Shark Tattoo Meaning: The Complete Guide

I do love animal tattoos, I think they have very strong meanings and a special connection and, because of this, I wrote this guide for you.

Here is what you can read:

• First, all the different meanings for shark tattoo in Western culture.
• Then, some meanings for other cultures all over the world.
• Moreover, some special meanings for different kinds of sharks.
• And, of course, a lot of tattoo designs for you!

So, let’s go:

Shark Tattoo Top Meanings

Everyone here knows about what a shark is, isn’t it?

So, let me introduce you to the Top 5 meanings for a shark tattoo.

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Three Sharks Tattoo

Here you can see a very nice example of a wonderful shark tattoo.

This time, three fantastic sharks (a hammerhead, a whale one, and another standard one) were done in micro realism, with a wonderful shadowing effect and a perfect finish.

This piece of work is done by Kathy, a terrific woman tattoo artist co-founder of EXPHAUS Tattoo, in London (UK), and you should follow her, because she is a real master.

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A Shark Tattoo Is for Strength

Maybe the top meaning for a shark tattoo is about strength and, moreover, power.

And this is because the shark is like the king of the ocean, and that’s why a shark is about, not only strength, but some other concepts like being fearless or to survive in almost every situation.

Second Shark Meaning Is About Adaptability

You may know a shark is a perfect machine made to survive, in fact, they are on earth for 400 million years (200 million years more than dinosaurs) and, some of them, stay in the same way because they are just perfect.

There is an extra point: sharks have to move constantly and, for some people, sharks meaning is about resilience and to move forward.

Because of this, a shark tattoo usually means adaptability and, one more time, to survive.

Shark Tattoo Is for Freedom

Not all sharks, but the most usual thing is sharks are solitary creatures and a powerful predator.

This concept itself is about freedom and independence and, because of this, for some people a shark tattoo is about not following the rules, living life on one’s own terms and to embrace freedom.

Shark Tattoo Is for Transformation

As other animal tattoos, one of the shark tattoo meanings is about personal transformation, and not only this, is to overcome personal challenges and to move forward, even when it is hard.

Maybe it is not the Top 1 shark tattoo meaning, but it is an important one, and you may know about it.

Shark Tattoo Is for Protection

Yes, it may sound odd at first time, but another very special meaning for shark tattoos is about protection.

Yes, this meaning, in the beginning, was in the Pacific culture, but then Western sailors adapted it a little bit.

In fact, in Classic American tattoo style, a shark usually is to remember someone who survived to the sea.

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Great White Shark Realism Tattoo

And here you can see another beautiful shark, this time a great white one, in a realistic style too, with a lot of fineline work and wonderful shadowing too.

This masterpiece is done by Won, a marvelous tattoo artist 100% focused on realism and black and gray tattoo, working at Gyra Tattoo Studio in Munich, Germany, of course.

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Shark Tattoo Meanings in other Cultures

But, you know, sharks are an important thing in a lot of different cultures, and it makes all the sense they have special meanings all around the globe.

Some of them should be:

• As I told you before, sharks were about survival at the sea for the Western sailors, specially in Classic American tattoo styles.
• In fact, in Maori culture sharks are for protection (and strength), and Western sailors could catch this meaning from Maori people.
• For Hawaiian people, a shark is a family guardian, so sharks are a very important thing.
• In other Pacific and Polynesian places, they can be about courage, protection, guardian spirits and even can have super powers!

Different Sharks and Their Meanings

Well, there are a lot of different kinds of sharks and, not all of them, but the most iconic ones can have some special meanings.

Here, I want you to know about some of the most famous ones:

Great White Shark Tattoo Meaning

One of the most famous sharks in the world is the Great White one.

In fact, the great white shark usually is considered as the perfect and ultimate predator, so it represents pure power and no fear.

Because of this, when someone gets inked with a great white shark tattoo that person wants to show to the world he or she is unbeatable and, moreover, this person is 100% determined.

Very nice example, isn’t it?

This is a remarkable design for a great white shark tattoo, done in a realistic style but with this geometrical element in the middle, like an x-ray.

This tattoo is done by Roberto, a magnificent tattoo artist based in London, the UK, with this very personal way to ink animal tattoos, with this x-ray vision.

Hammerhead Shark Tattoo Meaning

Another very famous shark is the hammerhead one, with a completely different meaning.

In fact, hammerhead sharks have a very prominent intelligence and, because of this, adaptability.

Because of this, a hammerhead shark tattoo usually represents unconventional thinking, and having the ability to see situations from a lot of perspectives.

So, a hammerhead shark tattoo is for someone who wants to tell the others he is a very intelligent person.

And now you can see a two hammerhead shark tattoo, done with a realistic style and, how can I explain it, like a “all shadowing effect” in the tattoo.

I love the design because you can feel the movement, and, you know, sharks have to move forever.

This tattoo is done by Miro, another brilliant tattoo artist, this time based in South Korea but with several guest spots all around the globe, and he is very focused on realistic tattoo in illustration style, black and gray and a lot of dotwork in the shadow work.

Whale Shark Tattoo Meaning

Whale shark is considered in nature a gentle giant.

The largest whale shark can be up to 40 feets (12 meters), kind of a whale size, but they are sharks.

The point with whale sharks, they are very pacific creatures (you know, you can be pacific if you are 40 feets), so they represent calm, peace, compassion and non aggression.

So, if you are a person who values more peace than any other thing, maybe a whale shark tattoo is what you are looking for!

As you may notice, realism style has a serious advantage here in shark tattoo trends.

This one is a whale shark tattoo, done in realistic style with a fineline and a lot of perfect shadowing, dotwork and detail level.

Like the others in the list, isn’t it?

This wonderful piece of work is done by Justin Scandella, a marvelous woman tattoo artist based in Switzerland. She is focused on illustration tattoos, especially in animal and botanical ones, and she is working at Seven Seals Tattoo.

What About Getting Inked with Shark Jaw?

Yes, shark jaws are not properly a shark but, for me, this tattoo is inside the shark tattoo trend, isn’t it?

In fact, there is a film called Jaws, a Steven Spielberg one, and you may know about it.

From this movie (year 1975) shark jaws became a terror symbol, like a primal fear about death.

So, if someone gets shark jaw tattoos, consider this person is telling you he can intimidate you.

Here is the perfect example of a big and bold shark jaw tattoo, made in illustration style, only with black ink, a nice and thick linework, and tons of authority.

This tattoo is done by Jess Barnett, a wonderful woman tattoo artist working at Aphotic Tattoo Studio, in Tampa, Florida.

Jess has a lot of works in Classic American tattoo style, and yes, you may follow her.

And Now, Some More Shark Tattoos for you!

Here you can find some more shark tattoos, enjoy them!

Three Different Shark Tattoo

Another fantastic example of a group of three different sharks getting inked with a lot of details, isn’t it?

As you can see, one more time is in realistic style, a lot of fineline work, perfect shadowing and, moreover, some details with white ink to make the difference.

This fantastic piece of work is done by Elva, an impressive woman tattoo artist based in London you may follow.

Thresher Shark Tattoo

This is a thresher shark tattoo, a shark species harmless to humans, because they have small mouths and teeth, located in tropical waters like in Florida.

I do like the shark design itself, with this fantastic tail, and, of course, the detail level, and the perfect details of the fineline.

This tattoo is done by SAV, a marvelous woman tattoo artist very focused on illustration and realistic style in black and gray, and you should follow her.

Hyper Realistic Great White Shark Tattoo

Amazing, isn’t it?

This is a (very) hyper realistic tattoo, fully colored, and surely with a ton of sessions, to give this final result, because you can feel the shark is going to bite you.

This tattoo is done by Monster Crawling.

Sushi Great White Shark Tattoo

And now, something completely different, but enchanting too!

This tattoo is about, yes, a kind of sushi shark, all in Anime (or Cartoon) tattoo style, fully colored, with some humor touches and a lot of determination.

This bold tattoo design is done by Missi Blue, an amazing woman tattoo artist, owner of BlueBird Tattoo Studio, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, focused on illustration and realistic tattoos, but colorful and with a very special color palette.

Classic American Shark Tattoo

Here you can see another shark tattoo, maybe the most standar one, you know, the great white shark, but this time done with a very classic Classic American style.

The thick lines, saturated colors, and just a little bit of shadowing are the key here.

This tattoo is done by Alex Duquette, an outstanding tattoo artist focused primarily on Classic American tattoo you should follow.

Deconstructed Shark Tattoo

And here you can see a deconstructed shark done with the very special tattoo style from Mattia Calvi.

He is a wonderful tattoo artist very focused on this kind of deconstructed artwork, and I do love it.

Shark Tattoos Are for Everyone!

This is the end of this guide, I hope you have enjoyed it and, moreover, you have learned about the shark tattoo’s meanings.

Some FAQs about Shark Tattoo Meaning