In the interests of research and as an ongoing barometer of popular culture we have decided to provide you with a weekly update of the Top Ten Weekly Tattoo Designs Search.

You can access the archived weekly lists on this page.

The Top 10 Tattoo Designs and Symbols, based on our site searches ending 6/28/06.

A couple of interesting developments this week. With the recent birth of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, the newborn daughter of celebrity super-parents Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, we have seen huge jumps in searches for Jolie's tattoos. So much so in fact, we wonder whether she isn't largely responsible this week for tattoo design searches for tigers and the latest "body part" search craze, the "bikini line" tattoo! Of course Britney Spears was near the top of the searches for tattooed celebrities, along with Alyssa Milano, so maybe many a teenage girl is figuring that if bikini line tattoos are good enough for these celebrities, they're good enough for them.

A word to the wise, tattoos along the bikini line should avoid the crease line along the inside of the thigh for the best long term results. Thanks to Thomas Lockhart at www.westcoasttattoo.com  for this tattoo tip.

1. Tribal Tattoos - Tribal tattoo designs continue to dominate tattoo design searches. Interestingly, an analysis of tattoo design searches probably reveals that women spend more time online looking for tattoo designs than men.

Tribal Tattoos account for nearly a third of all tattoo design search requests, and the term "tribal" of course covers an astonishing array of tattoo design possibilities, from the traditional tribal tattoos of indigenous and aboriginal cultures, to the latest in graphic design for the body.

Angelina Jolie has some very interesting traditional tattoos from Southeast Asia

2. Star/Stars - Shooting back up to second spot this week. Stars are often encountered as symbols, and in many cases the meaning of a particular star symbol may depend upon the number points it has, and sometimes the orientation of these points as well. As a light shining in the darkness, the star is often considered a symbol of truth, of the spirit and of hope. The symbol of the star embodies the concept of the divine spark within each of us. Their nocturnal nature leads stars to represent the struggle against the forces of darkness and the unknown. See the Nautical Star, a star with its own special meaning.

3. Fairy/Fairies - Still in third spot. The Fairy as a tattoo design can be as simple as a take-off on the often overpowering presence of corporate America in pop-culture, think Tinkerbell & Disney creatures, or it harkens back to a rich history of story, myth and folklore. Fairies in literature are often the personification of human wishes & desire in the form of little people with magical powers. As a tattoo design they can be symbols of youthful innocence & a desire to retain a child-like imagination, wonder and awe.

The very word fairy, derived from the Latin "fata", or fate underlies the use of fairies in literature and myth to explain the workings of destiny, with it's often unpredictable nature of gifts and disappointments. The use of supernatural beings, who often meddle in human affairs in fairy tales, has created a genre of story-telling that is rich in symbolism and that lays bare the psychological and social challenges as we pass through the stages of childhood to adulthood. The presence of magic makes fairies a favorite of children and as a tattoo design they are a potent symbol of our youth.

4. Tiger - Is this because of the tiger's association with Angelina Jolie's traditional Cambodian tattoo of a tiger on her lower back? -

The Tiger is a potent symbol across Asia in many cultures and has long been a fixture in indigenous tattooing in India, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Japan. Tigers are associated with power, ferocity, passion and sensuality, beauty and speed, cruelty and wrath. The appearance of a tiger in a dream may signal that new power or passion may awaken within you.

5. Angel/Angels - Holding fast in the number five spot. An angel tattoo design is an overtly religious symbol. Angels are anthropomorphic - meaning in the shape of men - winged forms intended to transmit the word of God to humankind. Angels personify divine will and are the messengers of God. Winged messengers appear in a number of religions as intermediaries between the spiritual and material worlds, but appear most often in Islamic, Jewish but most particularly the Christian faiths. The word angel comes from the Greek 'aggelos', meaning messenger. Angels make frequent appearances in the Christian Bible, not only as messengers of God but also delivering his protection or punishment. Angels act as God's intermediaries, carrying out God's will in the affairs of man.

Symbols closely associated with angels in art include trumpets, harps, swords, sceptres and wands. Angels are usually portrayed as young men with wings and halos, representing their divinity. The representation of angels as Cupid-like young boys or babies, 'putti' did not occur until the period of the Renaissance.

As a tattoo design, an angel is a symbol of devotion, spirituality and faith and signifies a relationship with God. An angel can be intended as a figure of guidance and protection. An angel is often used as the centerpiece of a tattoo that is intended as a memorial.

6. Bikini line tattoo - A first time for this tattoo search in the Top Ten, but not that surprising, as this is a favorite spot for women to get a tattoo, especially among Celebrities it seems. Like the lower back tattoo, or the breast tattoo, a tattoo on a woman's bikini line is a flag, a lure for us to look closer at an erogenous zone! See Alyssa Milano, Drew Barrymoore, Britney Spears. Also Gilding the Lily

6. Buddha - A first time for the Top Ten list! More to come.

7. Cross/crosses - Down three spots this week. A testament to the popularity of the cross tattoo design.  For many people, the idea of a tattoo of a cross may well serve to smooth over any negative feedback they are receiving about getting body art. If you're a nice Christian boy or a girl, and you want a tattoo but don't want to be excommunicated by the local Baptists or tossed out the house by Mom and Dad and make Grandma wail, a cross tattoo seems like a positive compromise.

It testifies to personal faith, shows commitment and is a tough symbol to argue against. The cross may well be an artfully cunning manoeuvre for the Christian who wants to sport ink and cut off the body art opposition before they get to the pass! And for the members of the family who bring up the Bible as opposing tattoos, this will surely spark a lively, fun-filled family discussion about the scriptures - Leviticus. And that can never be a bad thing.

7. Panther - The Panther or Jaguar Tattoo is a classic tattoo design and we're glad to see it with all the big cats in the Top Ten this week.

This is the largest and most ferocious cat of the Americas, pound for pound more fierce and dangerous than: the tiger, the lion or the leopard. The panther is at the pinnacle of the food chain in the Americas. The panther is fiercely independent and cunning. It is the only large cat that routinely hunts in the water.

The Jaguar figures prominently in the mythology of most cultures in South and Central America. It occurs in the art and religion of all pre-Colombian American civilizations. It is an extraordinarily ancient and powerful totem.

These cultures found it very significant that Jaguars came in two colour phases, yellow and black and believed that the yellow phase of the Jaguar pulled the sun across the day sky and that the black phase of the Jaguar pulled the moon across the night sky. The jaguar was often the symbol of shamans, individuals who could bridge the conscious and unconscious worlds, who had a special access to the afterlife and to the spirit world. Many thought the jaguar was shape-shifter, able to transform itself at will.

8. Crown tattoos - Up a spot from number eight last week The crown has long been used as a symbol of royal power and authority. Like the sceptre, the crown is a visible badge of office, granting the wearer, it's possessor, the absolute right to rule. That authority to rule was often held to be divinely inspired. In the Christian tradition the garland of thorns placed on Christ's head during the ordeal of his crucifixion is know as the "Crown of Thorns". The centerpiece of any coronation of a new monarch is always the moment when the new King, Queen, or Emperor has the state crown placed upon their head. At that moment the power to rule is transferred to the new monarch. As a symbol, the crown also symbolizes leadership, and the rightful authority which comes from being elected by a group to serve as their leader.

Many groups have used the crown to symbolize the power and authority to lead or command. When it is combined with a cross, one of the meanings of the crown is "victory," and the cross symbolizes Christianity. Many Royal crowns in Europe incorporated the Christian Cross into their design, reinforcing the Monarch's claim that their right to the throne was a divine right and that the Monarch was guided by the hand of God.

As a tattoo symbol, the crown doesn't just mean the right of one person to command another. It symbolizes and individual's sovereignty over their own life, feelings, thoughts, and actions. The crown symbolizes self-control, and is a reminder to use power and authority wisely and justly.

9. Cats - It's a very feline week for the Top Ten Tattoo Designs of the Week. Last week it was lions, this week it's tigers and panthers. When it comes to cat searches, we have to wonder whether folks are looking for big cats or house cats!

Let's hear it for another big cat - the Lion! The Lion is an ancient symbol, one that has been incorporated into the religion and mythology of numerous cultures and civilizations since recorded time around the Middle East, India, throughout Africa and bordering the Mediterranean. Lions once roamed the southern reaches of Europe. The influence of the power of the Lion's symbolism can be seen in it's representation in both Chinese and Japanese art and mythology, both cultures beyond it's range.

The Lion was often used as a symbol of Royalty, as in many cultures it was considered the "King of the Beasts". In early Christianity, as Jesus was seen to be the "King of Kings", he was often represented by a Lion, and a Lion was the symbol of St. Mark. The Lion is mentioned many times in the Bible and the time when a Lion lays with a Lamb is seen as the dawning of a New Age. The Lion or Leo, is one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac and represents the Sun.

10. Black widow spider - Another classic tattoo symbol, rife with symbolic meaning.

Spiders often figure in prison tattoos, the webs of a spider symbolizing the bars that surround a convict's life.

A spider tattoo symbolizes danger and entrapment. Beware, lest you too become ensnared in the spider's web. Beware, lest you fall prey to the poisonous bite of the spider!

10. Salvation tattoos - Another first for the Top Ten. Searches for tattoo symbols with religious meaning are very popular.

The cross, angels, rosary beads, the Rock of Ages, the Madonna, and hands clasped in prayer are all popular tattoo designs that touch on faith and proclaim one's belief in a higher power. For those who believe that Salvation lies in faith, such tattoo symbols are powerful reminders of the teachings of the Church.

For great tattoo design ideas, check out our good friends at TattooJohnny.com

Alphabetical Listing of Tattoo Symbols & Designs
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