A moon tattoo idea is most often linked to motherhood, femininity, and fertility as a predominantly female symbolic tattoo contrasting the masculine sun.

Sailors, hunters, and seekers have been guided by the light of a new, crescent, or full moon, while the sea and women’s fertility cycles alike move with the waxing and waning moon phases.

A moon design can also emphasize the cyclical, the passage of time, or be utilized in geometric designs. They are a great way to use ink in expressing powerful feelings or behavioral characteristics.

Moon symbol body art reflects a variety of cultures and different concepts, gods, and beliefs about the celestial body, with links to everything from angels and space travel, to the Horoscope and pagan religion.

Below you’ll find different approaches to moon tattoo meanings and application styles that you can incorporate into your next piece of tattoo design, or use as the basis for your own interpretation of a classic tattoo idea.

Moon Tattoo Symbolism

1. Traditional Moon Tattoo Meaning

A moon tattoo is a powerful symbol that can be interpreted in many contrasting ways.

A half-moon tattoo is often used to represent balance, while a crescent moon can reference moving past difficult times to a moment of rebirth. The whole night sky with moon and stars can be linked to concepts of dreams and freedom.

A full moon can be linked with our animalistic side or represent eerie concepts of witchery.

The other classical moon tattoo idea ponders the duality of light and dark, sun and moon, and sometimes even good and evil. These can be represented by the moon god (man in the moon) or a more traditional moon goddess figure.

Symbolic moon tattoos are also linked to motherhood, fertility, and femininity.

2. Moon Phase Tattoo Meaning

Another common concept for moon-inspired tattoos is imagery showing all the different stages in the lunar cycle – including the waxing moon and waning moon – that symbolizes the endless process of life, death, and rebirth.