12 Meaningful Tribal Tattoos for Men

There are so many types of tribal tattoos that it can be hard to decide on one. From being aesthetically pleasing to sharing stories of heritage, you want to be sure that the tattoo expresses who you are. We’ve hand-picked some of the best tribal tattoos for men to take the stress off your shoulders and put an awesome tattoo on them.

1. Filipino Tribal Tattoos

Tattoos have been an essential part of the Filipino community for over 500 years. Historically known to protect you from enemies, this kind of tattoo is more than just aesthetically pleasing. With simplistic designs that compliment the body and linear strokes that flow around the designated area, this is a design that is a lot more approachable and unique than some other forms of tribal tattoos.

2. African Tribal Tattoos

Africa is known as the home of storytelling, so when it comes to their tribal tattoos, there is more than meets the eye. With hidden meanings of bravery and courageousness, these pieces represent the strength of whoever is wearing it. Although a lot of these tattoos do tell a story, history shows that many tribes had these purely for aesthetic purposes. The African Tribal style tends to be heavier on the shading and more of a statement piece than others.

3. Hawaiian Tribal Tattoos

Hawaiin tattoos are often seen as a softer approach to the tribal tattoo game. Seeing as the ocean heavily influences their culture, it’s only natural that their tattoos compliment that. With reoccurring imagery of water animals, this style of tattoos is ideal for the kind of guy who loves to hang out around water and the outdoors.

4. Polynesian Tribal Tattoo

With over 1000 islands in Polynesia, a lot of their tribal tattoos have allowed a little bit of creative freedom with what you decide to get. Traditionally being heavy on black ink with a mixture of negative space makes this tattoo pleasing to the eye.  Placement is important and has significant meaning in the Polynesian culture, so before getting one, be sure to research the area.

5. Indian Tribal Tattoos

Similar to Africa, Indian tribal tattoos were used for aesthetic purposes and were considered a more impressive alternative to jewellery and accessories. Traditional simplistic designs that range from a collection of straight lines to Indian gods symbolised power and strength. This allows more freedom for your creative input, which is great for larger pieces!

6. Native American Tribal Tattoos

When it comes to Native American tribal tattoos, you will often see a lot of animals. Wolves mixed in with totem poles are two awesome symbols of virtue that are seen a lot with this style. Within the Native American culture, there’s a theme of dreamcatchers which also looks great in any tattoo. Dreamcatchers and totem poles both look cool and symbolise warding off evil spirits and protection.

7. Samoan Tribal Tattoo

Although Samoa does fall under the Polynesian category, it does have its own unique flair. Samoan tribal tattoos have many sentimental meanings, but it depends on the person getting the piece. Each symbol can have multiple meanings which assures that your tattoo is one of a kind. These tattoos are often a collection of basic strokes to make one seriously cool artwork.

8. Cherokee Tribal Tattoos

Cherokee tribal tattoos are similar to Native American tattoos due to the connection to heritage. The meaning behind many Cherokee tattoos is often family based. Rooting from traditional tribal identification, this is a risky one to get on a whim. However, these pieces are more colourful and fun than other tribal designs, so they are worth looking into.

9. Celtic Tribal Tattoos

When people think Celtic tribal tattoos, they tend to think of the flash sheet at tattoo parlours. These designs are some of the most popular tattoos around, and from that, they have made mastered the art. With simplistic air-like swirls that fit into any part of your body, this is a great entry level tribal tattoo.

10. Mexican Tribal Tattoos

Mexico is known for its fantastic art scene and quirky take on life, and this translates to their tattoos. From Aztec styles to Sugar skulls, it’s easy to pick and choose when it comes to Mexican tribal tattoos. Getting inspiration from their impressive architecture is also a great way to make your piece unique. The creativeness that this culture encourages makes the style a lot less intimidating than other tribal tattoos.

11. Vikings Tribal Tattoo

Seeing some of us have roots that stem from Vikings, getting a symbol that represents that is a no-brainer. Viking tattoos are a less popular style, so it’s unlikely you’re going to meet someone with the same tattoo as you. With their alphabet characters rarely being seen in modern tattoos, it’s guaranteed that your design will be unique.

12. Irish Tribal Tattoo

Irish and Celtic tribal tattoos are often very similar design-wise, but it largely varies depending on the area. The designs are heavier in shading and usually cover a larger area of the body. Irish tattoos are quirky and always look very traditional; it’s the kind of tattoo that won’t go out of style.