Rose Tattoo Designs: 135 Ideas, Colours and Their Meanings

From teens to grandparents, the rose is one of the most popular tattoo designs that you can get. But with such a range of tatts that _are _tattoos, each one is incredibly unique in it's own right. Check out these gorgeous rose designs for that something special, whether you're a girl _or _a guy.

The Rose Tattoo Design - this has so many meanings and is rich with symbolism. The rose flower is the epitome of beauty, the source of irresistible fragrance, the symbol of love and all this with the hidden catch - the thorn that ensures that all this beauty is not without pain.

Roses are by far one of the most popular tattoo designs for both men and women to get. They are beautiful, timeless, versatile and symbolic. There is even a famous rock n roll band called 'Rose Tattoo'. We have put together 135 of our favorite ones for you to take a look at.

135 Beautiful Rose Tattoos For Women and Men

**Delicate shoulder rose tattoos **

Tattoos don't always have to be big and brash. Tiny, intricate designs are popular for women, especially in more unusual spots. For intricate detail such as this, you'll need to visit a highly skilled tattooist - this kind of work is not for beginners!

Full back of hand rose

While we admit this isn't a great snap of this tattoo you'll notice the full rose across the back of the hand here, not quite down to the knuckles. The deep red of the rose is very compelling and matches the tattoos going up the arm well.

Large shoulder design

If you're considering a large rose design and don't want to go across the back like many people choose to do, you might like to consider placing it across the entire side of your shoulder, like this.

**A yellow rose tattoo **

While traditionally rose tattoos are done in red, if you have another type of rose that you prefer, then why not try a tattoo in that color, like this design here?

Rose on the underwear line

Underwear line tattoos can be very alluring, depending on the type of design and where it's placed. This rose is classy and sexy all in the one go!

**Grayscale arm rose tattoos

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This rose design is the perfect size for this part of the woman's arm. Notice that you can see it all in the one glance and it doesn't wrap around, however it takes up the entire space. This rose has also been drawn in a style different to most rose tattoos.

Near the neck

While this placement isn't for everyone, a small tattoo below the neckline doesn't have to look tacky, as you can see by this single, small rose. We really love the darker shading on this one too. For something a little different, add a pop of color.

Stylized rose and dagger

This gorgeous piece has been done in the stained glass style and contains a huge amount of vibrant color. While many dagger tattoos can appear quite scary, this one looks arty and beautiful, especially with the colors used.

Wolf and roses

How much time do you have to dedicate to your piece? This brilliant torso piece would've taken hours on hours on hours in the chair and likely thousands of dollars to complete! The result? A colorful, amazing, intriguing tattoo.

Anchor and rose

Combine classic tattoo elements for your very on take on a classic tattoo, like this anchor and rose tattoo. Can't decide whether you want the anchor more or the rose more? Why not do both together!

Arty cartoon rose

Some tattoo artists practice very specific styles on their customers, like this one here. Usually they will make it up as they go. You can usually ask them what elements they'd like to include from their previous designs and they'll sketch up something individual for you.

Deep red roses

Rose tattoos don't always need to have the deep black outline that we usually see. You can play with colors instead if you wish like this deep red roses tatt here. Instead use lighter colors to provide highlights, instead of lowlights.

Lion and roses

This tatt is punk rock! The fierce lion leaps out from the center of the chest, and you've got the roses up the top across the clavicles to balance out the design at the top. Chest pieces require a lot of thought before stepping into the chair!

Rose plus pet

Lots of people get tattoos of their beloved pets so that they can remember them always. The bond we form with our pets is unbreakable and many times our relationships don't last as long! Add you pet with a flower background for added pop.

Rose and tendrils

This tattoo is beautiful both in its use of color and the added addition of the plant tendrils going along the design vertically. After all, roses don't exist in isolation, but as a part of a larger plant!

Rose and triangle

this design is unique in that the rose itself is not colored at all. Instead, we see the brilliant red that we would expect to be in the rose itself across a red triangle at the bottom. Dare to be different with your tattoo design!

Growing my garden

You might already have plantlike depicted somewhere on your body. Maybe you'd like to think about growing yourself your own tattoo garden! Here we've got an older lucky four leaf clover, added to with a large rose.

My corsage

What's prettier that a single rose? Many roses! This corsage is a very feminine design, placed on the upper ankle. Choose deep pinks instead of red to make your rose tattoo that much more feminine.

In full bloom

There is so much color going on in this tattoo! We don't often see such wildly colorful, large roses in full bloom in tattoos. It's just a reminder that roses can look very different across their lifecycle, from a tiny bud to this!

Rose in time

This sort of tattoos are very popular - you'll see some different designs all combined into one. Seemingly unrelated, if you choose carefully they will have good continuity. The shading throughout here is done very well, too.

My pup

Another example of getting your best friend inked, this is one cute dog! Chose your tattoo arrtist carefully to get a design that is as clean and detailed as this one. It might cost more, but it'll definitely be worth it in the long run!

Guns n roses

We just love this chick's ink! It looks like she adds to her tattoo collection often! The use of color, the small designs, complemented by the large guns and roses shoulder tattoo all work really well together. There's always room for one more!

All red outline

You don't just have to get all black outlines done when you tattoo. Have a look at this guy's rose tattoo - done in a thick, all red outline. It's an interesting choice and sure to catch people's eyes.

All the flowers

If you like a particular design or pattern enough, you may think about continuing it across more of your body. This girl likely started out with just a little roses and then decided to continue it across her body making for a sweet effect.

The purple rose

Knowing your coloring is a great step to do before you go and get a tattoo. Some colors will complement you better than others, so they can be good to use in your tattoo designs. This redhead looks great with the purple/green combo.

A picturebook yellow rose

This rose is evocative of many older paintings of roses. If you have something quite specific in mind for your tattoo, you can bring in the painting or picture, or look up which artist draw in the same design. Instagram and Pinterest are great sources!

Rose down the thumb

A hand tattoo with a difference! This single stem rose extends down to the thumb making it an interesting and unique designs. Hand tattoos can be quite unique due to the configuraitons you can make with your ink.

On my thigh

Thighs are a popular place for women to get larger tattoos. They're hidden so they're okay to have with any job, and yet you can have them as large as you want, unlike the nape, arms or other such areas. Flower tattoos here are very popular!

A bevvy of beauties

Incorporating interesting patterns into the background of your tattoos can really make them stand out, like this also tribal, almost spider-web like pattern dancing in the background of these flowers and dragonfly design.

Double rosed hands

Tattooing across your entire body is becoming more and more common. This means large tattoos on hands, fingers, toes and necks! Make sure that you have a good looking design and skilled artist before you get into the chair!

Rose and butterfly

What is out there, when you look out into your ideal garden? surely it's a beutiful butterfly fluttering through the flowers. Butterflies make the ideal companion to your rose tattoo, as you can see by this girl's tatt of an awesome monarch butterfly alongside her rose.

Just a cup of tea

This tattoo is an awesome design - with the cracked teacup amid the roses. However, the execution of this tattoo isn't great. Whether it's from an unstable tattooists hand or from poor aftercare, you can see the lines aren't striaght and have variable thicknesses.

Intricate rose an ruby

Unlike the previous tattoo, the design has been drawn by a master of their craft. The love heart ruby in this design is particularly eye catching, with it's awesome use of light ink to make the gem stand out and shine brightly against the patterned background.

Rose on the neck

Neck tattoos are quite a commitment! Along they are becoming more popular now, in pprevious years having a neck tattoo had you pegged as a criminal. You can tell that this guy is very passionate about tattooing and is perhaps an artist himself.

Rose and amethyst

We're fairly certain the tattooist behind the previous ruby and rose tattoo on this list is behind this other stunning amethyst and rose design that you see here. The popping gemstone element, rose, and intricate background design are all very similar - and awesome!

Sound skull

We've never seen a tattoo quite like this one before! While skulls are a mainstay of the tattoo community, we've never seen one wearing headphones before! Perhaps it's got meaning behind it to say ignore what other people say and just listen to the beats?

Lower stomach design

This is a popular spot for both males and females to get tattoos. It is considered a sexy area, because it is often where the pant line starts and also gives a great flat surface area for tattooists to work with. This particular design is quite unique, they have opted for a background of dream like rose swirls and then in the foreground a blue/purple coloured rose that is a similar shape to the lotus flower in this particular design.

Rose music hip design

There are many songs that have lyrics about the beauty of roses which is why it is not uncommon to see them worked in to tattoo designs that also involve another common passion of people, music.

Back roses

The back area is the largest canvas area we have for tattoos, so generally it is reserved for larger designs. It is not uncommon for people to get multiple roses tattooed together and often each one will represent something to that person, maybe even something such as a love in their life.

Rose sleeve tattoo

The rich dark red colour is the most traditional of roses and this colour means it works great as a tattoo. Red and black are the two most popular colours of tattoo.

Rose collar bone piece

There is no doubt that a rose tattoo is one of the most common tattoos all over the world. It is as popular among the westerners as a lotus is in the east. As a matter of fact these two beautiful flowers share a lot of meanings in the world of symbolism and body art. Throughout history, a rose has held a special place in tales, legends and parts of different cultures. The most popular and well known thing that a rose symbolizes is love. Which is why it's quite interesting that to many it will also represent a symbol of loss or rather lost love.

**Rose Tattoos On Wrist **

Seeing men and women that are covered head to toe in tattoos is more common place these days. It use to be reserved for people who were considered to have done time in prison or be associated to gangs of some kind. Now there are a lot of famous tattoo artists and a lot of classy, elegant and sexy designs out there.

Roses on the feet

Two beautiful matching roses on both left and right feet.

Rose hip tattoo

The hip area or up the side of the body is generally considered one of the sexier places for females to get tattoos. It is also easy for them to cover it up when need be.

Ladies rose arm sleeve tattoo

A beautiful and alternative style tattoo with a mixture of red and black roses. Whilst red generally indicates love, black on the other hand is usually symbolic of a lost one in someones life.

Shoulder tattoo design

This design is a rose inside a celtic style ring. It could well be the persons engagement or wedding ring and is a great way to remember that special moment in your life.

Thorn back design

Here is a look at the history of roses and the myths behind them: The role of rose in myths: It was believed by ancient Greeks that white was the original color of rose. But it turned red when the goddess of love, Aphrodite bled on a rose after been poked by a thorn. It is this blood from the goddess that made the rose red. In tattoo designs one can often see a rose portrayed along with a drop of blood oozing from it. Assuming it is from the point of view of a broken heart or from the mythological point of view, this seems rather apt, doesn’t it?

Cool belly design

Roses on your midriff area can look really cool when you wear crop tops, so that people can see the designs.

Bird shoulder design

Sparrows are also a very popular tattoo design, particularly amongst females and you will quite often see them worked in to the same tattoo as roses or flowers.

Day of the dead design

A very cool day of the dead themed piece up the side of the ribs.

Script back piece

As we look back in history we can trace the origins of the rose flower back to ancient Persia. It is believed that the first rose bush grew in Persia. It is believed that the earlier versions of this beautiful flower had a male appearance. It is only through years of transformation by the cultivation and refinement process that the rose got its lovely appearance that we all appreciate so much today. Now the rose is the epitome of femininity due to its delicate and ethereal look.

Praying hands shoulder design

Roses have strong ties to religious beliefs and traditions as well and here you can see one worked in as the background to a praying hands design.

Abstract sleeve

Since a there are a lot of people with a traditional rose tattoo, there are also an increasing amount of people that want rose tattoos but also want to show of their uniqueness and get a different design to what everyone else has.

Side of ribs rose tattoo

The rose as a flower was much sought after and people loved it, but as a tattoo design it only caught on in the 1930s and 1940s. The sailors popularized it by getting it done on their self. Mainly chosen by sailors to honor their spouses, sweethearts or any important female figure in their lives. It was also a way of honoring all the sacrifices the women had to make while their men folk were out at sea. The women would be touched that the men honoured them in such a way.

Chest design with cameras

Many people will get their passion tattooed on them such as photography. This does not mean that everyone with a rose tattoo is a passionate gardener however.

Skull and rose

One of the most common design elements with roses is skulls. They look great together and were also popularised by famous rock n roll stars who would have similar imagery and tattoos.

Rose swirls

Example of how roses do not always need to be red to look beautiful when tattooed.

Rose skeleton

The most popular meaning of a rose tattoo is about love. Tattoo designs based on this theme can show the rose in full bloom or as a bud that is about to blossom, or even as a bunch of roses. Rose tattoos can also symbolize faith when combined with things of religious significance.

Above is another common design element with the skulls that we mentioned earlier. This time however it's a full skeleton up the side of their body. It's not often you will see a skeleton of thise size tattooed on someone, but it definitely looks amazingly done.

Love no man

No matter what motif you go with the rose tattoo is going to be beautiful, colorful and best of all full of nuances and meanings that will make you smile just by looking at it.

Elbows and roses

We love black and red when it comes to tattoo designs. Other colours are not always necessary as you can see in the above example of two beautiful half sleeve designs involving roses.

Bird, roses and key

Win or lose, only I hold the key to my future.

Shaded rose design

A nice close up of a really well shaded rose that's just done in black ink.

Behind the ear

Behind the ear is a popular spot for tattoos because people can often hide it with their hair. We can't say the same however for neck tattoos which can be hard to hide and are a big commitment. It's best to save tattoos for this spot that have deep meaning with that in mind.

Another shoulder piece

Simple and beautiful. Sometimes less is more with tattoos and you only need to have a design like this to have that beautiful and alternative look that a lot of guys and girls are going for these days.

Crown and diamonds

Diamonds are another popular tattoo design and we love how detailed this one is. It looks really cool how you can see parts of the rose through the prism of the diamond.

Treble clef

A clever way of winding the musical treble clef symbol in to the rose stem. We love how well shaded the rose is with deep reds and blacks as well.

Eyes half sleeve

If you're an artist or part time drawer you will know that eyes are one of the trickiest things to draw correct. Here is an example of some incredibly life like eyes drawn on a mans arm. Creepy or beautiful? We will let you be the judges.

Leopard print back piece

Notice the love heart shaped leopard print patterns? Very cool and it's not uncommon for people to mix elements like love hearts with rose designs.

Rose chest piece

This is an example of a less traditional style of rose tattoo. It's more modern and involves a lot more colours than your traditional red, black and green rose design. None the less it looks incredibly well done and beautiful.

Hip design

Here is a great example of a darker rose tattoo. Sometimes red can be a bit too bright on people and if you want something more subtle you can always opt for darker, deeper reds and use a lot more black such as the design above. It is common for people getting tattoos in this area to get portions of the tattoo going below their pant line to create a bit of a mystique.

Animal mirror design

We're not sure whether that's meant to be a fox, dog or possible kangaroo in the mirror - maybe you can help us? Either way here is a great close up example of a tattoo style known as dot shading. It can take a long time for this method but the result is stunning.

Float like a butterfly

Here is a really great floral themed piece. They have incorporated both roses and daisies together and then topped it off nicely with some beautiful butterflies. Butterflies symbolise a change or rather growth from a previous experience in your life. Sometimes they can even symbolise the changing of a girl in to a women.

Black rose blossom

Here is an alternative take on the traditional rose tattoo. This person has opted for more of a cherry blossom style design which is a beautiful Japanese tree but they have put their own little twist on it by incorporating roses in to the tree - very cool.

Heart means everything

This is quite a traditional rose chest piece. Most people start with something very meaningful in the middle of the design and work their way out. Common elements to have in the middle are love hearts, time pieces, owls, birds, skulls and other animals. The script reads 'heart means everything' and is also a traditional tattoo script. We love how they have worked the roses up to their shoulders and its all looking symmetrical. Because of the positioning of the piece it also means that you can easily cover it up with a t-shirt.

Roses all over

Whilst traditionally people would link up all the tattoos on their arms in to more of a sleeve design, it is becoming increasingly popular to get lots of smaller designs up your arms that are not necessarily linked up by anything. This gives people the opportunity to get a lot more things that are meaningful to them rather than one big design. As you can see from the above photo the person has multiple roses and even has some red and some yellow ones, the colour options with roses are definitely limitless.

We hope you enjoyed our selection of rose tattoos and that they sparked some inspiration or ideas for your own rose tattoo design that you may be working on. The great thing about roses is that they are very versatile, can be placed pretty much anywhere on the body (even as small as the fingers) and they are universally considered beautiful so everyone that sees it will be able to appreciate it's beauty.