Wings Tattoo Meaning
Wings promise what people cannot do on their own — rise above. On the skin they speak of freedom, of protection from above, and of those who have gone.
Freedom
Wings stand for freedom, lightness and the ability to rise above circumstances. They are a common tattoo after leaving something behind — a place, a relationship, an addiction.
Angel wings and protection
Feathered angel wings carry the meaning of the guardian angel: protection, faith and the sense of being watched over. Large wings across the upper back turn the wearer into the angel.
Memorial wings
A pair of wings around a name, a date, a heart or a portrait is one of the most common memorial tattoos — the person who has died imagined as an angel.
Icarus and broken wings
In Greek myth Icarus flew too close to the sun on wings of wax and feathers and fell into the sea. Wings with melting feathers, or a falling figure, stand for ambition, daring and the price of going too far. Broken or torn wings speak of a fall, of loss of faith, or of the fallen angel.
Wings in black and grey
Each feather needs its own light and shadow, so wings are designed to the shape of the body — across the upper back, along the collarbones, on the shoulder blades or wrapping the forearm. Full back wings are one of the classic large-scale black and grey pieces.
Wings Tattoo Questions
What does a wings tattoo symbolize?
Freedom, protection and faith, and often the memory of someone who has died.
What do wings with a name mean?
A memorial — the person named, imagined as an angel.
What do broken wings mean?
A fall, loss or regret; in religious art, the fallen angel.