75 examples of a lion tattoo to awaken your inner strength

by John Griffith
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Tattoos have been one of the most popular forms of self-expression. Many people choose to showcase their characteristics, hobbies, ideals and life mottos through body art. To be fair, it is probably one of the most beautiful and permanent ways to express yourself. Which is why, you always need to make sure what your tattoo symbolises is going to be true for you forever. After all, a tattoo only lasts a lifetime. Today, we are going to focus specifically on the meaning behind the lion tattoo – one of the most popular body art choices.

The hidden meaning behind a lion tattoo

lion tattoo, back of arm tattoo, small lion head with mane, tattoo on woman wearing white t shirt

What does a lion tattoo symbolize?

Lions are universally known as kings of the jungle. They embody strength, power and confidence. Lions are also considered to be royalty. So, what are some of the meanings behind getting a lion tattoo?

  1. Protection. Lions are the kings of the jungle, therefore, need to protect all those who can be harmed. One can say they are at the top of the food chain. That is why, a lion tattoo can symbolize your will and determination to protect others.
  2. Courage. Naturally, in order to protect someone you need to be brave and courageous. These are traits that most people would love to be associated with, therefore getting a lion tattoo can achieve just that.
  3. Masculinity. While it is not uncommon for women to get lion tattoos, they are mostly found on men’s bodies. After all, they represent the strength of a king. Lions live in packs and raise cubs with the lionesses of the pack. So, needless to say, lions are one of the most masculine animals out there.
  4. Strength. As we’ve already said lions are considered to be at the top of the food chain. They are one of the strongest, deadliest animals on earth. They can weigh anywhere between 170 – 220kg and are not to be trifled with.
  5. Aristocracy. Okay, this is the last time I am going to mention that lions are kings of the jungle. Needless to say, that royalty always implies aristocracy. Which is why, a lion tattoo can symbolise one’s wish to feel more important and glorious.

All the things that lions represent are connected to their strength and masculinity

forearm tattoo, half realistic lion head, half contour of a lion head, lion tattoo, white background

What does a lioness tattoo symbolize?

As we’ve already mentioned, lions live in packs, called prides. To be fair, a lion’s job is easy. They can mate any time of the year. While the lioness bears and raises the cubs, lions chill and await for their pray to come to them. Lionesses, of course, are also incredible predators. So, they do everything a lion does, plus having little cubs. Naturally, a lioness tattoo represents a woman’s strength and will to be a mother and a protector. What’s more, if you have a lioness tattoo with small cubs, it can represent that you are ready to do anything to protect your children. Needless to say, lionesses are fearless and are also on top of the food chain. And for a good reason.

Lionesses are absolutely fearless when it comes to protecting their cubs

family of lions, lion and lioness with their cub, lion chest tattoo, forearm tattoo, white background

Lion tattoo examples you can totally steal

tattoo on the side of the rib cage, lion tattoo, on woman wearing black top, grey background

Watercolor tattoos are beautiful, no matter what you want them to symbolize

watercolor back of leg tattoo, lion tattoo, lion head with mane in different colors, paved street in the background

This is absolutely gorgeous

drawing of a lioness head, surrounded by flowers and feathers, lion tattoo, watercolor painting

Mandala lion tattoos

lion head surrounded by mandala lotus flowers, lion chest tattoo, forearm tattoo, black background

Very discreet, yet super powerful lioness tattoo

half of a lioness head with yellow eyes, forearm tattoo on woman, wearing jeans and white top, lion chest tattoo

I am absolutely in love with this stunning tattoo

lion head with blue eyes, surrounded by galaxy, watercolor forearm tattoo, lion chest tattoo, blurred background

Simple, yet effective lioness tattoo

lion king tattoo, forearm tattoo, on woman wearing jeans and beige top, geometrical contoured lion head with lotus flowers

Very elegant idea of a thigh tattoo of a lion with a watercolor mane

thigh tattoo on woman wearing grey knitted dress, profile of a lion head with colorful mane, lion king tattoo, watercolor tattoo

A lioness and her cub – showcasing a mother’s willingness to protect her children no matter the cost

lioness with her cub, tattoo on the side of the rib cage, on woman wearing white t shirt, lion king tattoo

Stunning geometric design

lion head with mane, geometrical design, on woman wearing jeans and dark grey top, lion king tattoo, forearm tattoo

lion head with mandala flowers, lion king tattoo, thigh tattoo, blurred background

This looks so realistic and the blue eyes definitely add to the wow effect

lion head with blue eyes, rose underneath, shoulder tattoo, lion tattoo meaning, woman wearing black top

forearm tattoo, lion tattoo meaning, lion head with a broken clock with roman numerals, black background

Who says lion tattoos can’t be feminine

back of arm tattoo, lion tattoo meaning, lion head with colorful flowers surrounding it, blue butterfly in the corner

Lion King tattoo – the ultimate showcasing of love for Disney, Simba and Mufasa

lion king inspired tattoo, simba and mufasa, forearm watercolor tattoo, lion tattoo meaning

watercolor forearm tattoo, lion tattoo meaning, lion head with blue and orange watercolor mane

Just looking at this tattoo makes mi feel scared

lion with crown tattoo, scary lion head with mane, forearm tattoo, white background

back of arm tattoo, half lion head, half female face, lion with crown tattoo, black background

lioness head, surrounded by watercolor galaxy, forearm tattoo, lion with crown tattoo

sleeve tattoo, on woman with blonde hair, wearing khaki pants and black top, lion with crown tattoo, lion head with blue eyes

Simple, discreet and beautiful

lioness head with geometrical design, lion with crown tattoo, back of leg tattoo, grey background

back of leg tattoo, lioness head with sparkling crown on top, lioness tattoo, black and white photo

half of a lion head, flowers instead of mane, geometrical design, lioness tattoo, back of leg tattoo

back tattoo, lioness tattoo, lion head with mane, on woman with blonde hair, geometrical design

lion head with mane, half of it covered with flowers, lioness tattoo, watercolor back tattoo, on woman with black hair

Another beautiful example of a watercolor mane

watercolor forearm tattoo, lioness tattoo, profile of lion head, watercolor mane in different colors, watercolor lotus flower

lion forearm tattoo, lion head with mane, watercolor forearm tattoo, mane in different colors, on woman wearing jeans and black top

watercolor forearm tattoo, lion forearm tattoo, lion head in blue pink red purple and green, different colors

Matching couple’s lion tattoos

matching couple tattoo, back of leg tattoos, lion forearm tattoo, lion heads with manes in different colors, watercolor tattoos

lion head with mane, bones in front of it, lion forearm tattoo, black background

The king of the jungle needs his crown

lion with long mane looking up, wearing a crown on its head, lion forearm tattoo, on woman wearing jeans and black top

shoulder tattoo, lion hand tattoo, watercolor tattoo, geometrical design, lion head in different colors, on woman wearing green sweater

black and white photo, lion head separated in two, one half geometrical, lion hand tattoo, thigh tattoo

large back of leg tattoo, lion hand tattoo, mandala lion tattoo, lioness head with blue eyes, surrounded by mandala flowersStunning drawing of a lion and lioness

black and white pencil sketch, lion hand tattoo, lion with long mane hugging a lioness, white background

forearm tattoo, lioness head surrounded by flowers, lion hand tattoo, on woman wearing grey blouse

forearm tattoo, on men wearing jeans and black t shirt, lion shoulder tattoo, lion head on the forearm

profile of a lion head, lion shoulder tattoo, forearm tattoo, blurred background

Another amazing Lion King sleeve tattoo – Scar, Mufasa and Simba, whose story makes us cry every time we watch

lion king inspired sleeve tattoo, lion shoulder tattoo, mufasa scar and simba, colored sleeve tattoo

Lion King‘s Simba and Nala – the ultimate love story

simba and nala, matching couple tattoos, forearm tattoos, watercolor tattoos, lion shoulder tattoo

lion king inspired simba tattoo, lion shoulder tattoo, watercolor tattoo, thigh tattoo, on woman wearing short jeans

lion sleeve tattoo, watercolor shoulder tattoo, angry lion with mane, colored in blue and red

lion head, one half in black and white, other half in yellow and orange, lion sleeve tattoo, forearm tattoo

It’s all about how you see yourself – follow your dreams

small lion cub, looking at its reflection in the water, large lion in the water, lion sleeve tattoo, back of leg tattoo

geometrical design, lioness head, separated into small squares, lion sleeve tattoo, thigh tattoo

Raised by a selfless queen – a touching tribute to a real lioness

large back tattoo, lion sleeve tattoo, lion with one blue and one scarred eye, red crown on its head

thigh tattoo, mandala tattoo, lion tattoo on arm, lion head with large mane, blue flowers around it, mandala flowers

black background, lion tattoo on arm, lioness head with blue eyes, forearm tattoo

watercolor tattoo, forearm tattoo, lion tattoo on arm, lioness head with red orange and black brush strokes

lion head with large mane, watercolor tattoo, lion tattoo on arm, shoulder tattoo in different colors

A lioness in stealth mode, awaiting its prey

lioness walking, watercolor tattoo, forearm tattoo, lion tattoo on arm, black orange and blue colors

tribal lion tattoo, mandala lion forearm tattoo, on woman wearing grey blouse and black jeans

Matching couple tattoos – the queen to my king

matching couple tattoos, finger tattoos on the middle finger, lion and lioness heads, tribal lion tattoo

tattoos on both forearms, lion head in red, lioness head in blue, watercolor tattoos, tribal lion tattoo, black background

photo collage of different tattoos, tribal lion tattoo, lion head tattoos in different places of the body

A roaring lion makes me want to run as fast as I can and is a symbol of bravery, courage and strength

trash polka tattoo, tribal lion tattoo, forearm tattoo, roaring lion with red and black brush strokes around it

lion tattoos for females, back of leg tattoo, religious tattoo, cross and lion with large mane and crown on its head

roaring lion with crown on its head, rose underneath it on the wrist, forearm tattoo, lion tattoos for females

Scar from Lion King – the misunderstood villain

scar from lion king, disney character inspired, colored tattoo, lion tattoos for females, ankle tattoo

sleeve tattoo on woman wearing top in pink black and white, lion tattoos for females, lion with roses butterflies and watch

A lion cub tattoo can represent one’s own children

small lion cub tattoo, forearm tattoo, surrounded by flowers, lion tattoos for females, geometrical design

lion head inside a triangle, rose in the corner, roman numerals on top, lion thigh tattoo, shoulder tattoo

lion head, surrounded by flowers, mandala tattoo, lion thigh tattoo, on woman with black shorts

watercolor tattoo, lion thigh tattoo, lioness head with blue eyes, surrounded by different colors

watercolor galaxy tattoo, lion thigh tattoo, lion head, half of it covered in galaxy colors, shoulder tattoo

colored forearm tattoo, lion thigh tattoo, lion head surrounded by blue flowers, on woman wearing jeans and grey blouse

Lion with a stunning watercolor mane

small lion tattoo, watercolor tattoo, back of arm tattoo, lion head, surrounded by watercolor in pink yellow and red

finger tattoo on the ring finger, small lion tattoo, lion head in orange and black

lioness head with red background, small lion tattoo, watercolor tattoo, forearm tattoo

Roaring lion thigh tattoo

thigh tattoo, profile of a roaring line with large mane, on woman wearing white short jeans, small lion tattoo

profile of a lion head with large mane, small lion tattoo, thigh tattoo on woman wearing black sweatpants

woman wearing white jeans and grey t shirt, small lion tattoo, forearm tattoo, lion head surrounded by flowers

John Griffith
John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.

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