Tattoos of your loved ones names?

[Kandy-Sugar]

So Steve and I are getting each others names tattooed on us soon.

We've talked about how some people reckon it's bad luck and such, but I don't believe in bad luck.

We all control our own actions and if something happens between us, it can't be blamed on a bit of ink in our skin.

I understand that if we do break up that it'd be a reminder but really, to us it represents the awesome time we spent together. Even if the break up is awful, I could never say that the last four years haven't been anything short of fantastic!

And if it gets too unbearable (due to whatever happened in the end) you can always get them covered up.

So what are your opinions in regards to getting a loved ones name tattooed on your body?

I know of some people who go out and get their nephews and nieces names tattooed on their skin just to look cool and look like the name means something to them, even though they never see their nephew or niece and can't be assed to either. 0_o

I think that's totally misguided in my opinion. Tattoos like that should be reserved for people you actually know and care about. I find it hard for people to say that they care about someone they don't even know. =/ But that's just my opinion.

It's like 'Yes. You have a name tatooed on your skin. Does it even mean anything to you? Or did you just do it to get a tattoo?'

But anyway, your thoughts and opinions please!

Good or bad and reasons why! =D

 

[Channizard]

I know of some people who go out and get their nephews and nieces names tattooed on their skin just to look cool and look like the name means something to them, even though they never see their nephew or niece and can't be assed to either. 0_o

It's like 'Yes. You have a name tatooed on your skin. Does it even mean anything to you? Or did you just do it to get a tattoo?'

I actually think that can be said for all tattoos, not just names. Tattoos to me should mean something to you.. you're altering your body to put this thing there. So when people just put on a butterfly or a daisy, it's like "No.. you don't look artistic, it doesn't mean anything to you.. you look like a tool."

That said, names are another thing. Passed on family members or pets, sure that means alot. I was thinking of getting a pawprint of my cat on my back or something since I've had her my whole life since I was 4. My mum has an angel and the russian name of her passed on sister. My dad got a funky design, and then the initials of me and my sisters, and then a ladybug and a bee to symbolize my older sisters kids... what hes gonna do when me and my other sister has kids.. >.>

Names of your significant other I don't think are a bad thing as long as you've been together a significant amount of time. 2-3 years ish minimum, because around then depending on the trails and tribulations, you could still be subjected to break up. After a point, you know you're going to be together forever. So either way, go for it. You two clearly discussed it, the positive and negatives. :3

 

[Big Casino]

i definately wouldnt have it done. Not only for the fact that if you break up with the person your gunna be stuck with their name on you unless you get it removed. Sure you might love the person at the time but if things end badly, you might not ever wanna see them again and your gunna regret the tatoo big time. The main reason i would never get it done is that i think its a bit tacky, its just not my thing at all to be honest.
But if its something you want then by all means go for it, its your body and your decision. Everyone has differnt tastes.

 

[L]

I've always been put off by the idea. As the expression goes, "shit happens"... Don't want her name on my body when she goes and does something stupid and we split our separate ways.

Just thinking about it reminds me of the chest tattoo from Fable III's bandit tattoo set. Guy has a girl's name written in a heart, but it's crossed out, followed by two other crossed out names. Heheh... Not for me

But have fun Kandy, and hopefully it's not something that's done in vain. i mean its not like im saying dont do it because your relationship will definitely flop at some point or another because that would be very pretentiously anal (thats what she said) and im not very anal, and you probably know what you are doing, but it's just how I feel about it personally.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

I actually think that can be said for all tattoos, not just names. Tattoos to me should mean something to you.. you're altering your body to put this thing there. So when people just put on a butterfly or a daisy, it's like "No.. you don't look artistic, it doesn't mean anything to you.. you look like a tool."

This is true. A lot of people get tattoos on whim.

They just go into the store and pick the first thing they see I reckon. =/

I love seeing different and unique tattoos which look like the person has put a lot of thought into it.

Plain flowers, hearts, etc are a tad boring and obviously have no meaning behind them. Well the majority do. There are the odd ones who really do love those things. >.<

---

Well Steve was a bit iffy about it at the start and I told him the reason behind why I was getting mine done.

He's been the best thing to ever happen in my life and the only guy I could ever class as an actual boyfriend. I just know that if we did go our seperate ways I wouldn't want to forget those years of being together. I couldn't ever say that those years were a waste or anything because they weren't. It would be the highlight of my life if anything and I'd want to remember him even if things did end.

But this is far from the case. We've been together a long time and have a lot of people say that we still act like a brand new couple. So I know we'll be together for a very long time.

But anyway, Steve was a bit iffy and after telling him why I was getting it done he agreed with me that it was something he wanted to do too. I didn't push him into it. I told him not to go and get it done just because I was getting it done. It's his body and he can do what he wants with it, but he's now set on getting it done as well which I'm rather happy about. XD

 

[Ewan]

I don't like tattoos in general so I would never get it done. I might change my mind if I ever got into a serious relationship but in the back of mind I would always be thinking... this may not last. If we broke up, even if it was a good break up, I wouldn't want an ex's name on me.

 

[coffeecup]

Sounds a bit cliche to be honest. Why don't you two choose a specific symbol or design that represents your relationship, then put that tattoo on each other rather than your guys' names? It's probably just me, but names and words aren't really worth being put on your body. The only exception would probably be if you're in some organization like a certain division in the marine corps or you're part of some hardcore gang...but your lovers' name? Meh...not really that interesting at all.

But it's all about perception I guess. I'm sure you and your bf will find it really special and interesting, but I doubt others will see it in the same light. But it's your decision, so find a good recommended artist and hope it works for you.

 

[Pandora]

As much as I'm all for tattoos and would love to be a tattoo artist when I grow up, I'd say that tattoos of a lover's name is probably the worst idea you can have, unless it's like a name of a family member you cherish a lot. There was a guy that my mom dated a long time ago, and he got her name tattooed on his chest. It was a cute piece of work, but she broke up with him after 2 months. Yeah, I thought with only that much time spent together, it was too early of a decision to have that done. There are some people I know that have ex's names tattooed on them and don't really care or do anything about them when they break up like someone. Like Kat Von D - according to her autobiography, she has over 12 of her ex's names tattooed on her still, and they don't bother her. But yeah, even if you're married to a person, I don't think getting a tattoo of your partner's name is a good idea. Considering how high the divorce rate is in the United States (around 60%), there's no guarantee that you'll be together forever as much as you may want to. So if you absolutely want a person's name tattooed on you, I would only go for names of relatives - like the ones that may have had the most influence on you during your lifetime.
​

 

[Bambi]

I'd never get anyones name on me. Ever. Not Ellies, a family member or any significant other.. certainly not a significant other, nothing is forever and there's nowt worse than someone having a tattoo of an exes name

I don't particularily like the look of names on folk either, just not my cup of tea

 

[Dr. Percival Cox]

I don't think I'd get a name tattooed. Maybe a design, but that's only a maybe. As it was said by the people before me, it's a little outrageous to do so. Relationships, especially ones between people in their late teens to early twenties are just not worth the money and ink. I know it's a little skeptic but I don't think that any relationship that starts at a young age is going to last forever (though there are rare cases) and getting their "brand" on your skin is going to just mess the average person up. I was considering getting my dead brother's initials on my left wrist and putting my initials on my right, but I think that'd be a little hard to explain to people.

And for an off topic question that no one has to answer: What's up with anorexic guys getting tattoos all over their body? It just looks kinda gross.

 

[Linnaete]

I'm not eager at all when it comes to tattoos in general. I'm highly dubious towards the thought of having one on my body and I'll certainly be exceptionally cautious at the thought of printing my boyfriend's name on me, particularly because there's the likely chance that the relationship (which is incidentally still in the earlier stages) as there is still that likely chance it may reach a dead end and a split. Depending on the manner of this split - and if it's bad (which wouldn't be the first time it would happen to me) - then there's nothing worse than the sight of that person's name etched on me.

Go for it, Kandy. You've pretty much made up your mind about this already and it's good to see that Steve has decided for himself that he doesn't mind it. As you've said, you've been together with him for quite a while now. You understand each other well, you two have always got along. I hope the procedure goes well. :3

 

[Shu]

Well I gotta stand on the other side Kandy on this one. I believe putting someone's name on your body is a brand. I don't see it as anything beyond it even. I love my wife, hell I live for her, but I would never, ever put her name on my body.

My skin is who I stand for, so if I have to tattoo anything on me resembling her it would be a symbol rather. Names mean nothing to me anyway. To be honest the first tattoo I received, resembled 2 people in my mind who taught me much, and both I dated, though through situational means, it was best for us to all live separately with our love lives. It's a spiritual symbol, a nisan cross with a red diamond. It means 8 things. For each point on symbol in the middle of it. The red diamond means one thing. In the actual cross, is rather a faith. I won't name them, because I'm turning this into me, rather than the OP's thread.

Bottom line is, a name will not ever enter the skin of my body. I rely way to much in symbols to reflect who people are.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Symbols, names are all the same though in the end. =/

Really they lead back to that person you're getting the tattoo related too because someone is going to ask you either way what the tattoo is about.

Symbol: What's that tattoo mean?
Name: Who is that?

Either way you're going to explain what it's about and I just prefer to be a lot more upfront about it. =)

A few years ago (even when I was with Steve) I would have said, 'Hell no'. like most of you in here are saying, and then I started to think about it a tad more.

For a while I did sway to just getting some sort of symbol in relation to Steve and my relationship but then just thought, why be so discreet about it? I'll just get his name. He's the one who the tattoo will be about so I'll just get his name on me instead.

I totally understand where most of you are coming from though. ALOT of people I've met really regret getting a name of their partner tattooed on them because in most cases they've broken up. >.<

But to each their own. I guess I'm just in that very small percentage who chooses to be different in that way. =)

 

[Rydia]

Problem with tatoos, as you start to age, and your skin wrinkles or stretches, they don't look as good as they once did. My friends dad said that his wife got a butterfly tatooed on her hip when she was 20 and over time it has evolved into a pterdoctal.

I don't know if you want to keep getting maintenance to it so Steve doesn't look like a squiggle in 20-30 years.

But I've never been a fan of name tatoos. They just seem too much like "HE'S MY BOYFRIEND!"

But my best advice, if you do get it, get it in a place that can be covered up by clothing incase you want to get a job where tatoos can not be seen.

 

[Dionysos]

I personally wouldn’t have it done myself, as I don’t like the concept of getting a tattoo on myself in general. I don’t see a problem with other people doing it if they really choose to, and have thought seriously about it.

Further reasons why I wouldn’t have it done myself include if my partner (in the future / an alternate reality where I actually have one) decided to leave me, or if she died then I’d be heartbroken every time I look at the tattoo. It could always turn into a tattoo dedicated to her memory, but since that wouldn’t have been the reason for the tattoo it could just be far too sad. That said, I am one to cling to memories dearly, so I guess a tattoo naming my love would just be another way for me to cling. If I then rebuild my life and find a new partner then it could create embarrassing situations there. I wouldn’t want to ‘delete’ the name and replace it, but it would be odd to have my skin marked with the name of one person, but to be involved with someone else.

I also wouldn’t personally get the name of a family member or friend tattooed on me. It would be a bit odd and strange to pick a single member of my family. I’d feel guilty for only choosing one person, and I’d feel obliged to then tattoo the names of everyone in my family. I don’t want to become a human family tree list.

Some people get it done, and that’s fine for them if it is their choice. It can be quite cool when couples decide to do that for one another, and it could strengthen the bond a bit perhaps. But the possibility of tragedy would deter me from having a tattoo of anyone’s name on me, and that is only if I was even one for tattoos. It wouldn’t so much be because I believe that tattoos of loved ones are cursed. For me it would be for if / when bad things happen to this person, or if the relationship ended for other sad and unfortunate reasons. I’d not want to just erase the tattoo as if the person never meant anything, but it could cause me pain seeing it still on there.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Problem with tatoos, as you start to age, and your skin wrinkles or stretches, they don't look as good as they once did. My friends dad said that his wife got a butterfly tatooed on her hip when she was 20 and over time it has evolved into a pterdoctal.

I don't know if you want to keep getting maintenance to it so Steve doesn't look like a squiggle in 20-30 years.

But I've never been a fan of name tatoos. They just seem too much like "HE'S MY BOYFRIEND!"

But my best advice, if you do get it, get it in a place that can be covered up by clothing incase you want to get a job where tatoos can not be seen.

The places where I've got mine are the least likely place to get too wrinkly and they can't be seen unless I show people as well.

I already think about when I get older that they may not look as good, which is why I've got them in places that won't be seen when I do get older. I'll look respectable when I get to that age. =P

I already have a job and I've always been in jobs where I'm not allowed piercings and tattoos visible, so that's another reason I don't want them out in the open.

And I'm not one of those people who gets tattoos of her boyfriends names just because they're my boyfriend. If that was the case I'd have few names on me by now. It's only Steve I've considered. =)

It's for me, not anyone else. I wouldn't care if anyone else ever saw it. I'm not going to go around shoving it in people's faces for them to see like a loser. XD

Some people here at home recommend getting my parents and siblings names tattooed. 0_o

Um, I'm not looking to just get names tattooed on me for the sake of it!

Having any of my family's names tattooed on me would NEVER happen. They're really not that worth it. =/ Regardless if they're blood or not.

Unfortunately you can't pick your family. You can however pick your partner! In most countries.

 

[Shu]

See and it's very hard to put it in a way folks understand, because if their heart is in it, well they are going to get the tattoo anyway. The only time I find it acceptable to get a tattoo is of a passed away loved one.

So the difference between name and symbol you ask.. Well a symbol often times means quite a bit more than just your bond between each other. Even if things don't work out between you and (fill in name here) later down the line, you can still remember him by a deeper aspect.

A name to me is actually more ballsy than a ring on someone's finger. That's basically saying they own you to me. I don't want to think a relationship/marriage is about proprietorship, it should be more about sharing oneself and running your lives as a single entity. Two parts that make a well-oiled, efficient, complete, single entity.

A symbol on another hand can mean quite a bit deeper, and you won't get so many questions asked, and if you do, you don't have to explain it as much. If someone were to think it's discreet then they don't understand the tattoo which in my mind is a common occurrence.

To me I see tattoos as your personal philosophy. Whether it be via pain/struggle or perseverance/strength or life/death or love/hate... I think a symbol can display much more than a simple name. Names in the end are just a brand, they don't tell a lot about a person.

An example..

That to me, has a lot more definition, than someone's name...

To me.. it's my opinion though. So if you want to get your significant other's name tagged to you, just remember it'll be there, till you get a cover up/lasered off.

 

[Amizon]

No, I'd never get a tattoo of a loved one's name.

Fair play to those who do because they think it's nice, but I wouldn't like to have something horrible and be stuck with that possibly for the rest of my life.

As far as tattoos go, I'd only have temporary ones, the types that you get when you're on holiday. I once had a Tweety Pie one on my left arm when I was about nine.

 

[Rydia]

The places where I've got mine are the least likely place to get too wrinkly and they can't be seen unless I show people as well.

I already think about when I get older that they may not look as good, which is why I've got them in places that won't be seen when I do get older. I'll look respectable when I get to that age. =P

I already have a job and I've always been in jobs where I'm not allowed piercings and tattoos visible, so that's another reason I don't want them out in the open.

And I'm not one of those people who gets tattoos of her boyfriends names just because they're my boyfriend. If that was the case I'd have few names on me by now. It's only Steve I've considered. =)

It's for me, not anyone else. I wouldn't care if anyone else ever saw it. I'm not going to go around shoving it in people's faces for them to see like a loser. XD

Some people here at home recommend getting my parents and siblings names tattooed. 0_o

Um, I'm not looking to just get names tattooed on me for the sake of it!

Having any of my family's names tattooed on me would NEVER happen. They're really not that worth it. =/ Regardless if their blood or not.

Unfortunately you can't pick your family. You can however pick your partner! In most countries.

Ok that's good that you get them in places where you can cover them up XD. I have a few friends that have sort of screwed themselves over because they have gotten tatoos where is it very difficult to keep them covered for work. (Neck and wrists mainly) But I say go for it! You seem to have really thought this through and it sounds like you and Steve are in a very stable relationship.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

A name to me is actually more ballsy than a ring on someone's finger. That's basically saying they own you to me. I don't want to think a relationship/marriage is about proprietorship, it should be more about sharing oneself and running your lives as a single entity. Two parts that make a well-oiled, efficient, complete, single entity.

You might look at it that way and that's fair enough but Steve and I don't look at it that way. We see it as taking each other with us wherever we go. It'd be nice to look down at it when I'm having a bad day and see his name. =)

I actually joke about getting his name on my but sometimes so that he can say 'Your arse is mine!' XD

But in all seriousness we don't see it that way and that's why we're comfortable in getting this done. =)

A symbol on another hand can mean quite a bit deeper, and you won't get so many questions asked, and if you do, you don't have to explain it as much. If someone were to think it's discreet then they don't understand the tattoo which in my mind is a common occurrence.

Symbols can look more thoughtful and what not, but in the end it all becomes too confusing to me. =P

It may work for some people but I'd rather just get straight to the point with having a name, seeing as that's who the tattoo would be about anyway if I did get some sort of meaningful symbol. =)

To me.. it's my opinion though. So if you want to get your significant other's name tagged to you, just remember it'll be there, till you get a cover up/lasered off.

See even if Steve and I did break up, I would still want his name there regardless of what happened. He was the one who changed my life for the better and no matter what happened in the end, I couldn't hate him.

Even if he did do something hurtful. One incident couldn't make me think differently about all the years we spent together.

But it won't happen. And even if we did break up in the end it wouldn't be because either of us wronged the other. =)

I respect your opinion though just to make that clear. Just thought I'd make mine a little more clear as well. =P

Ok that's good that you get them in places where you can cover them up XD. I have a few friends that have sort of screwed themselves over because they have gotten tatoos where is it very difficult to keep them covered for work. (Neck and wrists mainly) But I say go for it! You seem to have really thought this through and it sounds like you and Steve are in a very stable relationship.

The neck is the worst place to get anything! >.<

I mean, the only jobs that will hire you are places like tattoo parlors or labour jobs etc.

Nothing in retail would touch you unless it's hairdressing or something. =/ Well that's how it is here anyway. =P

People really limit their career options when they get them in those sorts of places.

And thank you for your kind words! =D