While angel tattoos are quite popular with females, an increasing amount of men have also used the angel as part of a design that usually signifies loss or pays tribute to another. In women, the angel is often seen innocently sitting on a cloud, playing harps, or serving as a guardian watching over their every move. Depending on the meaning of this type of tattoo, an angel is also used to illustrate retaliation and revenge, as seen in the avenging angel.

Angels are seen as spiritual beings that are thought to possess a level of power that humans do not have access to. Some people believe that angels are the spirits of humans that are highly evolved. The history of the angel starts with the Bible, where the general sense is that these creatures represent the will of God or carries out God's work. While angels are known as guardians of the soul or divine beings, they have also been associated with falling victim to sin - as seen in the case of the fallen angel named Satan.

Throughout history, the meaning that angels represent and their appearance have changed over the years. A tattoo artist may create an angel surrounded by light, shrouded in a white robe, beautiful and alluring, with elaborate wings, or shown as a human. One of the most popular tattoo designs is the guardian angel, which has originated from the Catholic faith.

When looking for an angel tattoo, the meanings and designs are never-ending. In regards to the religious or spiritual sense, angel tattoos may highlight a belief in the Christian, Islamic, or Judaic faith - all of which make reference to angels. Some designs use angels to represent love, as these virtuous creatures are also depicted as the messenger of love. A popular angel used in tattoos is Cupid, who is known to shoot an arrow through the hearts of people, which leads to instantaneous love.

Another popular approach towards using angels in tattoos is to illustrate the struggle between good and evil. Archangels, fallen angels, and the contrast between the angel and Devil are frequently selected subjects for a tattoo design, which often appear on the upper arm, chest, shoulder, stomach, inner wrist, and foot.