Harry Styles Tattoos: Swallows, Butterfly, Mermaid and Their Meanings

Harry Styles' tattoos make up one of the most talked about collections in pop. Since his One Direction days, he has added dozens of pieces, reportedly more than 50, many of them small, playful and scattered across his arms and torso in what tattoo fans call a patchwork or "sticker sleeve" style. A strong nautical theme runs through the collection.

Here is a guide to Harry Styles' best known tattoos and what they are reported to mean.

The chest swallows

Two large swallows face each other across Harry's chest. They are among his most recognisable tattoos. Harry has linked them to travelling, which fits a life spent on tour.

Swallows have a long history in tattooing. Sailors wore them as a symbol of a long voyage and of returning home safely. Our guide to sailor tattoo meanings explains the tradition.

The butterfly

A large butterfly covers his stomach, below the swallows. It was reportedly added in 2013. Butterflies are widely associated with transformation and change, and fans often read it as a nod to growing up in the public eye.

The mermaid

A mermaid on his forearm is one of his more light-hearted tattoos. When asked about it, Harry is widely quoted as joking that he got it because he is a mermaid.

Nautical tattoos

• Anchor: on his wrist, a classic sailor symbol of stability.
• Ship: on his arm, which he has linked to the idea of travelling home.

The leaves on his hips

Harry has large leaf or fern designs framing his hips, just above the waistband, which became famous during photo shoots and live shows.

Family tattoos

• "A": a small letter A, widely reported to be for his mother, Anne.
• Gemma: his sister's name, written in Hebrew.

Small and playful pieces

Much of Harry's collection is made up of small, unconnected images, including a padlock, a birdcage, a handshake, theatre masks, a cross and a Holy Bible design. Some are said to cover earlier tattoos. Many have never been explained, which is part of the fun for fans.

Why his style is so popular

Harry helped popularise the patchwork sleeve, where small tattoos are added over time rather than planned as one large piece. It suits people who want to collect tattoos gradually, often from different artists and trips. Many of his designs draw on traditional tattoo imagery: swallows, anchors, ships and roses. See our guide to tattoo styles explained.

Want a Harry Styles inspired tattoo?

• Pick imagery with personal meaning rather than copying his exact designs.
• Swallows and anchors look great in bold traditional style, and age well.
• Butterflies suit many placements, from fine line wrist pieces to bold stomach tattoos.
• Plan your patchwork. Leave space between pieces so the collection can grow. Our guide to tattoo placement names can help.
• Be wary of very small detail, which can blur. Read how fine line tattoos age.

For more celebrity ink, see our guides to Rihanna's tattoos and Pete Davidson's tattoos.

Tattoo details as reported by Capital FM and other entertainment outlets. Harry Styles has not publicly explained many of his tattoos, so some meanings remain unconfirmed.