Romeo Rodriguez is a tattoo enthusiast and blogger. His website, Tattoo Lettering can be found at www.tattooletteringblog.com/
Contrary to the time when it used to be exclusively connected with hoodlums, prisoners, and the mafia, tattoo art is all the rage these days. Tattoo enthusiasts can be practically anyone — hardcore bikers, musicians, athletes, celebrities, and even the everyday folk you pass by on the street. Highly popular in any part of the globe and with all age groups, tattoos are one of the top search items on the Internet today. According to a 2006 survey, 36 percent of people from 18 to 25 years old and 40 percent of those ranging from 26 to 40 years old have at least one tattoo.

Perhaps the main reason why tattoos are so in demand today is because people feel the need to better distinguish themselves among the ballooning six billion population of the world. Tattoos are artistic manifestations of our identity. Inked on skin, they allow others to see how we perceive ourselves and what we value in our lives without having to explain at all. Consequently, looking for the right tattoo design all boils down to the meaning and symbolism it offers to the holder. All things considered, isn’t it interesting to find out how tattoo bearers view themselves and what tattoo designs and symbolisms that appeal the most to them?

The following are the most sought after tattoo designs of all time and their brief general meanings:

Birds: Eagles are the most popular tattoo designs, symbolizing patriotism, might, and freedom. Hummingbirds and doves are also in demand, standing for love charm and peace, respectively.

Dragons: Arguably the most popular mythical figures of all time, dragon tattoos are general statements of strength and power. However, their specialized meanings will differ depending on whether you choose an Eastern or Western dragon design.

Skulls: Skulls have long been a symbol of pirates and stood for rebellion. Though mostly perceived as bad omens and symbols of death, skulls also represent change.

Hearts: They usually stand for togetherness and love, but their meanings vary depending on representation and the sentiments of the bearer.

Butterflies: These winged insects are sought after by mostly women. Fragile and beautiful, butterflies are symbols of freedom and rebirth.

Tribal Symbols: They actually mean something. But just as with Asian symbols, exactly what they mean can be a bit tricky. Traditional and primitive, these forms come from all sorts of different tribes and it’s hard to tell just by looking at them. These obscure but striking looks are not recommended for those who may become annoyed by constant questions about the meaning behind the body art.

Asian symbols: Chinese and Japanese characters are massive favorites among American tattoo buffs. However, translation can be more than a little difficult at times, so you have to extra careful.

Flowers: Singled out by women, flower tattoos symbolize different things, depending on the flower used. Roses stand for love; daisies denote innocence; buttercups represent riches, while sunflowers symbolize enchantment.

Religious Symbols: Though some think it’s blasphemous, tattoo art used to be part of religious ceremonies in certain ancient cultures. That’s why it comes as no surprise that religious symbols are second on the list.

Words: They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but tattoo lettering is still the most popularly-requested design around the world. Names of loved ones, significant phrases of meaningful quotes as tattoo designs are also a big trend.

For more shoulder tattoo ideas and designs, please visit: Tattoo Ideas!
Prior to fifteen years ago, shoulder tattoos for women weren’t very popular. Back then if a woman got a tattoo it was usually on the ankle, near the belly button, or on her wrist. The options for today’s woman are more open than they were twenty years ago. Women are now getting tattoos in places they would have never dreamed of before, like on the back of their neck, lower back, or even their shoulders.

Shoulder tattoos are getting more and more popular with today’s women. There are a wide variety of sexy tattoo designs for women to get on that especially beautiful part of the body these days, and shoulder tattoos are very diverse. A shoulder tattoo can be in different areas of the shoulder and there are a wide variety of shoulder tattoo designs that can work for any woman.

There are two areas on the shoulder a tattoo can be and still be classified as a shoulder tattoo: on the back of the shoulder on or near the shoulder blade, and on the upper arm part of the shoulder. Getting a tattoo on either part of the shoulder looks good, and they are both easily hidden in instances where having a tattoo is not appropriate.

Men have traditionally had more aggressive tattoo designs on the shoulder area. Skulls, tigers, and drags are popular tattoo designs for men’s shoulders and upper arms. However, women’s shoulder tattoo designs are much less aggressive and more feminine and sexy. Shooting stars, dolphins, tribal designs, and zodiac symbols are all very popular tattoo designs for a woman’s shoulder. They all project a different image, depending on the woman. For example, a Dolphin design give a sense of playfulness and beauty, while a woman with her zodiac on display shows that she is proud of who she is. Choosing which shoulder tattoo design is right yields a lot of choices.

Getting a shoulder tattoo is a little more bold than having one on the ankle or somewhere else. A shoulder tattoo, even if it’s very cute, shows that the woman with it has confidence in herself. With men it’s all about looking macho, but a woman having one is empowering and shows that she is not afraid to be herself, even if it’s a little out of the norm. Even when the shoulder tattoo is covered up, whether for work or a social gathering, it is still on her body and the confidence having a shoulder tattoo is still reflected in how she acts. When the shoulder tattoo design is on display, it looks beautiful. The shoulder looks beautiful on its own, but a beautiful and well-placed ink can make it look that much better.