42 Sweet & Meaningful Mother and Daughter Tattoos

Mother-daughter tattoos can be a beautiful way to show the unbreakable bond between you and your peanut. Whether you choose to have one just for yourself, or you can both get matching ones (when she’s old enough, of course!).
Getting a matching tattoo with someone close to you can feel a little risky. What if the friendship fizzles? What if the romance dies?

Fortunately, mother and daughter tattoos are a bit different. This is a relationship that’s stood the test of time, through ups and downs (oh, those teenage years), and there’s no bond quite like it.

Matching tattoos are a great way to mark this connection.

They can be small, simple, and discreet. Or perhaps bigger, bolder, and more noticeable.

Do what feels right for you!

Here are a few ideas to get you inspired.

In this article: 📝

Meaningful mother and daughter tattoos
Sentimental mother-daughter tattoos
Unique and small mother-daughter tattoos
Mom and daughter matching tattoos
Other simple and small mother-daughter tattoos

Meaningful mother and daughter tattoos

Mother daughter tattoos Drifting dandelions

1. Drifting dandelions

Place the whole flower on your mama’s wrist, and a little drifting floret (that’s what the pieces of a dandelion are called) on yours. While it symbolizes that you’re a piece of her, it also shows that you’re going in your own unique direction.

2. Crescent moons

The connection between women and the moon is a powerful one, with the moon often seen as a symbol of feminine energy. Imagine two matching crescent moons: one colored-in, one only in outline.

Mother daughter tattoos Birds of a feather

3. Birds of a feather

Is there a bird the two of you have always loved, or one that carries meaning for you? Birds are often associated with freedom, which is important in the relationship between a mother and child.

Mother daughter tattoos Keep me wild; keep me safe

4. Keep me wild; keep me safe

This one talks to the different roles you play in each other’s lives. While mom gets “you keep me wild”, daughter gets “you keep me safe” for example. You might think of placing this one on the inside of your elbows.

Mother daughter tattoos Written in the stars

5. Written in the stars

Do you see great symbolism in your star signs? Is she an Aries? Are you an Aquarius? You could get each other’s astrological constellations tattooed, maybe on your ankles or your hips.

Sentimental mother-daughter tattoos

Mother daughter tattoos Storybook characters

6. Storybook characters

What did mama read to daughter as a child? Was it Winnie-the-Pooh? Harry Potter? Why not get a character from your favorite shared storybook tattooed? This could be a whole character, or just a symbol, like Pooh’s honeypot.

Mother daughter tattoos Songs say it best

7. Songs say it best

Maybe there’s a song that always makes you think of each other, or the line of a lyric that captures your relationship. Think of running it along the side of your forearm, or maybe down your spine.

Mother daughter tattoos A commemorative creature

8. A commemorative creature

What was your favorite childhood pet? The ginger cat who never left your lap, the labrador who lived for snacks? Get a tattoo of them to honor the animal you both loved.

Mother daughter tattoos Always adventuring

9. Always adventuring

Was there a holiday that you both remember vividly? A train trip you took, or that time you went camping in the mountains? Work with a tattoo artist to bring elements of that memorable time to life.

10. Foodies unite

You can travel the world in pursuit of the greatest cuisine, but nothing will taste as good as mama’s homemade cooking. Imagine getting a piece of pasta – farfalle pasta always looks cute – to remind you both of that heavenly bake.

Mother daughter tattoos Fingerprints forever

11. Fingerprints forever

Your fingerprints are formed in the womb, so they go right back to the very start of the connection between mama and daughter. Ask your tattoo artist to take your fingerprints and replicate them for your tattoos. Even cuter if you get it as a womb tattoo.

Mother daughter tattoos Mother and child

12. Mother and child

Find a more experienced artist to create a mother and child image that really speaks to you. Maybe this could even be a replica of a childhood photograph daughter and mama really love.

Still looking for inspiration?

Unique and small mother-daughter tattoos

Infinity symbols: It’s an infinite love, after all.
Sun, moon, and stars: Because that’s exactly what you are to each other.
Birth years: Place her year on the inside of your wrist and yours on hers.
True north: A mama is like a compass: she’ll always show the way.
Lucky charm: You’re each other’s four-leaf clover.
Puzzle pieces: You two just fit.
One word says it all: Is there a word that resonates for you?
Simple initials: Small and subtle: she gets yours and you get hers.
Pretty petal: One gets the flower, one gets a petal.

Mom and daughter matching tattoos

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree: One tree, one apple.
Angel wings: No matter what, you’re always watching out for each other.
Fantastic florals: What flower matters most for you?
Heart to heart: Matching hearts say it all.
Big and small: Your favorite animal as a mama and a baby.
The rising sun: Every day’s a new day for your relationship.
Finish each other’s sentences: All you need is love… Love is all you need.
Two halves of a whole: Half a heart or half a flower each.
Bracelets and anklets: Similar designs in different places.
Cup of tea: A simple teacup to mark all the times you’ve shared life over a cuppa.
Tree of life: Matching trees with deep powerful roots.
Peanut butter and jelly: Some things just go together.

Other simple and small mother-daughter tattoos

A favorite quote: Who’s words capture the spirit of your relationship?
Namesake: Write each other’s names along the edge of your feet in cursive script.
Sports fans: Your favorite shared sport: a football, a tennis ball, a ballet pump.
A strong connection: Your tattoos could lead into each other if you stand side-by-side.
Disney duos: A favorite cartoon: Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan, or Sleeping Beauty.
Tradition and culture: A symbol of your shared heritage.
Holding hands: Two hands intertwined.
Original handwriting: Write a special message in your own hand.
Take me home: A string of coordinates: the address of your childhood home.

Of course, you could always just make something up – an entirely new design that’s unique to you and your relationship. Work with your tattoo artist to figure out what this might look like.

Happy inking!

Mother and Daughter Tattoos: 42 Design Ideas