Fantastic Sister Tattoo Ideas to Celebrate Your Bond and Frighten Your Parents

While couples tattoos are sweet and romantic, sister tattoos celebrate a deeper, more permanent bond. You can’t break up with, or divorce your sister, after all. So, if you have a great relationship with your sister, consider getting matching tattoos to commemorate your bond with each other.

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It’s easy to get lost in the myriad tattoo ideas that celebrate sisterhood so we collected the best of the best, while also providing some insight on how to create your own unique matching sister tattoo design. Grab your sister (or sisters) and see what styles inspire you. 

Meaningful Sister Tattoos

The most important aspect of getting matching sister tattoos is that whatever design you choose is meaningful to you. First, decide who is getting the tattoos: Do you just have one sister? Or if you have two sisters, maybe you can get trio tattoos. Do you have a brother who might want to get a similar tattoo? Do your parents want to get one too? This is always a good place to start before you think about the design.

Then, focus on what’s meaningful to your and your sister (or sisters). Here are some brainstorm starters to get you thinking about what you might want your tattoos to look like:

Shared hobbies and passions

Start thinking about what you and your sister really love. Are you really into nature? A particular activity, craft or sport?

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If you have any shared passions or there’s something specific that you really bond over, these could be a good jumping off point for creating a tattoo design. 

Nicknames and inside jokes

Next, consider any nicknames you have for each other or names you called each other growing up. If you have any funny inside jokes, these could also be great inspiration for tattoos, especially if you want something unique that only you two will really understand on a deeper level. 

Special quotes or words

For some people, getting a tattoo of a quote or just one word feels more authentic than getting an illustration. If you have a favorite TV show, movie or book, you might consider a line from that as a tattoo. Or you could get a tattoo of a quote from someone you both admire. Maybe there is one word or a mantra that defines your relationship or feels fitting for your bond. If you don’t have a particular favorite quote or mantra, but you know you want a word tattoo, check out these sister quotes for inspiration. 

Animal Sister Tattoos

Many sisters choose animals as tattoos. Not only does an animal make a cute tattoo but it can also be a fun way to define big sister and little sister roles visually as well. Plus, who doesn’t like animals? (Psychopaths. That's who.) Here are some of the more common animal tattoos that make great matching sister tattoos: 

Bird tattoos

Bird tattoos commonly symbolize freedom and flight. Getting matching bird tattoos could be a fun way to commemorate a big step in your life like graduating from high school or college. Different birds have different meanings, too.

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Owls symbolize wisdom while doves symbolize peace. You can use birds to symbolize nearly any meaningful word or value you two share. If you don’t want to get a full bird, feather tattoos are a sweet option, too. 

Butterfly tattoos

Beautiful and intricate, butterfly tattoos are stunning to look at. A butterfly tattoo symbolizes beauty and femininity. So if you and your sister are more on the girly side, this animal design may really speak to you. There are also lots of options for making a butterfly design your own—a butterfly can be any color, shown in profile or flat and it could be big or small. 

Pet tattoos

Another creative animal tattoo to get is one of your childhood pet. If you had a beloved dog or cat (or turtle) growing up, getting a tattoo of your pet is a great way to honor this animal and celebrate your sisterly bond. You can bring a photo of your pet to your tattoo artist to help them come up with just the right design. 

Nature Sister Tattoos

If you and your sister are passionate about the natural world in any way, getting a nature-inspired tattoo can be meaningful and also pretty from a design perspective. Here are some ideas from nature that make stunning tattoos:

Sea shell tattoos

For ocean lovers, getting a tiny seashell is a great way to celebrate your affinity for the sea as well as your sisterly bond. With so many designs to choose from, you’re bound to find something you both love.

Flower tattoos

Flowers make beautiful tattoos and each flower has its own meaning, making the design even more special. You might choose your favorite flowers or to get each other’s birth flowers tattooed on yourselves.

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There’s a lot of room for creativity here with shape, color and size. You can do just a tiny daisy or a whole garden. 

Celestial tattoos

If you’re into astrology, getting a celestial tattoo can be a great option. You could get complementary tattoos with one person getting a moon tattoo and the other a star tattoo. You could also get zodiac or constellation tattoos to celebrate your signs. These tattoos can be simple and small or more intricate, depending on your tastes. 

Cartoon Sister Tattoos

Many of us bonded with our siblings over TV shows and movies when we were young. Getting a cartoon is a great way to honor your relationship and throw it back to your days growing up together. These ideas can jog your memory and help you discover the perfect cartoon tattoo for you: 

Disney tattoos

From princesses to villains, we all have our favorite Disney characters. Think about which characters you loved as a kid to see if any of them can make interesting tattoo designs.

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If you and your sister are Disney lovers, you might consider getting tattoos of classic characters like Minnie, Daisy or Tinkerbell. Or, you could get simple mouse ears to symbolize your love for all things Disney. 

Powerpuff girls tattoos

For those with three sisters, Powerpuff girls are the go-to option for a cartoon tattoo. The characters are cute yet tough and their design makes for great tattoo art. 

Likeness cartoon tattoos 

You and your sister might consider getting cartoons drawn of yourselves to symbolize your sisterly bond. From stick figure tattoos to intricate anime-inspired drawings, cartoons that are inspired by you make a unique choice. 

Sister Tattoo Location Ideas

Some people like to come up with a design before deciding their tattoo placement. Others like to have a spot in mind first. Talk to your tattoo artist about what’s possible so you can determine the best spot for you. They’ve likely seen it all—shoulder sister tattoos, foot sister tattoos, tattoos around the wrist, on fingers—so they can help you narrow down the placement if you’re not exactly sure what would look best. 

Getting inked

Getting a tattoo with your sister is a great bonding experience. The tattoo itself is a visual reminder of the love that you share and the connection you'll always have. 

If your sister isn’t up for a tattoo, maybe ask mom to get inked instead? These mother daughter tattoos will provide some great inspiration—and maybe even help convince your sis that matching tattoos could be a super fun idea. 

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