41 Best and Most Meaningful Mother-Daughter Tattoo Ideas
Not all moms (or daughters, for that matter) are down to get inked together, but if it sounds like something you'd both be interested in, then getting matching tattoos might be a meaningful experience for you both.
Matching tattoos are reminders of an unbreakable bond and can be a beautiful, permanent way to flaunt one of the strongest friendships there is. Matching mother-daughter tattoos can be just about any kind of design nowadays. Maybe you get your mom's handwriting inked on you and she gets your handwriting inked on her; or maybe you both get the same song lyric, line of poetry, or saying, or a design that signifies the depth of your relationship. Some popular designs include flowers, animals, and other symbols of nature.
Or maybe you and Mom are more the minimalist type. Whether you both get a simple, line-drawing tat or matching arm sleeves, matching or complementary mother-daughter tattoos will never lose their meaning—no matter what life may bring.
Related: The Best Quotes About Mothers and Daughters
Best Matching Mother-Daughter Tattoos
1. Purple Butterflies
View the original article to see embedded media.
The color purple symbolizes royalty, while butterflies can signify change and rebirth.
2. More Butterfly Tattoos
View the original article to see embedded media.
As a symbol of the soul and change, butterflies make a beautiful choice for matching tattoos with anyone for which your love is ever-evolving and eternal.
3. Roses
View the original article to see embedded media.
Historically, roses are associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love. And what deeper love is there than between parent and child?
Related: Medusa Tattoos Have Been Everywhere Lately, and Here's the Empowering Meaning Behind the Trend
4. Elephant Tattoos
View the original article to see embedded media.
Matching elephant tattoos are a great choice for a mother-daughter inking, since the elder elephant traditionally symbolizes motherhood, leadership, and wisdom and the younger elephant represents the meaning of family. Elephants are known as strong matriarchs, who teach their children necessary skills and lead the herds thanks to their amazing memories.
5. Floral Wrist Tattoos
View the original article to see embedded media.
If minimalist and dainty is your thing (and your mom's too) a tiny flower line drawing is all you need to be reminded of your mother's love. And vice versa for Mom.
6. Infinity Roses
View the original article to see embedded media.
A similar design to the rose example above, this one is specifically an infinity sign in the form of roses. Perfect for a love that lasts forever and infinity.
7. Flamingos
View the original article to see embedded media.
Flamingos may only stand on one leg, but these animals symbolize beauty, balance and grace—all things our mothers teach us.
8. Flowers
View the original article to see embedded media.
Even more flowers, this time a fun placement can be on the back of your forearm. It's a great way to really show it off to everyone.
9. 'Everything Will Be Alright'
View the original article to see embedded media.
A quote that can be a lovely reminder for you and your mom; maybe even reading it in your mom's voice when you're feeling particularly anxious can change your mindset. You know why? Because it will be alright.
10. Big Matching Bouquets
View the original article to see embedded media.
For the brave mom who isn't afraid of getting inked. Like, really inked.
Related: How to Spot the Tell-Tale Signs of a Toxic Friendship And Why You Need to Drop Toxic Friends
11. Wrist Roses
View the original article to see embedded media.
Again with more roses, but this time in such a sweet, dainty spot. One rose for mom and one smaller rose growing off the same stem for her daughter.
12. Giraffes
View the original article to see embedded media.
The giraffe is known as Africa's gentle giant, but tends to symbolize something much deeper. Known to represent grace, peace, individuality and protection, a mother-and-child giraffe duo tattoo could come to represent the protection a mother offers and the wisdom a mother teaches her young.
13. Gradient Rainbow Designs
View the original article to see embedded media.
No lines here—just a beautiful, rainbow gradient in each matching design. Great whether it's for LGBTQ+ Pride or because a rainbow is just beautiful.
14. Purple Roses
View the original article to see embedded media.
Roses are just so in with the mother-daughter-matching-tattoo crowd. Whether both you and your mother love the color purple, or it's meant to signify royalty and admiration that's often associated with lavender roses.
15. Mama Bear and Cub
View the original article to see embedded media.
You'll always be your mama's cub and she'll always have the instinct to protect you.
Related: Single Mom Quotes
16. Hidden Hearts
View the original article to see embedded media.
If your mom isn't into the whole tattoo thing, maybe getting something that's tiny and not so out in the open can change her mind. Something as simple as teeny, tiny hearts are one of the sweetest mother-daughter matching tattoo ideas.
17. Micro Mother-Daughter Elephants
View the original article to see embedded media.
These are a little more whimsical than the other elephant design. But what is cuter than a mother-daughter elephant duo? Micro elephants with flowers on their skin and hearts for tusks.
18. Half of an Image, Matching Tattoo
View the original article to see embedded media.
Whether it's two halves of a butterfly like this example or something else, you can definitely choose a mother-daughter matching tattoo that makes an image when you put your tats together. It's very cute and a great connecting piece of art.
Related: Best Gifts for Mom
19. I Love You More Sunflowers
View the original article to see embedded media.
There's no measure for love but mom will say she loves you more and daughters always will say it too.
20. A Design for You, Your Sister and Mom
View the original article to see embedded media.
You don't just have to match with mom; get your sister or other siblings in on the action and choose a design you all can sport forever. We love this idea of a rose for each daughter, but you can go with anything meaningful to you and your mother.
21. Heart With a Semicolon
View the original article to see embedded media.
The semicolon tattoo can represent the continuation—not the end—of a sentence. Or more deeply, a life. Semicolon tattoos have long been associated with solidarity or in memory of those that deal with depression, suicide, addiction or other mental health issues. Combined with a heart, this tattoo could signify a mother-daughter bond that never really ends or that honors something meaningful.
22. Sun, Stars and Moon
View the original article to see embedded media.
Because to a mother, her daughter is the sun, moon and stars, and the same can be true for the daughter for her mother as well. This tattoo shown, with each person having a different element shaded in, is a cute way to personalize a matching tattoo as well.
23. Matching Adventure Time Tattoos
View the original article to see embedded media.
For the mom and daughter who love spending time together watching Adventure Time.
24. Orange Tulips
View the original article to see embedded media.
Tulips can signify many different things—rebirth and charity, for example—and different colors even can be representative of different feelings. But most commonly, tulips are known for representing perfect, deep love. Our relationships with our mothers may not be perfect, but they are certainly deep.
25. Dragonfly Design
View the original article to see embedded media.
Having matching tattoos doesn't mean the placement has to be the same. So long as you both you know have it, it's the memory of doing it together that really counts.
26. 'I Love You' in Sign Language
View the original article to see embedded media.
This tattoo idea can work if ASL plays a special role in your relationship with your mom, or it can be just a cute non-script tattoo to remind you of your mother's love for you and vice versa.
27. Poppies With 'Mother' and 'Daughter' Stems
View the original article to see embedded media.
Weaving "mother" and "daughter" into the stems of these poppies make these matching tattoos all the more symbolic.
28. For My Girls I Risk It All...
View the original article to see embedded media.
...Because of my mom, I will not fall. 'Nuff said!
29. Flowers With Handwritten Stems
View the original article to see embedded media.
For a personalized touch, incorporating your handwriting can really make a matching tattoo special.
30. Matching or Complementary Tarot Cards
View the original article to see embedded media.
In the ancient art of reading Tarot, it's said that the sun symbolizes happiness, self-confidence, and success. All things we, if we're lucky, inherit from our mamas.
31. You Are My Sunshine Lyrics
View the original article to see embedded media.
Done by Felipe Ramos at the Rue Morgue Tattoo Gallery, these "You Are My Sunshine" lyrics are so relevant to mother-daughter relationships. After all, this is one of the first lullabies most moms sing to us when we're young.
32. She Gave Me Life, She Gave Me Purpose
View the original article to see embedded media.
Moms give us life. Children give us purpose.
33. Sun and Moon
View the original article to see embedded media.
If she's the sun, then you can be her moon.
34. Pooh and Piglet Blowing Kisses
View the original article to see embedded media.
Pooh and Piglet are perhaps one of the best friendships of all time, so if these fictional characters remind you of your childhood, such a scene might be the perfect tattoo for you and your mom.
35. Half-Heart, Half Stars
View the original article to see embedded media.
If your mother taught you to reach for the stars, chances are, you taught her that in some ways, too.
36. Sparkles and Stars
View the original article to see embedded media.
While we've already had suns and moons on this list, you can also go with a simplified celestial theme: sparkles or delicate stars.
37. World Map
View the original article to see embedded media.
Because you're your mother's whole world, and she gave you yours.
38. Holding Hands
View the original article to see embedded media.
For those moments when you really need to hold your mom's hand, but can't, these matching mother-daughter tattoos of hands holding each other can be a comforting sight to see. Even more so knowing your mom has the same exact one.
39. Dorothy's Ruby Slippers
View the original article to see embedded media.
There's no place like home... aka where your mother is. Getting Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz as your matching tattoo with your mom is such a cute pop culture reference, especially if you both used to watch the film when you were a kid.
40. Something Disney-Related
View the original article to see embedded media.
Like this mother-daughter duo, getting a mother-child paring from your favorite Disney movie or cartoon tattooed on you is so sweet. Maybe don't get something that had a bad ending for the pair, like Bambi, but Mrs. Potts and Chip from Beauty and The Beast work just fine.
41. Crystal artwork
View the original article to see embedded media.
This example is gorgeous and features a drawing of a crystal or geode with daisies and other flowers tied around it. If crystals are a thing you and your mom share an interest in, this is perfect for you. Plus, the flower variations between each person is such a great way to make it individual while also having that matching tattoo for you and your mom.
Next up, 100 of the best mom quotes.
