Given their pain level and visibility, neck tattoos were once a rarity to behold. Recently, however, tattoos are given pride of place for exactly that reason. What better way to honor your commitment to a design than by having a constant reminder of the special mantra or symbol you chose in the first place?
From Ariana Grande to Rihanna, women’s neck tattoos span a spectrum of styles, sizes, and notable meanings. Whether you’re leaning toward something delicate or bold, fun or sentimental, celeb tattoos offer some of the greatest sources of inspiration you can find.
Ahead, we share some of the best neck tattoo ideas to consider for your next ink session.
Selena Gomez’s “Rare” Tattoo
In January 2020, Selena Gomez celebrated the release of her album “Rare” by getting a tattoo of the album’s title on her neck below her ear. The tattoo is placed in a spot that her hair can cover; however, because it’s low enough down, the ink will most likely always be visible since hair has a lot of movement. The ink is dainty and slants downward, mimicking the angle of the earlobe. And because of the tilt, the tattoo disrupts the neck’s natural shape for a bigger impact.
Keke Palmer’s Queen of Kush Tattoo
Keke Palmer’s larger-than-life neck tattoo is an ode to her African heritage. An illustration of Nubian pyramids fills the back of the neck space while the words “Queen of Kush” underscore the base in a bold, typewriter font. She was inspired by Kush, an ancient Nubian kingdom, because of its rich history of female rulers.
For her, the ink symbolizes female empowerment and sits as a tribute to the history of her African ancestors. In an interview with Hot 97, Palmer explained: “I want to learn more about my ancestors over in Africa. I don’t want to always think about slavery as the only thing that happened to black folks. We actually have another history that we don’t really hear that much about where we were kings and queens. I want to hear more about that.”
Sofia Richie Grainge’s “Clarity” Tattoo
Sofia Richie Grainge doesn’t have many tattoos, but the ones she has make a big statement when shown. This side-of-the-neck tattoo reads “clarity” in tiny block letters. The letters are also spread out quite a bit, giving the words a light and dainty look, rather than making a major impact. Although the word is inked on the side of the neck, it’s not directly in the center, so it will remain mostly hidden by hair but peek out at the right angle. This kind of tattoo is somehow both intimate and public, making it particularly interesting.
Eiza Gonzalez’s Cluster of Stars Tattoo
Star tattoos are amongst the most popular, but Eiza Gonzalez opted for a constellation of stars instead. The cluster of multicolor stars arcs up the neck and around the tip of the traps for a lovely, wave-like effect.
Camila Cabello’s Sweetgrass Tattoo
Camila Cabello’s subtle back-of-the-neck tattoo pays tribute to the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Cabello credits the reading for teaching her “about reciprocity, about the gift and wisdom in Mother Nature, and that when we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves.” In her November 2021 Instagram post, depicting the art done by tattoo artist, Kane Navasard, Cabello shared an excerpt from the book, “The word ecology is derived from the Greek word “oikos”, the word for home,” she wrote.
Kehlani’s Full Neck Tattoo
If you’re really into the look of a neck tattoo and aren’t afraid to show it off, take a page out of Kehlani’s book and go for a full-neck piece. Technically, the singer’s neck is sprinkled with several different tattoos, but it appears to be covered with a cohesive piece when you look at it. If you’re interested in a whole-neck tattoo that makes a major statement, the key is to make your pieces mesh in some way, like using the same color of ink throughout, getting every tattoo in the same style, or having the same artist do each one.
Hailey Bieber’s “Lover” Tattoo
Hailey Bieber flaunts not one but two neck tattoos. First, she has a tiny cross on the left side of her neck. Bieber has discussed her faith a lot over the course of her career, and the small symbol was her permanent way of showing her religious devotion. The second tattoo she has is the word “lover” in a cursive script, which the model got in 2019. There’s no real explanation for the tattoo, but many have speculated that the tattoo is related to Taylor Swift and her 2019 album “Lover.” Regardless, both pieces of ink make a statement—especially for a celeb like Bieber, who wears her hair pulled back a lot—but can also be hidden if needed.
Demi Lovato’s “Survivor” Tattoo
Demi Lovato’s “survivor” neck tattoo carries deep meaning, reflecting her candidness about battling addiction. The cursive design, shared on Instagram by tattoo artist Docta Woo, serves as a poignant reminder of her remarkable journey from a near-fatal overdose in 2018.
Jourdan Dunn’s Isis Tattoo
Jourdan Dunn’s substantial tribute to the Egyptian Goddess Isis takes pride of place on her upper back and lower neck. The tattoo design holds special meaning for the model as it symbolizes the “female of the throne.”
In an Instagram post, Dunn explained “She is revered as an excellent mother and is Associated with all of the elements: earth, air, wind, and fire. She had so many different areas of influence that she earned the title of “Lady of Ten Thousand Names ” 🎭 She resembles the Woman I am and The Woman I want to be. Forever, strong.”
Maisie Williams’s “No One” Tattoo
Maisie Williams had “No One.” tatted on her neck in red ink as a tribute to her “Game of Thrones” character, Arya Stark. The script design, which was shared via Instagram by celeb tattoo artist Mr. K in 2018, appears further down on the neck, making it both unique and easier to cover than a side or front of the neck tattoo.
Ariana Grande’s “Mille Tendresse” Tattoo
Ariana Grande has several tattoos and has even made headlines for her ink choices. This back of neck tattoo is a lesser-known one, with Grande herself even captioning the above Instagram photo, “I always forget about my lil tat.” The singer’s script ink reads “mille tendresse” (French for “one thousand tendernesses”) and is a line from the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” which Grande has called her favorite movie of all time. Even on the back of the star’s neck, the tattoo always shines, considering her hair is mostly up in her signature pony.
Zoë Kravitz’s “Baby” Tattoo
Zoë Kravitz is another star with a few neck tattoos, including a “baby” tattoo on the right side, a “yes” on the back, and two sparrows on either side of her neck. The “baby” piece is inked just below her jawline, meaning it’s essentially hidden by her own head when it’s not extended (like in the Instagram photo). However, the other tattoos are slightly more visible and have made a few appearances on red carpets. But because they’re placed on the back of the neck, they’re easily hidden by clothing or long hair.
Halsey’s “I’m a Loser Baby” Tattoo
Halsey is another celebrity with a faint script tattooed on the side of the neck. Lyrics reading, “I’m a loser baby,” which come from Beck’s song “Loser,” are inked in a spread-out, curly cursive font. Because the tattoo is flat in the center of the neck’s side, it breaks up the natural shape. This means the tattoo design really pops despite its daintiness and tiny letters.
Vanessa Hudgens’s Butterfly Tattoo
Vanessa Hudgens makes a big statement with a blackwork butterfly tattooed on the left side of her neck. And despite being toward the back of her body, the thick black ink and size make it stand out as if it were front and center. Considering the ink is only one color, it doesn’t feel overwhelming on the star’s petite frame. The butterfly’s natural movement only enhances that of the neck itself for a tattoo teeming with a sense of motion. If you’re looking for a piece of ink that makes for a stunning pop, whether your hair is up or down, go for a blackwork design with some movement either from the subject matter or the tattoo itself.
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Miley Cyrus’s “92” Tattoo
Miley Cyrus got a small neck tattoo in honor of, well, herself! The singer got a small “’92” on the back-right of her neck in honor of the year she was born. “Year of the monkey,” reads the Instagram caption under a photo of the singer’s new ink. The design uses medieval lettering to give the tattoo a bit of edge—perfect for Cyrus. However, the ink also has a unique charm because it sticks with just the outline and does not fill in the letters with black ink. Because of this, the tattoo feels minimal and delicate despite using thick block lettering.
Rihanna’s “Rebelle Fleur” Tattoo
Rihanna is another celebrity with an affinity for tattoos, including the script ink on her neck’s left side. The singer got the tiny piece of ink in 2010, which reads “rebelle fleur”—meaning “rebel flower” in French. What makes Rihanna’s neck tattoo so unique is that the script itself is slanted, but the actual words are not, giving it a sense of movement despite the text being such a static type of ink.
Rita Ora’s Neck Tattoos
Rita Ora has an “R” behind her left ear, but she’s also got another piece slightly lower down on her neck. The cursive script, which reads “zog,” is a tattoo in honor of the singer’s mother. “When I was younger my mum @veraora would call me her zog ‘Zogi mamit’ she would say, which means her little baby bird in Albanian,” wrote Ora in an Instagram caption. The script is slanted up to mimic her jawline curve, but it’s otherwise minimal—when not hidden by hair, the ink will draw attention without being overwhelming.
Lucy Hale’s Bow Tattoo
Lucy Hale’s very first tattoo was this black ink ribbon on the back of her neck. In a 2012 interview with Maniac Magazine, Hale said she got the piece of ink after a break-up that made her want to do something rebellious. Tattooed by celebrity favorite Dr. Woo, the small bow is easily hidden by long hair or a high-neck shirt. However, Hale is known for her short bob haircuts, so the ink is normally on display. Luckily, the design’s simplicity means it will match any aesthetic or style the actress chooses to rock.
Jasmine Sanders’s “Enough to Inhale” Tattoo
Jasmine Sanders has over nine tattoos, with half of them being of the wordy variety. Among the many mantras inked on the model’s body, the phrase “enough to inhale” is scripted across the back of her neck, usually hidden unless spotlighted by an updo.
Queen Latifah’s Butterfly Tattoo
Queen Latifah’s bold butterflies are a true testament to the multi-threat entertainer’s journey from rapper to Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor. In her own words during a visit to the Ellen Degeneres Show, Latifah explained, “I just want to continue to grow into that beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar who turned into the butterfly—that’s a symbol of who I want to be.”
Ruby Rose’s “And Breathe Me” Tattoo
Although Ruby Rose no longer has the ink, she got a script tattoo on the left side of her neck in 2011. The design read “and breathe me,” referencing lyrics to the Sia song “Breathe Me.” The actress-model and the singer are good friends, though her reasoning for the tattoo—whether for her friend or just because she liked the song—is unknown. Something extremely unique about the ink is that the lettering’s in a style that almost looked like an EKG from afar, signifying the lyrics’ importance to the celeb.
Chanel Iman’s Clothes Hanger Tattoo
Model Chanel Iman proudly displays a clothes hanger tattoo on the back of her neck, symbolizing her long and successful modeling career. The all-black design also includes a script of her name below it. Its inconspicuous location allows for easy coverage with longer hair.
Adele’s Single Initial Tattoo
No, “A” isn’t for Adele, though we wouldn’t blame the icon if it did. Adele’s single initial neck tattoo is an ode to her son, Angelo. The elegant cursive lettering is large enough to be noticeable, extending from behind the ear to further down the nape of the neck but still tucked away just enough to be easily concealed by a longer ‘do.
Pink’s Barcode Tattoo
Pink notably has a number of tattoos that are very personal to her, including one on the back of her neck. She revealed that the barcode neck tattoo “was my Missundaztood present,” referring to her second studio album of the same name, according to The Independent.
The numbers featured underneath also have special meanings. They bear the numbers “9879,” which is her birthdate, and “11200-1,” representing the release date of her sophomore project. Digital Spy additionally notes that the last two digits, “13,” represent her lucky number.
Jordyn Woods’s Roman Numeral Tattoo
Roman numerals are another popular tattoo style for honoring special moments or people. Jordyn Woods has “XXIII,” or 23, grazing the nape of her neck in an ode to Michael Jordan’s jersey number. (For an extra special touch, Woods had her brother tattoo the design.) The small tattoo is then followed by a linear spine tattoo of the seven chakras.
Keyshia Cole’s “Have Faith” Tattoo
Keyshia Cole’s tattoo is pretty forward-facing, underlining the side of her neck and grazing just below the jawline. “Have Faith” is written in thick cursive and topped with a red heart. The positioning speaks to the worthwhile mantra, providing a constant reminder with every look in the mirror.
