8 Amazing Tombstone Tattoo Design Ideas For Men And Women

At the end of our lives, the best any of us would ever want is to be remembered.

Reviewed by JF Biron, Professional Tattoo Artist JF Biron JF BironProfessional Tattoo Artist facebook_iconinsta_icon
Written by , MA (English) Shreya Mukherjee MA (English) Experience: 2 years
Edited by , MA (English) Subhrojyoti Mukherjee MA (English) linkedin_icon Experience: 4 years
Fact-checked by , MA (English Literature) Aparna Harry MA (English Literature) linkedin_icon Experience: 3 years
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If you are drawn to the dark and mysterious or have a knack for tattoos with a gothic vibe, you might want to consider getting a tombstone tattoo. A tombstone tattoo can symbolize both vitality and mortality. However, if you are wondering how a tombstone tattoo can represent life, here’s something for you to ponder over – if getting this tattoo can help you remember your loved ones that you lost, wouldn’t that represent life to you? To remember them is to give them life, and a tombstone tattoo can help you do that. In this article, we have listed a few select tombstone tattoos that resonate with your feelings for your loved ones. Check them out.

Meaning Of A Tombstone Tattoo

Tombstone tattoos generally symbolize death, yet they carry deeper meaning too. They remind you to live life fully and embrace each moment. They also signify coming to terms with life’s impermanence and the reality of death, encouraging you to reflect on the fleeting nature of your existence. Some find them appealing due to their connection with darkness and mystery, reflecting an appreciation for Gothic art. In addition, these tattoos often have a personal significance as they represent experiences of loss. Overall, tombstone tattoos blend various themes, including mortality, darkness, remembrance, and personal reflection.

We can help you with some interesting tattoo choices. The following section presents 8 amazing tombstone tattoo designs that are ideal for both men and women. Keep reading to find out!

8 Cool Tombstone Tattoo Design Ideas For Men And Women

The dark and gothic tombstone tattoo appeals to both men and women. It looks great on various body parts like arms, shoulders, and backs. Here are a few cool ideas for you to try.

1. Traditional Tombstone Tattoo

A woman with a traditional tombstone tattoo on her forearm
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This tombstone tattoo portrays a black tombstone with colorful flowers wrapped around it. The bright orange buds and red flowers contrast with the dark tombstone, showing that life finds a way to creep up in the darkest of corners. This colorful twist makes the tattoo stand out. It represents the vitality that drives us despite the reality of mortality.

2. Angel Tombstone Tattoo

An angel tombstone tattoo on the arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

As it is in the name, the angel tombstone tattoo features an angel watching over the tomb as if to provide care and protection in the afterlife. This striking tattoo may also symbolize the guardianship of angels over the departed. The shading enhances its beauty, while the delicate flowers and leaves surrounding the tomb add a touch of serenity to the design. Their presence symbolizes the beauty and continuity of life even in the face of loss.

3. RIP Tombstone Tattoo

A RIP tombstone tattoo on the upper arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

The tattoo shows a graveyard scene with a plaque that reads RIP or rest in peace. This black linework tattoo can be a symbol for remembering loved ones who passed away. The detailed tombstone and shrubs add depth to the tattoo. It can be a heartfelt tribute to those who are no longer with you but will remain in your heart forever. You can also add a coffin tattoo alongside it to make it look more intricate and dense, stressing the finite nature of human existence and the inevitability of death.

4. Tombstone Cemetery Tattoo

A tombstone cemetery tattoo on the back
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This tattoo on the back features a cemetery scene with illustrious tombstones. This scenic tattoo on the back employs gradient shading that adds depth to it. The grayscale tones create a haunting yet captivating aesthetic. Overall, it is a striking tattoo that harks the solemnity of graveyards. The small flowers and leaves frame the piece, adding a touch of delicate beauty to the dark aesthetic.

5. Angel Crying Over A Tombstone Tattoo

Shoulder tattoo of an angel crying over a tombstone
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

This tattoo on a man’s shoulder shows an angel crying over a tombstone. It stirs strong feelings as it conveys that even angels shed tears when a life comes to an end. The dotwork shading enhances its realism. It is a touching tattoo that reminds you of loss and remembering loved ones.

6. Crow On A Tombstone Tattoo

A crow sitting on a tombstone tattoo on the back
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This tattoo depicts a crow perched on a tombstone. The illustration style with dark black ink gorgeously brings out the details. The crow symbolizes different things across cultures, often a connection to the spirit world. Placing it on a tombstone adds to that as the crow is shown bigger than the tombstone, implying that the spirit world supercedes the physical one. It may be a hint at life beyond death.

7. Beetlejuice Tombstone Tattoo

Beetlejuice tombstone tattoo on the back
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

The Beetlejuice tombstone tattoo features the iconic inscription “Here Lies Betelgeuse” in Gothic font as a tribute to the character by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. The tombstone holds significance in the film as it represents the resting place of the mischievous and eccentric Betelgeuse. Set against a dark sky with silhouettes of trees and a church, along with a full moon and bats, the tattoo exudes a gothic vibe reminiscent of the film’s eerie atmosphere.

8. Skull Tombstone Tattoo

A skull tombstone tattoo on the upper arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

This tattoo showcases a tombstone embellished with a skull. Amidst the darkness, vibrant shrubs and flowers flourish, evoking an eerie sense of life amidst death. The skull serves as a stark reminder of mortality, while the flourishing flora symbolizes the eternal cycle of life and death. It might be a reminder of the intricate balance between life and the afterlife.

A tombstone tattoo represents the power of forces beyond us. It is a way to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. It can also remind you that life is fragile and fleeting. You can get a tombstone tattoo on your shoulders, back, or arms and in different styles, such as Illustrious, traditional, or dotwork. Typically, it has a spooky and gothic vibe that makes you think about the cycle of life and the memories we leave behind. Each time someone gets inked with it, they are reflecting on what it means to be human and the legacy we leave.

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JF Biron
JF BironProfessional Tattoo Artist
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, JF Biron studied Fine Arts at Concordia University and graduated with distinction in 2004. He later dipped his toes into the gallery art world and dived into the tattoo industry, which he has been a part of for the last 15 years.

Read full bio of JF Biron
Shreya Mukherjee
Shreya MukherjeeBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Shreya is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. After graduating from Christ University, Bengaluru, she started as a writer for a non-profit organization, Bhumi, as an intern. She then wrote for a progressive content website.

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Subhrojyoti Mukherjee
Subhrojyoti MukherjeeAssociate Editor
Subhrojyoti is an associate editor at StyleCraze with four years of experience. He has a master’s degree in English from Presidency University, Kolkata, and has also done a post-graduate certificate course in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

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Aparna Harry
Aparna HarryBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Aparna Harry is a beauty and lifestyle content writer with over three years of experience in writing for different genres. She has a master’s degree in English Literature from The English And Foreign Languages University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Mysore.

Read full bio of Aparna Harry