16 Beautiful Tattoos That Symbolize Hope

Tattoos that Symbolize Hope

There are many tattoo designs that symbolize hope, but they each have their own creative flair (which makes choosing one interesting).

Hope may very well be the most important part of the human experience.

Without hope for a better future, why keep on living?

Hope is the reason for everything we do: we hope we will get a better job, hope our children will turn out alright and hope a possible partner will feel the same, among other dreams and aspirations.

We hold hope near and dear to us, and without it, we are absolutely lost.

Therefore, it makes sense why so many people want to get tattoos that represent hope.

Let’s take a look at the options available:

Deer Tattoos

Deer tattoos may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to tattoos that symbolize hope, but this meaning actually rings true for many cultures.

For example, in the Celtic culture and in Celtic tattoos, deers symbolize regeneration and hope.

Deers have the ability to regenerate their antler, which falls off and regrows once a year.

Therefore, they are symbols of hope for change and hope that even if you fail at something, you will one day succeed.

Also, Buddhists believe that deers represent happiness and longevity, meaning that they are symbols that if you keep your spirits up and have faith, you will experience great joy.

Anchor Tattoos

As an anchor lifts off, it marks the start of a great journey.

You do not know what will happen on this adventure, but you must have faith that it will be promising.

Therefore, anchors represent hope and they too represent life’s path which takes us sometimes to unexpected places.

The important thing is that this tattoo symbolizes the hope that whether the journey is filled with storms or if it is smooth sailing, you will be glad that you were on board for the experience.

Ginkgo Tattoos

Ginkgo trees are associated with Eastern beliefs in hope, strength, longevity, and peaceful life.

Perhaps this is because the ginkgo tree is one of the oldest known species of trees on Earth.

If this tree species can survive for so long, then why can’t you fight your demons, put the past behind you, and carry on?

This tree tattoo is a great symbol of hope because it also represents longevity– the two tend to go hand and hand.

You should get this tattoo if you are hopeful to live a long and happy life.

Lily Tattoos

One of the main symbolisms behind lily tattoos is hope.

This meaning is attached to the Christian faith: the Easter lily symbolizes hope and the rebirth of Jesus.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that the lily resembles a trumpet, and one was used to alert people to the resurrection of Jesus.

In fact, there are even more representations of the lily in Chrisitan beliefs.

For example, it is believed that Eve started crying out of remorse for eating the forbidden fruit and that her tears helped the lily grow in the garden of Eden.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, the lily is definitely a major symbol of hope.

If you want to learn more about lily tattoo meanings, we have an article about lily designs and meanings.

Rainbow Tattoos

When you think about it, there are a lot of reasons why rainbows symbolize hope.

Seeing one brightens your day.

Not to mention, they are born out of a rainstorm that is stopped by beautiful sunlight, and for a brief moment, the wondrous rainbow appears seemingly out of thin air.

The rainbow represents the hope that out of dark and dreary skies, something wonderful will happen to change everything.

It is also important to mention that they are the symbol of the LGBTQ community, which contains a group of people full of hope that their lives and their rights world-wide will improve.

Rainbows have an important significance as a symbol of hope that things will change for the better.

Olive Branch Tattoos

Olive Branch tattoos are typically associated with peace.

However, there’s much more to the olive branch than meets the eye.

In the Bible, the branch symbolizes hope, peace, and promise.

In Ancient Greece, the olive branch represented peace as well as victory.

Not only that, but more generally the olive branch is known to symbolize longevity, achievement, insight, and clarity.

These are all important parts of having hope, and go alongside the meaning behind hope itself.

Olive branch tattoos are versatile visually, and along with representing hope they clearly symbolize a great deal of important parts of leading a hopeful and happy life.

Chai Tattoos

A chai tattoo is great as an ankle or wrist tattoo, but it is not limited to placement.

For those of you who do not know, a chai symbol is the Jewish letters Chet and Yud placed together to mean the number 18.

The significance of this number lies in its plural form, L’chaim, which many may recognize as being a popular thing to say as a toast at parties and weddings.

L’chaim means that you are toasting to a great life and to hope.

Having this tattoo means that you are hopeful to have a good rest of your life, and it is also a good luck charm.

Dove Tattoos

Dove tattoos often come from their ties to an important Christian story.

After the infamous rain on the Earth stopped, Noah sent out a dove in order to find any dry land.

The dove, therefore, represents the hope for a new beginning after the great rains.

Another Christian belief is that a dove came to Jesus during his baptism.

These Christian beliefs lead doves to represent both peace and hope.

They mean that even when there are dark times, there is a bright future ahead of us.

Butterfly Tattoos

Perhaps butterflies symbolize hope due to their transformation from a caterpillar to a gorgeous creatures.

The meaning behind this tattoo is that everyone should have hope that they have the ability to change for the better.

However, there are many meanings of the butterfly tattoo, which we explore in another article.

Butterfly tattoos also represent change, growth, and endurance, and are good luck charms.

Semicolon Tattoos

Semicolon tattoos represent hope in quite a unique way.

People receive this tattoo because they believe that there is hope either for themselves or for someone they love who is struggling with some form of mental illness or addiction.

This powerful tattoo has other meanings, but it is also viewed as a sort of shared symbol between those who are struggling with these issues, and who need hope.

Dreamcatcher Tattoos

Just in case you didn’t know, dream catchers come from the Native American culture and are woven by hand with many materials such as gemstones and feathers.

Traditionally it is believed that if you hang one over your bed it will catch all of your nightmares, leaving you with only pleasant dreams.

Dreamcatcher tattoos represent hope because they have the ability to access the future in your sleep and change it to something better.

They are hopeful because you hope that you can sleep better with them above your bed.

Iris Tattoos

Iris tattoos are unique symbols of hope.

They represent hope for yourself, hope for a happy future for your friends and loved ones, or pretty much anything else you have hope for.

You may want to add multiple iris flowers to your tattoo which only emphasizes its meaning of hope.

Another meaning of this flower tattoo is faith, which is linked to hope.

If you have faith that things will work out, then you have hope for the future.

Snowdrop Flower Tattoos

Although snowdrop flowers are an uncommon tattoo, they are a perfect symbol of hope and striving towards paving your own way to a bright future.

This flower tattoo serves as a reminder that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that you should never give up on your dreams, whatever they may be.

This tattoo is meant to remind you that we are all lost without hope.

Star of Bethlehem Flower Tattoos

These tattoos are popular symbols of the Christian faith.

They symbolize how God leads us through challenges in life in order for us to learn and grow as people.

They are also representations of hope, especially in the sense that we will be given a chance to redeem ourselves.

These flower tattoos are also largely symbols of peace and mean that you hope for the future to have more peace than the present.

Hope Lettering Tattoos

If you want to be blunt about it, you may want to receive a tattoo of the word hope.

This tattoo comes with many interesting designs and can incorporate other symbols of hope with this lettering tattoo.

This tattoo means that you need more hope in your life and you desire a more peaceful lifestyle.

You may be having problems in your life and need a change.

If that is so, then getting a hope lettering tattoo can be a constant reminder to have faith that everything will work out in the long run.

Sun Tattoos

The sun represents many things, and one of these meanings is hope.

You always can rely on the sun.

Each morning, it comes up and brightens the world with its glory.

A sun tattoo can be a reminder that no matter what, the sun will come up and you will be able to start fresh with a new day.

Why Do People Get Tattoos that Represent Hope?

We have a pretty good idea that for many people, it makes sense to get a tattoo that represents hope.

Perhaps these reasons will resonate with you and make you think about why you want to get this meaningful kind of tattoo.

Things Are Going Badly

Are you struggling in your life?

Some people feel as though their lives are either going nowhere or are going very badly.

If this is your situation, hope will be very important in your life.

By getting a hope tattoo, you are signifying that you believe things will change for you.

You Are a Positive Person

People who have a lot of hope for the future are often happy people who love their lives.

They may just love life so much because of this hope.

If you are this kind of person then you may want to consider getting a tattoo that represents hope since it is such an important part of your life.

You Need Hope

For some of us, hope is missing from our lives.

This is a sad circumstance and affects us deeply.

By getting a tattoo that symbolizes hope, you are saying that you are committing to opening your heart to a new belief system- one where the future is bright no matter what may be happening in your life.

If you have established that you want this kind of tattoo, then the next logical step is to pick one!

Conclusion

The main reason why people get tattoos that symbolize hope is that they need more hope in their lives.

Almost everyone needs more hope because hope is an essential component of everyone’s happiness.

As we have discussed, there are many ways to display hope in tattoo art.

Sometimes this is for the purpose of showing to others that they need to keep up their own hope, while at other times the tattoo is meant as a highly personal reminder.

The latter case is very important because too often people receive tattoos for themselves in order to remember something important.

Whatever the case is for yourself, remember to keep hope alive.

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Alyssa Renee McCormack

Alyssa Renee McCormack is a writer, curator, and photographer who publishes articles on the topics of the arts, culture, and social justice. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in fashion business and art history and museum professions. Her experience working with a variety of art institutions, her world travel, and her inquisitive nature provides her with a unique insight. Check out her about page, she would love to connect with you!