8 Adoption Tattoos That Will Make You Smile

Adoption is forever. So are these 8 tattoos people have gotten to honor it.

Kristin Anderson February 11, 2018

Get inspired by these adoption-themed tattoos!

Other tattoo ideas: incorporating the Hawaiian word for family (Ohana) or an outline of the state or country from which you adopted with the child’s name or birth date. There are also many Bible verses related to adoption, like John 14:18: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” See if your spouse or the birth mother wants one as well. Your child’s birth mother may not want it simply because if it’s visible, then she will be asked about it, and she may not want to make her story so public. My final word of advice about adoption tattoos is to wait until the adoption is finalized to get inked.

Adoption Symbol
1. Adoption Symbol

This is my own wrist tattoo I got in honor of my son and his open adoption. The symbol is the adoption symbol - a triangle representing the adoptive parents, the birth family, the child, and the love they share. Below it are his initials. If we adopt again, I will put that child’s initials below his.

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Life Gave Me the Gift of You
2. Life Gave Me the Gift of You

Here’s another adoption triangle symbol with the words, “Life gave me the gift of you.” This is a phrase heard a lot in the adoption community from adoptive moms. The full phrase being, “I didn’t give you the gift of life; life gave me the gift of you.”

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Minimalist
3. Minimalist

A minimalist-like, simple adoption tattoo.

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Mother/Daughter
4. Mother/Daughter

Another variation of the adoption symbol (intertwined hearts) but tattooed on both mother and adoptive daughter. Maybe some birth mothers out there would want this too.

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Found by Love
5. Found by Love

This incorporates religion with a cross symbol in addition to the adoption symbol. The phrase, “Found by love” to me could mean a few things - the love of God, the love of the adoptive parents, and the selfless love of the birth mother who placed her child.

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Forever in My Heart
6. Forever in My Heart

Here’s a birth mother’s tattoo to honor her child she placed for adoption: “A moment in my arms . . . Forever in my heart.”

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Floral Adoption Symbol
7. Floral Adoption Symbol

Adoption symbol tattoo with adopted children’s birth month flowers surrounding it.

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Kristin Anderson

Kristin Anderson is an adoptive mother who lives with her son, husband, and two crazy dogs. She loves open adoption and is always looking for ways to help in the adoption community. You can find her blog at Looking for Little One.



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