A siren tattoo symbolizes the melding of temptation, desire, and risk, and has been staple of tattoo motifs since superstitious sailors made them popular at the turn of the 19th century. 

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were creatures akin to mermaids but darker and more dangerous. They used singing and musical enchantment to lure nearby sailors to shipwreck on the coast of their island. 

The siren remains a popular tattoos design in a range of styles and applications from American Traditional tattoo to new wave and black and gray. 

The gallery below depicts 57 awesome examples of siren tattoos that can be used as inspiration for your next design.

1. American Traditional Siren Tattoos

Source: @alessandroturcio via Instagram

Source: @tattoosbypaul via Instagram

Source: @pisaturo.emilio via Instagram

Source: @bubbo_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @charliedukestattoo via Instagram

Source: @tatuajesarcadia via Instagram

2. Siren Arm Tattoo Designs

Source: @_november_rush via Instagram

Source: @arkangel_tattoo_studio via Instagram

Source: @honey.bea.tattoos via Instagram

Source: @jacovichtattoo via Instagram

Source: @lothary via Instagram

Source: @tinapopjakovatattoo via Instagram

Source: @voodoocris via Instagram

3. Black and Gray Siren Body Art

Source: @tbkallday via Instagram

Source: @theginsoakedunicorn via Instagram

Source: @antonella_tattoos via Instagram

Source: @ioni_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @lucasmascangni via Instagram

4. Color Siren Tattoos

Source: @beatriz.gomez.lw via Instagram

Source: @l.nardmagnetic via Instagram

Source: @mariateresa318 via InstagramSource: @danipadron08 via Instagram

Source: @pastelpumpkintattoo via Instagram

Source: @robertoramostattoo via Instagram

Source: @simone.sorrentino1 via Instagram

5. Siren Leg Tattoos

Source: @artbyodowd via Instagram

 

Source: @butterkills via Instagram

Source: @maximiliano_rofi via Instagram

Source: @plius3_do_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @senglar.ink via Instagram

6. Mystical Siren Designs

Source: @alana_floriani_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @artistic_travisty197 via Instagram

Source: @beetlegwen via Instagram

Source: @bellamercertattoo via Instagram

Source: @frankdotwork via Instagram

Source: @hennaktattoo via Instagram

Source: @ricardo_a.m via Instagram

7. Neo Traditional and New Wave Siren Tattoos

Source: @ai_herrera via Instagram

Source: @bings_a_ham via Instagram

Source: @cosmobotic via Instagram

Source: @israel_hughes via Instagram

Source: @markbennett_tattooer via Instagram

Source: @renunutattoo via Instagram

Source: @tattoos_oldman via Instagram

Source: @tattoosbydannyfrost via Instagram

Source: @whereismarcotattoo via Instagram

Source: @blue_train69 via Instagram

Source: @luis.chacon91 via Instagram

Source: @paltattoo55 via Instagram

Source: @tattoosbyalex79 via Instagram

8. Linework Siren Ink

Source: @pineneedlestattoo via Instagram

Source: @czarnykot.tattoo via Instagram

Source: @hennatattootre via Instagram

Source: @vittorio.ser via Instagram

Source: @bronte.art via Instagram

9. Undead Siren Tattoos

Source: @marika_ink via Instagram

Source: @saintsandsinners928 via Instagram

Source: @sync.ink via Instagram

What does a siren tattoo symbolize? 

A siren tattoo symbolizes the melding of temptation, desire, and risk. Sirens were creatures akin to mermaids but darker and more dangerous, who were able to lure men to their deaths through musical enchantments. 

They’re often depicted as dark aspect mermaids mixing great beauty, fang and scale, with webbed hands and gills. 

What is the difference between sirens and mermaids in tattoo art? 

The Tattoo Dictionary doesn’t differentiate between sirens and mermaids. They are “often depicted sitting on rocks, just out of reach, bare-breasted and combing their hair – a symbol of temptation and seduction.” 

Where they do diverge is the positive depictions of mermaids in various ocean societies, and now in popular culture with characters such as Ariel, the Little Mermaid.  

Sirens at no stage have been considered creatures with positive characteristics, just the association with moral weaknesses lust, seduction and temptation that lead to a person’s destruction. 

What style siren tattoo should I choose? 

The siren is a beautiful and interesting design choice that can be used with almost any tattoo style. Due to its old school sensibilities siren tattoos are popular American Traditional designs. If you want to funk it up a bit more, neo traditional introduces a wider color palette and more blingy art effects. 

The siren also makes for brilliant portrait designs, or classical black and gray tattoo art based on subtle variations of shading and linework. 

What are some tattoo characteristics that can make my siren stand out? 

There are a few applications you can apply to make your siren tattoo stand out as both a creature of allure and danger: 

  • Darkness, such as dark shading, water, or even visage
  • Fish skin and webbed fingers
  • A good set of fangs, like a hot aquatic vampire
  • Bones, rents, rips, and rot
  • Gills
  • Accompanying badass creatures such as piranha, sharks, octopus, or Kraken

Sailors have always been a superstitious bunch, which they’ve applied to tattoo decision making since Cook’s sailors brought them back from the Tahitian Islands late in the 1700s. 

By choosing siren tattoos sailors hope to avoid the clutches of lust and temptation while they’re away at sea, but also literally to help them if they are washed overboard. By having sirens tattooed on them, sailors figure they’ve already been claimed by sirens so won’t be grabbed when in the water. 

Did you enjoy these siren tattoos? Check out the galleries below for more creatures of the deep and traditional tattoo design art: 

  • Top 77 Ocean Tattoo Ideas
  • Top 53 Octopus Tattoo Designs
  • 50 Simple Traditional Tattoo Ideas
  • Top 75 Sailor Tattoo Concepts