Couple Tattoos

Many people have warned against it throughout the years, but some people just can't shake the desire for couple tattoos. The most common, of course, are name tattoos. No amount of Billy Bobs and Angelinas could sway the star-struck want for permanency. Sadly, a couples' tattoo will often far outlast the couple.

Check out true love tattoo designs...

There are many traditional and nontraditional ways to show you love someone. The mutual tattoo used to be one of the most rebellious, but these days, matching designs are not difficult to spot, and they no longer carry the heavy stigma they once did.

Recently, traditional artwork has become the choice of many couples. With the resurrection of Sailor Jerry tattoo designs and other classic Americana symbols including the rose, the skull and crossbones, the classic red heart with the arrow and even bird tattoos, traditional designs are popular once again.

Heart with child's name and birthdate.

The most basic couples tattoo will simply have the name of the beloved. Other love tattoos include:

• The birthday of the tattooed person's counterpart
• A saying they enjoy together, such as "Love Conquers All"
• Lyrics from their personal song
• A symbol of the love they have found, such as Kanji tattoos with meanings like "Love", "Adoration" or "Soulmate"

When couples are entering into a relationship where one or both parties have children, a loving display of the child or children's names may be incorporated into the design. As couples have more children, they may choose to add the names of the new arrivals onto existing couple tattoos.

Throughout the years,Hollywood's hottest couples have proclaimed their undying love with matching tattoos. Check out these celebrities with tattoos proclaiming their undying love.

• Angelina and Billy Bob Thorton got each other's names tattooed on their arms. Unfortunately, the relationship did not last.
• Britney Spears and Kevin Federline got matching dice tattoos following their private wedding. Although the marriage ended in divorce, at least there's no need for laser removal with a matching design like this.
• Eddie Murphy and Mel B (Scary Spice) each tattooed the name of the other on their bods. Mel's tattoo was on her hipbone and Eddie's was never officially documented. This relationship also didn't work out, but there has been no word on whether either former partner underwent laser removal or some other alteration.
• Johnny Depp once had "Winona Forver" tattooed on his upper arm; he has since had it altered it to read "Wino Forever" due to the relationship's demise.
• Rap diva Eve and her man, Stevie J., have matching tattoos. His says "Sleazy" and hers reads "Sleazy's Girl".
• Dean McDermott has "Truly Madly Deeply Tori" tattooed on his arm in honor of his wife, Tori Spelling. McDermott also has a portrait of Tori inked on his left arm.
• David Beckham and wife Victoria (Posh Spice) have matching tattoos that read "I am my beloved's, my beloved is mine" in Hebrew. David also has Victoria's name tattooed in Hindu on his inner arm while Victoria has David's initials inked on her wrist.
• Marc Anthony recently had "Jennifer" tattooed on the inside of his wrist. Critics poke fun — after all, he is her third husband. Maybe he'll beat the odds.

If you have made your choice to get matching tattoos, you will not likely be influenced by friends and family. That does not make you or them right or wrong. The bottom line is that you want this ink and so does your partner. So get it! Just go into the situation with your open eyes.

1. Try to choose a symbol that you both like rather than simply inking names. This way, if things don’t pan out the way you thought they would, you will always have that symbol with you as a reminder of that time in your life, but you won't have to worry about the embarrassment or expense involved with removing a name.
2. Pick a saying or quote that defines what is unique about your partnership.
3. Pick animal tattoos that express the nature of your romance — a butterfly, a phoenix tattoo, a lovebird or any other animal that has special significance to the two of you.
4. If you simply must use formal birthnames, consider inking them in another language, such as Japanese, Hindu or Hebrew.
5. Consider creating your own design. A tribal angel holding a heart, a traditional pinup girl and matching soldier or some other form of "his and hers" tattoos are all great design ideas that will express your unity as a couple without the need for removal if the relationship doesn't last.

• Pictures of Star Tattoos
• Butterfly and Dragonfly Tattoos
• Butterfly Fairy Tattoos
• How Many Tattoos Are Too Many?
• Celebrity Tattoo Quiz

• Wrist Tattoos
• Design Your Own Tattoos
• Angel Wing Tattoos
• Celebrity Tattoo Pictures
• Cross Tattoos

• Phoenix Tattoos
• Pinup Girl Tattoos
• Tattoos and Piercings
• Animal Tattoos
• Bird Tattoos