As a general rule, flower tattoos are more popular with women than with men. Perhaps it’s due to their vibrant color, their delicate design or maybe it’s the fact that it’s like a beautiful fashion accessory. Whatever the reason, women with beautiful tattoos are often considered to be more confident, more feminine and more attractive.

One of the best aspects of flower tattoos is the massive choice of designs that are available. And each flower design has a different symbolic meaning, giving you a wide range of beautiful ways to express your individual personality.

For example, you could mix hollyhock (ambition) with heather (dreams come true) to signify your hopes and dreams of future success. Or how about combining narcissus and violet? That provides a contrast of both color and attitude. White and purple, arrogance and humility.

Alternatively, you could add flowers to other tattoo designs. For example, if you want a tattoo that represents someone special in your life you could get the design of a heart surrounded by symbolic flowers, such as roses (love), lavender (devotion), tulip (declaration of love) etc.

And that’s just the start. You can combine any number of different flowers to create virtually any message.

So before you choose the flowers that you want to appear in your tattoo design, it’s best to find out the meanings and symbolism of different varieties of flower. That will allow you to mix and match the flowers in your design until they convey the exact message that you want. So with that in mind here’s a list of the most popular flowers used for tattoo designs and what they mean.

1) Cactus: Endurance

2) Carnation: Fascination, distinction, mother’s love, I’ll never forget you, admiration, broken heart, innocence, sweetness, pure love, faithfulness

3) Chrysanthemum: Truth, optimism, cheerfulness, loyal love, unrequited love

4) Daffodil: New beginnings, chivalry, unrequited love, joy, happiness

5) Daisy: Innocence, loyalty, purity

6) Dandelion: Happiness, faithfulness

7) Forget-me-not: Hope, remembrance, true love

8) Freesia: Thoughtfulness, innocence

9) Gladiolus: Remembrance, strength of character, infatuation

10) Heather: Dreams come true, protection

11) Holly: Enchantment, foresight, domestic bliss

12) Hollyhock: Ambition, fruitfulness

13) Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor

14) Jasmine: Sensuality, grace, elegance, amiability

15) Lavender: Devotion

16) Lilac: Confidence, humility, youth

17) Lily: Wealth, innocence, purity, modesty, virginity, pride

18) Magnolia: Nobility, dignity, love of nature

19) Mimosa: Sensitivity

20) Mint: Virtue

21) Mistletoe: Affection, overcoming difficulties

22) Moss: Charity, maternal love

23) Narcissus: Self admiration, conceit, egotism

24) Nasturtium: Conquest, victory

25) Olive Branch: Peace

26) Orchid: beauty, Long life, charm, refinement, love

27) Periwinkle: Friendship

28) Poppy: Wealth, success, imagination, pleasure, consolation

29) Rose: Love, passion, courage, beauty, prosperity

30) Rosemary: Purity, rebirth, remembrance

31) Sage: Virtue

32) Sunflower: Adoration, haughtiness

33) Sweet William: finesse, gallantry

34) Thyme: Activity

35) Tulip: Declaration of love, beautiful eyes, perfect lover

36) Violet: Faithfulness, risk taking, youthful innocence, modesty, understated beauty

37) Water Lily: Purity of heart

38) Weeping Willow: Mourning

These are the most popular flowers that appear in tattoo designs, and as far as I’m aware these are the most common meanings attached to them. However, as tattoos should be regarded as permanent, please make sure you research the official meaning of these flowers before you go ahead with your flower tattoo.

The popularity of tattoos among women is growing at an unprecedented rate. Over the past ten years, the number of women lining up at doors of tattoo studios has rocketed. Tattoos are now a mainstream fashion accessory for women, occupying the same category as shoes and handbags.

However, tattoos haven’t always been popular among women. Fifty years ago, tattoos were almost the exclusive preserve of men. Only ten percent of tattoos belonged to women. And as recently as the 1980’s there was a general belief in society that a women who got tattooed was either a criminal, a lesbian or a whore.

These days, things are completely different. The traditional stereotypes and stigmas that surrounded tattoos have been swept away and women have the confidence to wear their tattoos with pride. Women are now responsible for 65% of all tattoos. In fact the market for female tattoos has grown so rapidly that as many as one in four women in the US have a tattoo.

But apart from the change in the number of women who are getting tattooed, the female tattoo market has undergone a couple of significant changes.

1) Tattoo Placement

Previously, women who wanted a tattoo felt the need to position them on a part of their body where they could be kept well hidden. But these days women are proud of their tattoo designs and as such are placing them in more visible areas.

The stomach and lower back are two of the most popular areas for tattoo placement. This suggests that women want to have the choice of whether or not to display their designs. It also indicates that most women now have the confidence to select a more sexual placement of their tattoo designs. Other popular locations for female tattoos include ankles and the front of the hips.

2) Tattoo Designs

The type of tattoo designs that women want have also changed. In the past, the few women who got a tattoo opted for something small, discreet and well hidden, such as a name, a small flower or a cute design.

Today, the tattoo designs chosen by women are generally larger and much bolder. Increasingly, women are willing to experiment with the size and style of tattoos. The most popular designs now include shooting stars, fairies, butterflies and unicorn. Larger tribal and celtic designs placed on the lower back are also incredibly popular.

But beyond that, many women now have the confidence to seek out custom tattoo designs that will be unique to them. They’re more style conscious than men, so they’re no longer happy strolling into the tattoo studio, taking a quick glance through the catalog and becoming another one of the thousands who already wear the same design.

Instead, women tend to take their time when searching for their perfect tattoo. They’re more likely to select a custom design, but only after ample consideration of how it will look and make them feel. This allows them to leave the tattoo studio with a design that they can wear with confidence and pride.