Elephant Tattoo Meaning - What Do Elephant Tattoos Symbolize?

Elephant tattoo meaning is inextricably linked with wisdom and memory, and the importance and protection of family.

Elephant symbolism can also reference Africa, but also has significant ties to tattoo mandala expressions of the Hindu religion and other Eastern philosophies.

Whether it’s a large-sized realistic depiction of a massive gray elephant, or a colorful elephant more cartoonish in nature, there are many interpretations your elephant meaning can take in symbolism, style, placement, and application technique.

Read on to examine the meanings tattoo lovers ascribe to the elephant and find inspiration for crafting the perfect elephant tattoo design.

1. What Does an Elephant Tattoo Symbolize?

Elephants are often used to represent wisdom in tattoo design. Their vaunted memory and long lifespan feed into this ideal, and their natural look means realistic tattoos are often used to illustrate this.

If you want to establish a gargantuan presence with just a little ink, then it may be the day for you to receive an elephant tattoo.

There are a variety of welcomed variations attached to this distinguished mammal.

2. Elephant Meaning Within Family Tattoos

The gigantic size of the elephant, and their relationship as a herd – you often see elephants “holding hands” and the mother elephant protecting the calves when under threat – also represent strength, family and loyalty.

An Elephant family tattoo is a popular design choice due to their protective instincts when the herd is threatened, or the timeless images of them traveling trunk to tail in family groups across the wilderness.

This sense of family in elephant tattoo ideas can be demonstrated in a variety of different ways, from realistic elephant family tattoos right through to tribal elephant tattoos or a cute baby elephant cartoon piece.

3. Elephant and Africa Symbolism

A mother elephant with its calf beneath a golden sunset, or the male elephant totem as part of a large savannah piece etched within the continent’s borders are just a few tattoo designs relating to Africa.

Africa means many things to many people, and as the cradle of humanity, it has inspired a richness of cultural reverence that continues to find its way into beautiful and powerful tattoo art.

The continent has drawn individuals from near and far for hundreds of years, looking to savor the breathtaking landscape, wildlife, and history.

4. Hindu God Ganesha

Lord Ganesha is recognizable by his elephant head and human body. He is the Hindu Lord of Good Fortune who provides fortune, success, and prosperity.

While Ganesha can be unique, the typical Ganesha tattoo is filled with powerful symbols. Ganesha has a big head and big ears to remind us to think big and listen to others, but he also has a small mouth to remind us to talk less. Ganesha has only one tusk which symbolizes keeping the good and not being afraid to get rid of the bad.

Ganesha is also the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles of both the material and spiritual kind.

Lord Ganesha holds a piece of rope in one hoof that is to be used to pull you toward all your dreams and goals. In the other hand, he holds an ax, which reminds us that it’s okay to cut off the people and things in our lives that are keeping us from reaching our dreams.

5. Elephant Mandala Tattoo Designs

For those with an interest in Hinduism and other Eastern philosophies, combing a mandala tattoo within the shape of Asian elephants can make an excellent tattoo idea.

Mandala means circle in Sanskrit and symbolizes balance, eternity, unity, and perfection. The mandala is a key motif in Hindu and Buddhist religions, with it commonly representing the universe, and can also be described as “the center of surroundings” or “sacred circle.”

Mandala Elephant tattoo patterns and pictures start at a central point then radiate outward in a circle, with a variety of other images or patterns making up the whole, most often within the shape of the spirit animal.

A mandala elephant is often made with very intricate, detailed sets of linework images when drawn together.

They make for an aesthetically pleasing and symbolically meaningful elephant design that many people respond to on a deeper level.

6. Small Elephant Tattoo

Considering the mammoth proportion of the elephant, there is some surprise in the fact it makes for a popular small tattoo design choice.

Their naturally vast and wrinkled look means realistic tattoos are often used to illustrate wisdom.

This sentiment can be incorporated into a variety of different types of small elephant tattoo designs, where application style and degree of detail trump size as factors in how the ink is depicted.

Outside of this, a very simple tiny elephant tattoo or tribal tattoo in black ink can also be depicted to suit individuals looking for basic but personally meaningful designs.

7. Salvador Dali Elephant Body Art

Surreal art legend Salvador Dali’s artwork in “The Elephants” won renown as paintings which symbolize great strength, will, authority, and desire.

A Dali elephant tat or artwork on its own is a symbol of luck, strength, and dominance.

However, in Dali’s depiction, the elephants do not have the thick, powerful trunk-like legs that are true to as we know them in nature. The legs are long and lanky.

The meaning behind this is thought to be that the elephants are so strong and powerful that they can transform themselves and tower over others. Their will gives them the desire to be tall and strong, not just the physical characteristics.

8. Geometric Elephant Tattoo Art

A wild animal such as the African elephant can be the basis for truly arresting geometric body art.

The variety of concepts that can be utilized in a geometric elephant tattoo is limited only by the creativity of the individual and the talent of the artist bringing this popular spirit animal to life.

From fine line work reminiscent of schematics and wiring diagrams, to out of this world cosmic scenes, geometry can be utilized to enhance almost any animal tattoo, with the stately and wise elephant being just one example.

9. Realistic Elephant Tattoo Art

The beautiful and commanding African elephant provides a whole host of opportunities for both wearer and tattoo artist to show detail and complexity in tattoo design, whether it’s the wrinkled skin, trunk, or ageless eyes.

Realism (or photorealism style) tattoos are designs meant to look as convincing as a photographed image, and are popular when inked in black and gray, or color.

The wise elephant head or tattoos of the entire mighty creature are two of the most popular designs utilized in realistic tattoo designs, with the potential to draw every eye when displayed in a way that everyone can appreciate.

10. Elephant Watercolor Tattoo

One design trend that continues to gain fans in the tattoo world uses bright colors and a loose application approach to create images reminiscent of watercolor paintings.

A watercolor elephant tattoo takes a slightly different approach to this colorful style.

A tattoo artist may add color to more realistic black and gray elephant pieces, while others might take a more abstract design approach to craft a more geometric elephant tattoo, or make a cool cartoon elephant tattoo.

If done with care and professionalism a watercolor elephant tattoo demonstrates just how appealing an artistic and creative design can be.

11. Cute and Cartoon Elephant Body Art

A cute baby elephant tattoo can be used to depict friendship or family, or be a simple yet small design looking to make a purely aesthetic impact.

Cute and cartoon elephant tattoo designs are particularly popular with neo-contemporary tattoo lovers and female ink collectors, whose tendency is to focus on creative artistry and positive feelings rather than photo realistic depictions and powerful symbolism.

12. Single Needle Elephant Tattoo

The elephant is a popular design choice in single needle work. A skilled tattoo artist can fill a gray elephant with lifelike detail in tattoos much smaller than most comparable ideas.

Single needle tattoos are characterized by the high levels of detail that can be achieved in comparatively small designs.

Modern single needle and fine line tattoo use an approach reminiscent of a technical drawing pencil, with smooth shading and hyper-realistic detail amongst the usual bold lines of outline.