Johnny Depp Tattoos

The Meaning Behind Johnny Depp Tattoos

There is no denying that the camera loves to catch a glimpse of Johnny Depp tattoos as they are far from ordinary, each one offering its own special meaning.  Johnny Depp is most well-known for playing eccentric characters that quite honestly, you could not imagine being filled by any other actor.  Roles such as Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jack Sparrow and Sweeney Todd have made him one of the most popular and highest paid actors in Hollywood.

Johnny Depp tattoos began to emerge about two years ago and most are sentimental reminders of places and people in his life that have made an impact.  There are currently 14 known Johnny Depp tattoos and he plans on getting more.  He has suggested that his body is a sort of journal where each piece of ink means something.

Wino – One of the most well-known Johnny Depp tattoos is on his right bicep.  He wears a double banner tattoo that now reads Wino Forever.  This originally read Winona Forever, representing Winona Ryder but after their breakup, he had the na removed from her name.  This tattoo cost Depp a whopping $75.

Mother – On Johnny’s left bicep is a tattoo that is often seen in pictures.  It is a rather large, standard looking red heart that has a ribbon running through it that reads Betty Sue, who happens to be his mother.

Inverted Triangle – One of the more confusing Johnny Depp tattoos is the inverted triangle above his mother’s tattoo.  Traditionally, this is a symbol of romantic love, not family love so it is unclear what prompted this symbol but surely he had a good reason.

Swallow – Here is one of the Johnny Depp tattoos inspired by his career.  The swallow he wears is a symbol from Pirates of the Caribbean and the name Jack is written underneath which can either stand for his son or Jack Sparrow, his most famous character.

Brave – On Depp’s right arm he displays a brave symbol which is meant to represent The Brave, one of his earlier films.

Cherokee – Here is one of the Johnny Depp tattoos that is inspired by his heritage.  On his right bicep, below the Wino Forever tattoo, he wears a Cherokee Indian Chief who has on a full headdress to honor Minnie, his great-great-grandmother.

3 – Johnny wears a number 3 on his left hand.  He says that it is a meaningful number for him because it denotes a triangle.  It can also represent the Trinity and therefore be a symbol of two people either creating another person or forming together to become one.  It is a very magical and mystical number.

Daughter – Another one of the family inspired Johnny Depp tattoos is the one he wears near his heart.  Here you will find Lily-Rose, the name of his daughter.

Skull – Depp wears a traditional crossbones with a skull on the lower part of his right leg.  This sign of danger reads Death is Certain directly below it.

? – Right above Depp’s ankle on the inside of his right leg is a question mark that no one knows the meaning to.

Doodle – One of the more interesting Johnny Depp tattoos is the one of three rectangles on the index finger on his right hand.  He refers to these marks as being permanent phone doodle.

Three Hearts – Do you see a pattern forming with the number three?  There are three hearts that were suddenly noticed in 2009 while he was filing The Rum Diary.  They represent Vanessa, Lily-Rose and Jack.

Portraits – At the Kustendorf Film Festival in 2010, portraits were noticed on both of his forearms but he has yet to comment on what they are.  One looks like a sailor while the other appears to be a woman carrying a hand bag.

Silence – The words Silence Exile Cunning is on his lower left arm.  This is one of the more mysterious Johnny Depp tattoos and the words come from a quote in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce.