tattooee’s love for his family is indeed represented in this thigh tattoo.
Realistic Roaring Lion on Thigh
Surreal Lion Head
This lion tattoo is unique because of the lion’s different blue color.
Solemn Lion King on Lower Thigh
Lion and Cub Tattoo
This tattoo represents the father’s ultimate love for his son.
Statue Lion and Church Lower Thigh Tattoo
The statue lion under the church tattoo means that the tattooee has an unshakable faith in God.
Fierce Lion and Clock
The tattoo’s lion, clock, and skull design suggest that the lion has to be strong despite being constrained by both time and death.
Monochromatic Lion
Geometric Lion Head on Upper Thigh
Running Lion Thigh Tattoo
The running lion tattoo signifies being an unstoppable force due to its racing action.
Roaring Lion Tattoo on Thigh
Blue Eyes Lion Head on Lower Thigh
Lion Tattoo on Finger
Finger lion tattoos are very rare because of their placement and is an excellent choice for people who want a small but noticeable tattoo.
Lion King with Ring Crown
You can give this finger tattoo different looks since you can easily swap multiple rings to make it look like the lion’s crown.
Lion and Wolf on Girl’s Fingers
Small Lion King Finger Tattoo
Simple Lion Head on Middle Finger
Cara Delevigne’s Lion Tattoo
Lion finger tattoos are becoming more famous because of Cara Delevigne’s influence.
Lion Tattoo on Pointing Finger
Couple Finger Lion Tattoo
Getting a lion and lioness couple tattoo undoubtedly strengthens your relationship with your significant other.
Lioness Head Tattoo
Snow Lion Finger Tattoo
The snowy state and cold look of the lion certainly adds a more subdued and feminine look to its wearer.
Dark Roaring Lion on Finger
Ancient Lion Tattoo Design on Finger
Simple Lion Head on Girl’s Finger
Final Thoughts on Getting a Lion Tattoo
Getting a lion tattoo is undoubtedly an excellent choice for people who are new to tattoos. Lions symbolize bravery and strength which every one of us needs to conquer our fears in life. There is also a lot of places you can put your tattoo on depending on how noticeable you want your tattoo to be.
Take your time in deciding what kind of design you want and which part of your body you’d like to place your tattoo because it will eventually pay off. To gain more design inspiration, you can also look at different lions and see which kind of lion fits your design best. Also, always try to consult your tattoo artist every step of the way since they have more experience and knowledge. If you want other designs and inspirations for your next tattoo, you can check out our other articles!
Hey readers! I’m Jeffrey and your tattoo artist of the day;) I have been drawing and painting my whole life, and after graduating high school I decided it was time for a bigger challenge and I started drawing on people. I’m so fortunate I got to express my creativity through my body art and even more so to share my passion with my now wife Emilie. She started working with me in my tattoo shop as a piercer and I started writing about and photographing, my creations on this blog. I love to hear from you and hope you enjoy our work together!