The iris (Latin: Iris germanica) is the February birth flower and a unique floral tattoo design linked to hope, wisdom, communication, and faith. 

Being a beautiful flower of many colors, the individual Iris hues are also linked to different deeply symbolic meanings, which include heroism, royalty, passion, and purity.

Iris tattoo meaning can be complex and symbolically layered, or purely aesthetic designs linked to the flower’s natural bloom.

The following article will explore the Iris tattoo symbolism along with different body art styles and technical applications used to build your central iris flower meaning.

1. Common Iris Flower Tattoo Meaning

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The iris tattoo is the February birth flower used to symbolize hope, wisdom, communication, and faith. It’s a flower tattoo design that offers simple themes but as a point of difference to more mainstream flower choices such as a rose tattoo, cherry blossom, or lotus flower design.

Being a beautiful flower of many colors, the individual iris hues are also linked to different tattoo ideas, which include heroism, royalty, passion, and purity.

2. Color in Iris Flower Tattoo Designs

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Popular colors in bearded iris, Dutch iris, and fleur-de-lis flower tattoo ideas create fantastic meanings that include:

• Purple iris – Nobility, wisdom
• White iris – Purity, innocence, protection
• Blue iris – Hope, faith
• Yellow iris – Passion
• Any color – Friendship, promise, positivity

While often an aesthetic choice (as the wearer’s favorite color or hue means to support existing tattoo art), picking a specific type or color of iris tattoo design can add extra tattoo meaning.

3. Iris, Ancient Greek Goddess of the Rainbow

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The iris originates from the Ancient Greek word for rainbow, linking the flower’s wide array of vibrant colors with the flower tattoo’s relationship to Iris, the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow in ancient times.