25 Relationship Tattoos You (Probably) Won’t Regret

Relationship tattoos are either romantic or cringeworthy. It’s sweet if you’re together forever … and awkward if you’re not. As in: Should you keep that tattoo of your ex? Or repurpose it into something entirely new? Should you still break up with that guy, right after he tattooed your name on his abs? Even if you do stay together forever, what happens if you simply wind up hating the permanent ink you got?

With all the risks involved, it’s best to start small. “I would always suggest a smaller-size design for whatever it is that they are getting,” says Michelle Santana, an artist at New York City’s famed tattoo shop Bang Bang. “It will be a better idea if the tattoo is small and simple, that way it’s something you can always ‘fix’ later.”

As for figuring out what to get, Santana recommends browsing none other than the internet. “I would recommend searching online for images of what other couples have gotten to draw inspiration from,” she suggests. “From there, you can take an idea that draws your attention and put your own twist on it to make it more personal to you both.”

Consider this the first stop in that online search. Browse some of our favorite ideas below, and noodle on ways in which you and your partner could make them your own.

1.

A sentimental number.

Take Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s matching “IV” tattoos, for example. The number wasn’t just plucked out of thin air for these two. Not only were they married on April 4, 2008, but Beyoncé was born on September 4, 1981, and Jay-Z was born on December 4, 1969.

2.

Your anniversary.

Not only is it a guaranteed way to make sure you and, most importantly, your partner doesn’t forget your anniversary (and thus gets you a gift) until the end of the time, but inking your anniversary is a timeless way to honor your relationship.

3.

Sun and moon.

The thing with tattoos is they are forever. You want something timeless. Eternal. And what’s more timeless than the sun and the moon? Exactly.

4.

“11:11.”

If you and your partner, like me, cannot see a clock strike 11:11 without stopping whatever you’re doing to make a wish, here’s the tattoo for you.

5.

Finger-by-finger complementary images.

Now, you don’t have to do exactly what the couple in this video did, but use the clip as your inspiration to come up with a series of complementary tattoos you and your partner could get on each of your fingers.

6.

Each other’s initials.

When asked if she thought any couple-tattoo ideas were particularly cool or timeless, Santana said getting each other’s initials was “a classic tattoo staple.” So, if you’re looking for something classic, look no further. You could even follow Steph and Ayesha Curry’s example and get each other’s initials tattooed on your ring fingers to really amplify your commitment to each other.

7.

“Love” written in cursive.

If you want to keep it simple (and potentially easy to keep even if this particular relationship doesn’t necessarily last forever), getting the word “love” written in a font of your choosing could be a nice option.

8.

Wedding bands.

Let’s face it. Most people don’t actually wear their wedding bands all the time. Whether you’re taking them off to shower, sleep, work out, or cook, the bottom line is you are taking them off from time to time. So, if you’re looking for something more permanent, getting a band tattooed on your fingers is a great option.

9.

An upside-down heart.

A modern take on Ireland’s traditional claddagh ring.

10.

King and queen of hearts.

Looking for something timeless but fun? Look no further. “There’s the king and queen of hearts poker cards that in my opinion will never get old,” Santana says. “It’s a cute couple tattoo.” Browsing through TikTok you’ll also find there are dozens of ways to execute this tattoo to make it completely your own, like the couple above, who mixed it up with a king of spades.

11.

One continuous landscape.

If you’re looking for something more grand, you can take inspiration from the couple in this video and get an image of your favorite view tattooed across both of your bodies.

12.

Contrasting triangles.

Contrasting triangles might not be the first thing you think of when you think romance, but that might be the point here. If you’re looking for something less overtly romantic and more cool, something abstract like this might be a good option. An added bonus? They’ll still look cool even if you break up.

13.

Lightning bolts.

A lightning bolt is another great option if you’re looking for something that isn’t so overtly romantic. That said, it still does have a bit of a romantic flair when you start thinking about the “lightning bolt kind of love” of it all. Let’s call it the best of both worlds.

14.

Lifeline with a heart at the end.

If you want something very romantic, this might be the option for you. Matching lifelines with hearts at the end. What could be more romantic than that?

15.

“I love you” in each other’s handwriting.

As if getting an “I love you” tattoo wasn’t romantic enough as is, you can take it one step further by getting it inked in each other’s handwriting.

16.

Your fingerprints merged into one heart.

Another personal idea? Take two of your fingerprints, and merge them together to create a heart shape that you each get permanently inked on a body part of your choosing.

17.

“143.”

Katy Perry’s controversial new album aside, “143” has been a less overt way of saying “I love you” for decades. The numerical code also makes for a fun alternative to the more obvious “I love you” tat.

18.

Musical notes.

If you and your partner are musical, getting a tribute to your favorite notes could be a great way to commemorate your unique bond.

19.

A tribute to your child.

Whether it be their first initial or even a sketch of something that reminds you of them, a tribute to your child is a great tattoo idea if you and your partner share a kid together.

20.

Hearts inside your ring fingers.

Take a note from the video above and pay a tribute to your love by inking matching simple little hearts inside your ring fingers.

21.

Anchors.

Want something to symbolize the stabilizing force of your love? Go for an anchor. You can keep these simple and small, or go big and grand. One couple on TikTok even took the tribute in an extra-sentimental direction by attaching the anchors to each other’s initials.

22.

The number of years you’ve been together.

Celebrating a milestone anniversary? Make it extra special by getting a tattoo of the number of years together at that point. You’ll be able to look at it and reflect back on that special day forever.

23.

Drink glasses clinking.

As you can see in the video here, there are all sorts of directions you can take this in. You can do wine glasses, beer mugs, or even shot glasses. And take any creative liberties you want when deciding who or what (if anything!) is holding onto the glass in question.

24.

A tribute to your wedding day.

Looking for a way to commemorate your anniversary that doesn’t involve inking your wedding date? Try picking a special element from the day of your nuptials. For example, the couple in the above video decided to ink the phrase that was written across her veil for their wedding day.

25.

A symbol representing your favorite song.

When Justin Bieber’s song “Peaches” was coming out, he and his wife, Hailey Bieber, celebrated by getting matching peach tattoos. Now, you might not be married to a pop-singing sensation, but you could still do something similar with your partner by getting a tattoo that symbolizes a favorite song you share.

26.

Infinity symbols.

There’s no simpler way to say forever than with an infinity symbol. You can keep it simple and keep yours delicate and light like the ones the couple opted for in the video above, or go for something more intricate and large like this one.