Nobility, innocence, faith, resilience, hope – a fleur de lis tattoo encompasses it all. It is a symbol with a deep and rich history that dates back to ancient times. Over the years, it has been embraced by different walks of life, sometimes appearing on coats of arms, official flags, architectural installations, fabric prints and many other places for different purposes. This makes it a dynamic symbol that can be stylized in multiple ways for an iconic piece of body art. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own fleur de lis tattoo design, we’re here to spark your creativity with some unique and clever ideas. Keep scrolling to check them out!
Meaning of a Fleur De Lis Tattoo
Although the exact roots of the fleur de lis have not been determined, examples of it appear in archaeological sites in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. It was especially adopted by the French. The shape of the fleur de lis was inspired by a lily flower, which represents the concept of purity or immaculate innocence in Christianity. Due to its three-petaled shape, it is also associated with the concept of the Holy Trinity. Because of this, other religious practices have also embraced it as a symbol of faith, light, chastity, optimism, and rebirth. When this religious symbol was presented to royals during oaths and other important ceremonies, it evolved into a representation of royalty, nobility, and authority. It appeared on royal flags, plaques, coats of arms, etc., and the knights who wore them associated it with honor, wisdom, duty, chivalry, and other such morals.
There are many ways to present this symbol creatively and give it a personal touch. In the following section we offer some useful and touching ideas. Check them out!
8 Best Fleur De Lis Tattoo Designs
The multidimensional fleur de lis symbol can be illustrated in a variety of ways to represent your beliefs and ideals. The following designs can help you get an idea of how to incorporate it into a tattoo.
1. Minimalist Fleur De Lis Tattoo
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
This simple icon-style fleur de lis symbol is shaded in solid blackwork. The iconic lily shape is visible through the sharp contours of the shape that are executed to perfection. You can choose an outline or micro stamp sized fleur de lis for captivating minimal tattoos.
2. Girly Fleur De Lis Tattoo
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What is girly is subjective. However, you can use certain stereotypes or popular trends to design a girly fleur de lis tattoo, such as experimenting with soft colors and elegant lines. The tattoo above shows a fleur de lis illustrated in a stylized baroque-inspired floral motif. The three lily petals are exaggerated in multiples, in various stages of unfolding to create a stunning pattern of blooms that is hard to look away from.
3. Fleur De Lis Flower Tattoo
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
Although a fleur de lis itself is a stylized flower, you can add a touch of freshness by adding some full petals of flowers of your choice. This traditional tattoo features a blank fleur de lis with gold highlights against a navy blue ornate background, flanked by a fiery orange-red flower with warm green leaves on either side. The color palette is vibrant, evoking warmth and uplifting the spirit.
4. Sportsman Fleur De Lis Tattoo
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team
A sportsman fleur de lis emblem can be customized with icons and shapes representing different sports. If you’d rather not mess with the look of the emblem, take cues from the design above with the fleur de lis as a central piece at the top and several balls inked underneath.
5. Fleur De Lis Finger Tattoo
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The classic fleur de lis symbol can be tattooed in a micro form to fit easily on a finger without detracting from its defining features. A finger tattoo makes a bold statement because it is done in a highly visible place, making it one of the first things people notice about you.
6. Fleur De Lis wrist tattoo
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An elegant rendition of the fleur de lis symbol can be placed on the wrist. This placement has thin, delicate skin that is more suitable for graceful tattoo strokes. The above tattoo shows a brocade-style fleur de lis adorning the inside of the wrist and serves as a charming little decoration of the hand.
7. Fleur De Lis Cross Tattoo
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team
You can express your faith in the Christian religion by getting a fleur de lis tattoo in the shape of a cross. This tattoo features an artistically shaded fleur de lis with a line running vertically through the tattoo, which is extended at the bottom into a minimal cross to give it a religious touch.
8. New Orleans Fleur De Lis Tattoo
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
The fleur de lis has a rich history of association with French royalty. That’s why New Orleans, a city founded by French colonialists, has the fleur de lis in its flag. In times of trouble, the golden fleur de lis has also become a symbol of the city’s optimistic worldview and resilience to rebuild itself, such as in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. That’s why many people choose to have this golden symbol tattooed on their arm.
A fleur de lis tattoo can mean more than just a cool design to the wearer, depending on their personal interests and beliefs. While it is a fairly simple symbol inspired by the physical characteristics of the iris flower, it can be adapted to tell a deeper story. It can also be combined with other elements such as classic art-inspired patterns, floral motifs, or even sports gear to enhance the symbolism. You can also explore the idea of adding meaningful text in a beautiful font to add to the glam factor or layers of meaning attached to your tattoo.
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Eve Phillips is an experienced artist in a variety of tattoo styles, although she specializes in fine detail and floral tattoos. She has owned studios in both Australia and the UK for 20 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of tattoo art, health, licensing, trends, current issues and history.
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Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience writing across various niches including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has been honing her craft ever since.
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Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Previously, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 top-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
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Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience in creating short-form content for the beauty, fashion and lifestyle niches. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science and Geography from IIS University and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College.
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