Elephant Tattoos

1. Standard Elephant Tattoo

Your Standard Elephant Tattoo is simply a normal Elephant, either by itself or with a simple background.

This gorgeous Black-and-Grey Tattoo shows a frontal view of the Elephant as it walks through the plains of the African Savannah. 

2. Harmonica Elephant Tattoo

If you are a lover of music as well as Elephants, try imbuing its design with a musical instrument.

This adorable little Tattoo Design has a baby elephant with a harmonica in its trunk.

Did you know Elephants can recognize 12 distinct tones of music and recreate melodies?

3. Elmer The Patchwork Elephant Tattoo

Elmer the Patchwork Elephant is a children's picture book series created by David McKee that was first published by Dobson Books in 1968.

Inspired by the mascot of the Bordeaux Zoo, Elmer is an Elephant made out of patchwork who has a cheerful and optimistic personality and loves practical jokes.

The books focus on the idea that everyone is unique in their own way and that you shouldn’t try to hide your true self.

4. Elephant Present Tattoo

Here is a cute idea for your Elephant Tattoo Design. In this Tattoo, the elephant is carrying a present on its back that looks haphazardly tied together.

While it's hard to know what this Tattoo symbolizes, a Box Tattoo can symbolize themes of containment, boundaries, protection, or a special secret. 

5. Indian Style Elephant 

In India, Elephants have been a cultural symbol for centuries and are part of the country's national heritage.

Associated with the Hindu god Ganesha, these animals are part of the Buddhist pantheon and are featured in Hindu festivals like Dussehra and Pooram. 

6. Ganesha Tattoo

Ganesha is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon.

Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck, the patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.

While some texts state that Ganesha was born with the head of an Elephant, most indicate that he acquired it later in life, usually being given it by Parvati after Shiva beheaded him. 

7. Mario Wonder Tattoo

If you love Video Games and Video Game Tattoos, check out this amazing Princess Peach Elephant Fruit-empowered Tattoo.

Mario Wonder was the first traditional 2D side-scrolling Mario game released for a Nintendo console for over a decade.

This lovely tattoo is by the talented xanthianmoon who does tons of Video game and anime tattoo designs. 

8. Thailand Style Elephant

Elephants have had a long history in the culture of Thailand, becoming the national animal and a symbol of fortune and royalty.

Thailand is home to approximately 15% of Asia’s wild Elephant population.

Due to their diets, Elephants in Thailand (named Indian Elephants) are found in tropical forests in the northern and western parts of Thailand. 

9. Chang Beer Tattoo

While not a drinker myself, living in Vietnam, I'm well acquainted with the imagery of Chang Beer. (Funnily, as I write this, I'm waiting to fly to Thailand today.)

Chang (Being the Thai word for Elephant) Beer, whose mascot is two Elephants, started production in March 1995 at a brewery in the Bang Ban District of Ayutthaya Province and has since become the top-selling brand in Thailand.

For football lovers, Chang has sponsored many football teams, including Buriram United F.C., but is probably most well known for their sponsorship of Everton F.C. of the English Premier League in 2004. 

10. Tree Elephant Tattoo

If you want to add a little more of a nature aesthetic to your Elephant Tattoo, try out this lovely tree design.

This gorgeous design is of four trees whose leaves have grown into the shape of an Elephant. 

11. Watercolor Elephant Tattoo

Watercolor Tattoos are a type of tattoo that uses lighter, brighter colors with a soft, dreamy appearance.

This Elephant Tattoo is by the incredibly talented baltapaprocki who focuses primarily on watercolor tattoo designs. 

12. Colourful Elephant Tattoo

Another beautiful Elephant Tattoo here.

This design has a lovely multicolored elephant with paint dripping from its side as if it had just fallen into a vat of different colored paints. 

The designs also comes with nice sparkle and shimmering effects to add more depth. 

13. Mûmakil Lord Of The Rings Tattoo

Lord of the Rings fans, you didn’t think I’d forget about you? (I did, my brother reminded me.) This Elephant Tattoo is of a Mordor Mûmakil.

Mûmakils are large beasts that resemble Elephants used by the Haradrim for battle.

While their thick skin was almost invulnerable to arrows, a well-placed shot into its eyes could blind or even kill the beasts if shot with great force. 

14. Landscape Elephant Tattoo

If you want to embody the land in which your Elephant comes from, try imbuing its habitat’s landscape into its design.

This super cool design has an Elephant with other animals found in its habitat within the Elephant itself, including a giraffe, lion, zebra, and some birds. 

15. Puzzle Piece Elephant Tattoo 

Puzzle Piece Tattoos are often associated with autism awareness.

They are a great way to support a loved one with autism or to tell people that you yourself have autism.

This Tattoo Design can represent a feeling of fitting in or finding the right place to belong, like finding the missing piece in a puzzle.

16. Lumpy Elephant Tattoo

Lumpy is a character from the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise. Not actually an Elephant, Lumpy is, in fact, a Heffalump.

First appearing as figments in Pooh's nightmares who try to eat his honey, Heffalumps evolved throughout the franchise to become allies of Pooh and friends, highlighting themes of misunderstanding and acceptance. 

17. Traditional Elephant Tattoo

Traditional tattoos are known for their strong, bold black outlines.

These heavy outlines are a defining feature that helps the tattoo maintain its clarity and longevity as the skin ages.

Their color palette is typically limited to a few solid colors and is highly stylized rather than realistic.

18. Neo-Traditional Elephant Tattoo

Neo-traditional tattoos are a modern variation of the classic traditional American style but incorporate more detailed and complex designs. Like traditional tattoos, neo-traditional designs use strong, well-defined outlines that are often clean and slightly thicker than those found in more realistic styles.

19. Lotsa Heart Elephant Tattoo

Despite being an Elephant, Lotsa can fall into the bracket of Bear Tattoos.

This is due to her being a member of the Care Bear Cousins from the Care Bears franchise. Although the strongest of all the creatures from the forest of feelings, Lotsa lacks the coordination and athletic talent of her fellow Care Bear Cousins.

20. Cute Elephant Tattoo

For something a little more simplistic yet adorable, try out this Cute Elephant Tattoo. In this design, we have a basic drawing of an elephant haphazardly colored as if it were by a child. If you have a child, you can get them to color an image from a coloring book or have them draw and color their own Elephant for you to tattoo on your body. 

21. Flower Pattern Elephant Tattoo

Another cute idea for your Elephant Tattoo is this design. Here, the Elephant is covered from trunk to tail in a flower pattern. This design has a hippy vibe, with a peaceful-looking White Elephant going for a slow stroll. 

22. Mammoth Tattoo

Of course, any good Elephant list wouldn’t be complete without the elephant's ancient relative, the Mammoth. The Woolly Mammoth lived during the Pleistocene epoch, from about 400,000 years ago until they went extinct around 4,000 years ago. However, small populations survived on isolated islands until as recently as 1650 BCE.

23. Space Elephant Tattoo

If you’re looking for something that is really out there, try out this super cool Space Elephant Tattoo. In this design, we have an Alien Elephant with a 3rd eye on its forehead, walking out from a doorway through space and time with a stereotypical bald and big-eyed alien riding on its back. 

24. Abduction Tattoo

If you’re wondering how an alien planet might have Elephants similar to our own, then perhaps this might explain things. This super cool Tattoo depicts the abduction of a Mammoth by a UFO. Perhaps the Mammoths didn’t go extinct after all and were rescued by extra-terrestrial visitors!

25. Origami Elephant Tattoo

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. Through folding and sculpting techniques, origami artists transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture. The name Origami comes from the Japanese words "ori" (folding) and "kami" (paper). 

26. Dumbo Disney Tattoo

Dumbo is the titular character who appears in the 1941 Walt Disney Film Dumbo. Dumbo, whose name is really Jumbo Jr., is mocked and ridiculed for his sized ears. However, these actually give him the ability to fly. 

27. Disney Pink Elephant Tattoo

Carrying on with Elephants from the Dumbo film, during the scene in which Dumbo accidentally gets intoxicated by champagne, Dumbo begins to hallucinate and sees a parade of surreal and colorful elephant-shaped figures that morph and transform in bizarre ways. One of the most famous images was of the Pink Elephants, which was depicted as surreal with an almost psychedelic quality that was innovative for the time. 

28. Bubble Elephant Tattoo

If you want a more playful and cute appeal for your Elephant Tattoo, why not depict it playing with bubbles? Bubble Tattoos can evoke memories of carefree days spent playing with bubbles, representing joy, innocence, and the magic of childhood. This cute little Watercolor Design has a baby Elephant playing with bubbles from its trunk, with the top one in the shape of a love heart. 

29. Geometric Elephant Tattoo

Geometric Tattoos rely on precise lines and symmetrical patterns. The accuracy of these elements is crucial, as even small deviations can disrupt the visual harmony of the design. This gorgeous Geometric Elephant Tattoo uses added color for more vibrancy in its design. 

30. Tribal Elephant Tattoo

Tribal Tattoos have ancient origins and are deeply rooted in the identities and spiritual beliefs of various cultures, including Polynesian, Maori, Samoan, African, Native American, and Celtic. This Elephant Tattoo is more inspired by the 90s Tribal Style. 

31. Minimalist Elephant Tattoo

If you’re looking to get an Elephant Tattoo but don’t want to go all out with its design, why not try out a Minimalist Elephant Tattoo? Minimalist Tattoos are great for being able to carry all the symbolism associated with your chosen design but while still being discrete and easy to cover if need be. 

32. Babar Elephant Tattoo

Babar the Elephant is a character from a series of French children's books first published in 1931. The books were written by Jean de Brunhoff and continued by his son, Laurent de Brunhoff. Having been taken in by an Old Woman who raised him, Babar learns about the world from humans, including how to dress and behave civilly. Upon returning to the jungle, Babar is crowned king of the elephant kingdom, and thanks to his newfound knowledge, he helps modernize the elephant society.

33. Tantor Elephant Tattoo

Tantor is an African Elephant and one of the best friends of Tarzan. A somewhat timid and overly cautious character, Tantor, despite his fears, is incredibly loyal and always ready to come to Tarzan's aid when needed.

34. Escaped Circus Elephant Tattoo

We love Animals at Tattoo Design and are always passionate about their protection and well-being. This Elephant Tattoo depicts a Circus Elephant breaking free from its chains and desperately running to freedom. I am in Thailand now as I write this piece, so consider donating to either Elephant Rescue Park or The Elephant Sanctuary, who help treat, rehabilitate, and rescue these amazing creatures from logging industries, mistreatment camps, harsh working sites, unfortunate accidents, and of course, circuses. 

35. Rainbow Elephant Tattoo

If you’re looking for more color in your Elephant Tattoo Design, then try out this Rainbow Elephant Tattoo. This design is done in a Fine-Line Tattoo style but masterfully done to seamlessly transition through all the colors of the rainbow in its design. 

36. Manny Elephant Tattoo

Manfred, nicknamed Manny, is a central character in the Ice Age animated film series. Outwardly grumpy and somewhat cynical, Manny is actually kind-hearted and protective and a natural leader among the group of misfit prehistoric animals that form the core characters of the series.

37. Polaroid Elephant Tattoo

If you’ve been to any Elephant sanctuary whilst on your travels, you’ve most likely commemorated your time there with a picture of these majestic creatures. If so, why not commemorate the time on your skin by getting a Polaroid Tattoo? This cool design depicts a young woman (most likely the owner of the tattoo) next to an Elephant, probably at an Elephant sanctuary. 

38. Stampy Simspons Tattoo

Where’s my Elephant? Where’s my Elephant?!! Fans of the Simpsons will be well acquainted with this famous Elephant. Stampy was a pet owned by Bart after he chose the Elephant over a $10,000 prize. The radio hosts hosting the giveaway initially were reluctant to give Bart the Elephant but eventually yielded as they could potentially lose their jobs. Unable to care for Stampy, they ultimately leave him at an Elephant sanctuary, where he bullies the other elephants at the reserve for no apparent reason.

39. Homer Ganesha Tattoo

I can’t believe someone actually has this Tattoo, so I just have to share it. In the episode  "The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons," Homer dresses up as the Hindu deity Ganesha in an attempt to prevent the arranged marriage of Apu and Manjula. Ganesha (Homer) states that if the wedding isn’t stopped, everyone will die before he is chased up a tree, allowing the wedding to continue. 

40. Tiny Elephant Tattoo

Similar in size to the Minimalist Elephant Tattoo but with more fine detailing, this tiny Elephant Tattoo is another design perfect for those looking to get the Elephant symbolism in a small and discrete way. This tiny design above the ankle is so small it’s about the same size as a British one-pound coin. 

41. Night Sky Elephant Tattoo

If you want to represent the expansiveness of the universe or a deep connection to the cosmos all in the confines of an Elephant (for some reason), try out this beautiful Night Sky Elephant Tattoo. This lovely design with deep purples and dark blues looks magnificent, depicting a setting sun behind either mountains or pyramids. 

42. Pink Elephant Tattoo

While the term Pink Elephants may be a euphemism for hallucinations caused by delirium tremens or alcoholic hallucinosis, thanks to the Dumbo film, you can, of course, get a Pink Elephant Tattoo just because you think it looks nice. This cute design has the creature within a geometric design. 

43. Salvador Dali Elephant Tattoo

The Elephants is a 1948 painting by the Catalan surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. While the elephant is a recurring theme in the works of Dalí, the most famous depiction is from the 1948 painting in which two Elephants are depicted with long, spindly, almost insect-like legs that stretch far above the ground, carrying obelisks on their backs. 

44. Zunesha One Piece Inspired Tattoo

While not quite a One Piece Tattoo, this design is inspired both by the 'Elephants' painting and Zunesha from One Piece. Zunesha is a Naitamie-Norida elephant who wanders through the New World. Unlike in the Dalí painting, where the Elephants carry Obelisks on their backs, Zunesha carries the home of the Minks, called Zou. 

45. Donphan Pokemon Tattoo

Lastly, we have a Pokemon Tattoo. Donphan is the 232nd Pokemon in the Pokedex evolving from Phanpy. Donphan’s thick hide prevents regular attacks from inflicting damage upon it, and it has a pair of white tusks that extend from the corners of its mouth that are used for battle. 

1. Elephant Tattoo On Thigh

The Thigh is a great place to add some added allure to your skin. This location is also great for first-time tattooers because it has a lot of muscle and fat, which will help dampen the pain. This gorgeous Elephant Tattoo is Thailand-inspired, with added flowers found in the nation. 

2. Elephant Tattoo On Back

The back is the go-to place for an expansive Elephant Tattoo. This location offers so much space and a wide canvas for large and intricate designs, allowing you to go crazy. The back is also another place that isn’t super painful unless you get close to the spine. While not an enormous spread, this lovely Elephant Tattoo of a family all linked together through their trunks and tails is super adorable. 

3. Hand Elephant Tattoo

While both super cool and easy to show off, hand tattoos are one of the most painful places to get yourself inked. With very thin skin and a lot of tendons and veins, the hand is going to be a less-than-comfortable experience. This super cool Elephant Design also has the trunk running down the finger. 

4. Chest Elephant Tattoo

Chest Tattoos are the quintessential place for showing off your chosen design with pride. While the chest offers a lot of space for men, it may prove more difficult for women. However, a great tattoo artist will always find a way to design a tattoo that compliments the anatomy of the breast. 

5. Elephant Tattoo On Forearm

Lastly, the forearm, much like the hand, is a great place to get your Elephant Tattoo if you’re looking to show off its design as often as possible. However, unlike the hand, the Forearm Tattoos aren’t as painful, allowing for a more comfortable tattooing experience. This beautifully colored Elephant Tattoo comes with a lotus flower and an eye of Horus in its design.