Did you ever want to be a mermaid as a child? A plunge in the ocean with friends let me envisage what life might be like if I had a tail instead of feet. While you can’t precisely make that magical siren dream come true in the way your childhood self would like, there is a fun, more mature option. Enter mermaid tattoos. After all, getting permanent ink is a fantastic way to express yourself and be unique.

Traditional mermaid tattoos date from the early 1900s. They had been a popular emblem among sailors and the sailing community, representing belonging. Mermaid tattoos represent independence, magic, freedom, the water, and sexuality. The vibrant siren pattern has a lot of meaning, and you can include a particular message with your own tattoo. There are plenty of mermaid tattoo designs on Instagram to inspire you, ranging from basic, fine-line patterns to bold, realistic tattoos.

They also vary in size, ranging from modest to large-scale works of art. It may be a lot of fun to locate the perfect motif to complement your taste.

Fuel your obsession and make your love of mermaids permanent with a new tattoo. Whether you want the ultimate Little Mermaid tattoo or a basic mermaid design, we’ve compiled a list of 31 of the best possibilities to help you get started.