For both men and women today, be they Christian or non-Christian, cross tattoos are one of today’s more popular tattoo designs. They present a very powerful image and often hold immense importance for the wearer of the tattoo. There are many varieties of cross tattoo designs used so what do they all represent?

Not surprisingly, cross tattoos are primarily aligned to some religious association, with the Christian church being the most common. For many people of the Christian faith, the cross is a very significant image to them and a cross tattoo is an perfect way for such followers to display their faith. The cross symbolizes to Christians, the rebirth of Jesus Christ and so cross tattoos are to many, the equivalent of wearing a crucifix.

We can find numerous variations of the Christian cross. The simple image of two crossed lines is the most simple of these. The image of the Crucifix is very popular, the most common being Christ held to a cross of wood. We can also find many variations including the inclusion of thorns, rope and often a heart, representing the heart of Christ.

The cross of Christ is undoubtedly the most well known image of the cross, however there are many variations of images of crosses. Of all these alternatives, the Celtic cross is probably the most well known. This image is a basic Latin cross with a circle surrounding it. This very old symbol is very stunning and is often found to be worn by both Christians and non-Christians alike. Although used by the early Christians, the Celtic cross has a far older history. The promise of eternal life was represented by the circle and the elements of earth, air, water and fire by the cross.

The memorial cross tattoo is a tattoo design which has grown in popularity over time. Presented as an image of a tombstone, this tattoo is used as a pictorial memory of a lost love. To people who are grieving their loss the memorial cross offers a statement in honor of their memory.

Finally, we have the Gothic cross as very popular form of tattoos of crosses. Recently, with many young people following the Goth movement, this design has gained in popularity. Although not necessarily representing any religious connections, this cross holds notable significance with this movement. The origins of the design are German and are drawn with variations of knives, barbed wire and blood.

It is clear that there are many varieties of the cross tattoo, a basic design that has been popular for years. It is without doubt that these tattoo designs will remain popular for years to come, primarily due to the dramatic statement they portray. As a work of body art or as a representation of faith or belief,  tattoos of crosses remain highly requested images in tattoo art today.