The popularity of Koi Fish tattoo designs has increased in recent years. This is not only because of the various aspects of Japanese tattoo art that are being loved globally but also because of the deep meaning of various koi fish tattoos.
First of all, let me tell you that the different colors of koi fish will represent different meanings. Not only this; but the alignment of the koi tattoo design will also give it a unique meaning. For example, A Koi fish flowing upstream will represent a continuous struggle against odds and a koi fish swimming downstream will represent ducking away from problems.
Here we give you 55+ Koi fish tattoo ideas with the meaning of each one of them.
Koi Fish Tattoo Sleeve Designs
1. The golden or yellow koi fish is associated with wealth and gold. It is rare to find and therefore the tattoo is considered very lucky and a good fortune bearer.
2. If you show a red sun sign on the forehead of a yellow koi fish then it means that the good fortune you acquired also has mystical meanings.
3. Japanese tattoo artists often show koi fish facing struggles. One cool idea is to show fighting an evil demon. You can wear such styles as sleeve designs.
4. Most people like to try koi fish sleeve tattoos and they have two choices either to show it swimming upstream or swimming downstream on the sleeve.
5. You can show powerful waves in your koi tattoo design which will mean that you are facing difficulties in life but you won’t give up.
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Koi Fish Half Sleeve Tattoos
6. A Black Koi tattoo is also very meaningful. It means that you have overcome all the hurdles in your path and now you are a successful person.
7. Here is a koi fish half sleeve tattoo design that perfectly suits people who wish to have a tribal version of koi.
8. This is a traditional koi tattoo design that will look even better when colored.
9. A red koi fish tattoo has deep meaning. It means intense love. So if you love someone madly then dedicate a red koi fish tattoo to them. Check out these romantic couple tattoos.
10. As Koi fish and Dragons are associated with Japanese myths, therefore, a cool design is to try them both in one tattoo. You can have a full-back tattoo like this. Koi can live with other fishes as well therefore people love them.
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Small Koi Fish Tattoo For Guys
11. One of my favorite koi fish sleeve tattoo ideas is to show a koi swimming downstream and a dragon swimming upstream like this. Such a tattoo will represent transition.
12. Koi tattoo looks amazing on arms. You can show the red fins of koi to show that you have a crush on someone.
13. Adding flowers to various tattoo designs is a common practice. Koi fish’s ideal flower partner is the lotus flower. Both represent a win among odds. If you are thinking to mix it with lotus, check out these lotus flower tattoos.
14. You can also show a cherry blossom tattoo with your koi design. Such tattoos will represent beauty and elegance.
15. Small koi tattoo designs are instantly admirable. Look at this small koi tattoo on the wrist of this guy.
Koi Fish Tattoo Meaning
16. Orange Koi fish tattoo represents love for a family member. Usually, such tattoos are dedicated by fathers to their daughters.
17. If you show a shade of pink in your orange fish tattoo then this will mean that a mother loves her daughter indefinitely.
18. Koi fish can be a part of a bigger and more traditional Japanese tattoo. Here is one example.
19. You can try a red-faced koi, which will represent that you are a very aggressive person who never backs down.
20. The artist beautifully added the blue aura around the golden koi fish design. This represents rareness.
Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos for Women
21. You can show the sharp fins of your black koi fish, which will represent that even though you have succeeded against all odds yet you are not afraid of another challenge.
22. Japanese cats are cute and adorable. Girls can try a unique double exposure tattoo like this where the koi is shown in a cat tattoo.
23. Koi design is rarely tried on the neck but do you know it will have a unique meaning? It will mean that you are near your target and about to achieve it.
24. You might take it as a koi fish outline tattoo but this design also has a meaning. It means that you are paving your own way toward success with no godfather.
25. Here the artist showed a colorful lotus flower in a black and white koi fish sleeve tattoo.
Black Koi Fish Tattoo for Girls
26. A Blue Koi represents masculinity. It also represents love for the son.
27. Koi fish yin yang tattoo is a very common choice but adding an ALL WATCHING EYE tattoo in it will mean that you are god fearing person who believes in Karma.
28. Koi should not be tried on legs and that too flowing downstream. This means that you gave up and do not wish to fight for your dreams anymore.
29. You can show an old koi in your tattoo design. This will mean that you have either spent your whole life achieving your goals or you are ready to dedicate your whole life to a goal.
30. In some traditional koi tattoo versions, you might see a version of black and golden koi fish. This means that you not only achieved your dreams but also became a wealthy person in the process.
Simple Koi Fish Tattoos For Men
31. An Orange koi fish tattoo with blue fins will mean that you love both your kids (Daughter and son) unconditionally.
32. You can show a koi fish flying above waves in your design. This means that you are a very optimistic person.
33. One cool idea is to try a koi tattoo with some features of a dragon tattoo. Such as in this tattoo the artist showed the eyes and nose of a dragon in koi fish thus representing the transition in life.
34. A Blue koi fish tattoo with a lotus flower tattoo is a cool combination as both represent prosperity.
35. A Green koi fish tattoo is also rarely tried. It represents longevity of life and good luck.
Koi Fish Tattoo Forearm females
36. Watercolor Koi Fish tattoos might fade away sooner but they look the prettiest when they are fresh.
37. Am I seeing double? I think there are claws and webbed feet added to this tattoo.
38. Do not have a sliced koi fish tattoo like this. It will mean that you have broken down while chasing your dreams.
39. You can also add dragon flames to your tattoo of koi fish.
40. Here is another neat tattoo of koi that shows why these tattoos are so much popular.
Tattoos of Koi Fish
41. This tattoo clearly tells why one should avoid koi fish outline tattoos.
42. You can try a koi fish with different colors where you use various vibrant colors such as black, red, white, blue, yellow, and orange.
43. Do not try watercolor tattoos near your tattoo of koi because it might ruin the whole design.
44. You can dedicate your koi tattoo to someone you love by inking their name initials near it.
45. This marvelous koi fish half sleeve tattoo is one I would highly recommend. A large size fish like this will denote that you stand taller than your problems.
Yin Yang koi fish tattoo
46. Here is another version of the koi fish half sleeve tattoo where the artist added marine life too.
47. You can try a koi fish yin and yang tattoo design on your half sleeve or even can add a flower to it.
48. If you opt for koi fish black and grey tattoo design then I would suggest you use the blackwork technique for it.
49. White or cream koi fish tattoos are also a good choice. They represent peace and prosperity.
50. Here is a beautiful blue koi tattoo that you can consider.
Check out some more tattoos of koi fish that you could ink on your body.
