Shared Tattoos: An Intergenerational Experience

June 1st is Intergenerational Day, a day filled with appreciation, understanding, and connection between people of different generations. The world has changed so much in the last twenty years, let alone the last one hundred, that’s it’s sometimes hard to relate to the experiences and opinions of those born much earlier or much later than ourselves. But more and more tattoos have been a shared experience across generations and it’s worth doing a brief dive into these intergenerational inked connections!

But first, what are the generations? The world is currently made up of eight generations, each with their own unique opinions and experiences:

Assuming that the average tattoo shop won’t tattoo someone under 18 (and there are exceptions and different state laws that govern that, but to make the math simple we’re going with 18), someone born in 2007 can legally choose to get a tattoo. That’s six generations that can currently be tattooed!

Now that we’ve established the generations, let’s look at intergenerational tattoos. These are different from memorial tattoos inked for someone who has passed, which are a wonderful tribute in their own right. Intergenerational tattoos are either the same tattoo or linked tattoos inked on two or more people from different generations. The people can be family or friends, but it’s the shared ink despite the years that separate them which make an intergenerational tattoo.

Shared Tattoo Ideas

There are so many options if you want to get a shared tattoo. Let’s take a look at just some of them!

A heart or other symbol of love: this is a classic shared tattoo. A mom/son pairing could get a heart. Or perhaps a step-father/step-son gets a celtic knot to show the bond they formed as a son of the heart looks up to their father figure. Maybe a granddaughter/grandmother each get an azalea to show that they will always have a home with each other.

A symbolic line drawing: a newer idea. Line drawings have become a huge trend in both the ink and art world lately. Perhaps your shared tattoo is of a mother holding her daughter’s hand completely in beautiful, swirling linework.

A shared memory: perhaps, much like Laura and Carol’s tattoo, you get a very specific tattoo that has special meaning. Here is their story:

“Itty Bitty Ink: A Story of Butterflies, Dance, and Generations” by Laura. When I was a little girl, my mom and I made up a silly dance in our living room. We called it the Itty Bitty. It was all hand claps, twirls, and laughter—the kind of moment that stays etched in your heart long after childhood fades. Now I’m 48, and my mom is 78. Life has stretched us, shaped us, and softened us in places. But the Itty Bitty never left. It became our secret language—a reminder of joy, connection, and the kind of love that dances through every season of life. This year, we decided to honor that memory in ink. Matching butterfly tattoos, symbols of change and beauty, with the words Itty Bitty tucked beside them. A nod to the girl I was, the mom she’s always been, and the bond we’ve carried all this way. As the needle buzzed and the ink settled into our skin, we didn’t need music or a living room floor. Just a glance, a smile, and a dance that lives on—quiet, brave, and forever ours. Laura & Carol, 2025

Whatever your shared tattoo, the image on skin is a visible reminder of the connection you share with that person.

Linked Tattoos

Linked tattoos really come in two different categories: (1) “parts of a whole” and (2) “similar but different”.

“Parts of a whole” tattoos need each other to be complete. For example, Liz and Nikki’s mandala is only whole once their hands are placed next to each other. Another beautiful design, one that was shared by my sister-in-law and mother-in-law before her sudden passing, is a heart filled with watercolor on a daughter while the mother has an outline of the heart and the same water color only on the exterior. Literally: you have my heart. Other designs may include half of a heart on each canvas, “Creation of Adam” inspired tattoos, or the sun/moon.

“Similar but different” tattoos might not exactly match, or need each other to be complete, but the meaning is there for the canvases who wear them. Perhaps a grandfather has an anchor from his WWII navy days, so a grandson gets a similar anchor in the same spot. Maybe it’s a love for koala’s that lead to two different looking koala’s received at the same time. Maybe an aunt and niece went on a trip to Hawaii and each inked a Hawaii inspired tattoo that doesn’t match, but brings the same trip to mind. Maybe it’s two different fishing inspired tattoos worn by an uncle and nephew.

Whatever your shared intergenerational ink, it’s wonderful to see how tattoos can bring people together. We were all raised in different environments, often have different beliefs, and have very different experiences, but we can share an art we all love. One that sits permanently in our skin, much like the love that sits permanently in our hearts.