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Top 70+ Best Nordic Arm Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]

Top 70+ Best Nordic Arm Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]

  • Next Luxury / Tattoo Ideas
  • by — Jono Elderton

Arm Tattoos Viking Tattoos

Nordic arm tattoos stretch beyond designs featuring bearded and helmeted warriors armed to the teeth and spoiling for a fight.

The seafaring Scandinavians travelled so widely that their diaspora has had a huge influence on tattoo traditions and themes over much of Europe.

Nordic folklore and mythology continues to be popular as a base for literature, film, and body art; from the tree Yggdrasil to the giant wolf Fenrir, and even the mighty Thor, Nordic tattoo resonates for many people.

The following collection of top 61 best Nordic arm tattoos showcases killer design ideas and ink application with a tremendous range of symbolic meaning that you can apply to your next tattoo idea.

See more about - Top 207+ Viking Tattoo Ideas

See more about - Top 121+ Cool Arm Tattoos

1. Fenrir Arm Tattoo Ideas

Nordic Fenrir Arm Tattoos alessio_salafia

Source: @alessio_salafia via Instagram

Nordic Fenrir Arm Tattoos jawor66688

Source: @jawor66688 via Instagram

Nordic Fenrir Arm Tattoos masakari_tattoo

Source: @masakari_tattoo via Instagram

Nordic Fenrir Arm Tattoos rogerio_lisboa

Source: @rogerio_lisboa via Instagram

Nordic Fenrir Arm Tattoos wokzbok

Source: @wokzbok via Instagram

Nordic Fenrir Arm Tattoos woodland_realm_tattoos

Source: @woodland_realm_tattoos via Instagram

2. Forearm Nordic Tattoo Ideas

Nordic Forearm Tattoos alexbartist

Source: @alexbartist via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos erickoliveira.tattoo

Source: @erickoliveira.tattoo via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos inkgod_thor

Source: @inkgod_thor via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos kartel_tattoo103

Source: @kartel_tattoo103 via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos lupptattoo

Source: @lupptattoo via Instagram

Celtic Tribal Forearm Tattoo janmoravec_art

Source: @janmoravec_art via Instagram

Celtic Tribal Forearm Tattoo poolgatattoos

Source: @poolgatattoos via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos tattoofreestyle

Source: @tattoofreestyle via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos v8_tattoo_and_design

Source: @v8_tattoo_and_design via Instagram

Nordic Forearm Tattoos vituleite

Source: @vituleite via Instagram

3. Full Sleeve Nordic Tattoo Ideas

Celtic Tribal Sleeve Tattoo marrowtattoo

Source: @marrowtattoo via Instagram

Celtic Tribal Sleeve Tattoo dk_paris

Source: @dk_paris via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos 2 thrudtattoo_rougebarbe

Source: @thrudtattoo_rougebarbe via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos akironstattoo

Source: @akironstattoo via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos garrett.morrell

Source: @garrett.morrell via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos izzytattoocurran

Source: @izzytattoocurran via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos jdr.tats

Source: @jdr.tats_ via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos rudy506

Source: @rudy506 via Instagram

Celtic Tribal Sleeve Tattoo taras_shtanko

Source: @taras_shtanko via Instagram

Nordic Full Sleeve Tattoos thrudtattoo_rougebarbe

Source: @thrudtattoo_rougebarbe via Instagram

4. Half Sleeve Nordic Arm Tattoo Ideas

Nordic Half Sleeve Tattoos _ausbildung_pflege_

Source: @george_papatsimpas via Instagram

Nordic Half Sleeve Tattoos alereges_tattoo

Source: @alereges_tattoo via Instagram

Nordic Half Sleeve Tattoos emma_rox

Source: @emma_rox via Instagram

Nordic Half Sleeve Tattoos gabo_ragatattoo

Source: @gabo_ragatattoo via Instagram

Nordic Half Sleeve Tattoos jasonaboveall

Source: @jasonaboveall via Instagram

5. Nordic Tattoo Ideas for the Shoulder

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos 2 legends_on_skin

Source: @legends_on_skin via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos badskullcompany

Source: @badskullcompany via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos chris_gilvarry

Source: @chris_gilvarry via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos cstief_art

Source: @cstief_art via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos domtattoos

Source: @domtattoos via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos garttattoostudio

Source: @garttattoostudio via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos killemjohnny_

Source: @killemjohnny_ via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos legends_on_skin

Source: @legends_on_skin via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos razcasket

Source: @razcasket via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos some_more_ink

Source: @some_more_ink via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos tattoo.parlormx

Source: @tattoo.parlormx via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos kokosqla

Source: @kokosqla via Instagram

Nordic Shoulder Tattoos jynt

Source: @jynt via Instagram

6. Simple Nordic Arm Tattoo Ideas

Celtic Tribal Upperarm Tattoo leandromuniz.ink29

Source: @leandromuniz.ink29 via Instagram

Celtic Tribal Upperarm Tattoo giovanni_liguoro

Source: @giovanni_liguoro via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos chaamps.tattoo

Source: @chaamps.tattoo via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos duggantattoo

Source: @duggantattoo via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos inked_by_simon

Source: @inked_by_simon via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos jimhoffman.tattoo

Source: @jimhoffman.tattoo via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos naturedynamic_ink

Source: @naturedynamic_ink via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos nm_tattoo_artiste

Source: @nm_tattoo_artiste via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos reggietherascal13

Source: @reggietherascal13 via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos tylerodraven

Source: @tylerodraven via Instagram

Simple Nordic Arm Tattoos babciadziarka

Source: @babciadziarka via Instagram

7. Upper Arm Nordic Tattoos

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos blodvaka

Source: @blodvaka via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos bodhitantra

Source: @bodhitantra via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos dustymurphytattoo

Source: @dustymurphytattoo via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos falcignoart

Source: @falcignoart via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos javierdrakkar

Source: @javierdrakkar via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos langdaleart-20200807

Source: @20200807 via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos le_repaire_de_ragnar

Source: @le_repaire_de_ragnar via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos legends_on_skin

Source: @legends_on_skin via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos nillsonmonteiro_tattoo

Source: @nillsonmonteiro_tattoo via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos wayne_calvert_tattoo

Source: @wayne_calvert_tattoo via Instagram

Nordic Upperarm Tattoos zagajnik.tattoostudio

Source: @zagajnik.tattoostudio via Instagram

8. Viking Arm Tattoo Ideas

Celtic Tribal Forearm Tattoo vik__ink

Source: @vik__ink via Instagram

Nordic Viking Arm Tattoos blackdynastytattoo

Source: @blackdynastytattoo via Instagram

Nordic Viking Arm Tattoos idregad

Source: @idregad via Instagram

Nordic Viking Arm Tattoos tattoobymai

Source: @tattoobymai via Instagram

Nordic Viking Arm Tattoos wildchildllc

Source: @wildchildllc via Instagram

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Nordic Arm Tattoo FAQs

What symbols and themes are popular for Nordic arm tattoos?

With a focus on tradition, martial prowess, and the Norse Gods there are a range of awesome tattoo designs you can apply to your body art apart from viking warriors. These include: 

  • The Valknut. A Valknut tattoo is three interconnected triangles, whose name was coined by the Old Norse word valr , meaning ‘slain warriors’, and knut , meaning ‘knot’. It is assumed the Valknut is associated with death and the afterlife. 
  • Rune and Wyrd lettering. A Viking rune tattoo today refers to the Norse tradition of symbols that many believe held magical powers, which is corroborated by archaeological and anecdotal evidence. 
  • Viking Longship. Viking Longships navigated the fierce waters. When they rolled up on your shoreline with a crew of bloodthirsty warriors, you knew you were in for a bad time. 
  • Norse God Designs. A Norse God or mythology makes for great tattoo design. Odin and his raven flock, Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, Loki the trickster, beautiful Freya or the host of Valkyrie set to help a viking warrior to Valhalla. They’re rich characters filled with the attributes of the best and worst of humanity. 
  • Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil is an immense mythical tree that plays a central role in Norse cosmology, where it connects the Nine Worlds. It is similar in symbolic meaning to the tree of life, or the world tree. 
  • Vegvisir. Combining the Old Norse words vegur (way or road) and visir (pointer), the literal meaning of Vegvisir is to point the way. If carried, the Vegvisir would keep a person on track through storms and all types of bad weather, even if they didn’t know where they were going 
What does a Fenrir tattoo symbolize?

Fenrir was the son of the trickster Loki and Giantess Angrboda. He was the giant wolf chained by the Aesir but fated to break free for Ragnarok and devour Odin.   

According to writer Daniel McCoy, “Perhaps the Vikings thought that it is ultimately Fenrir who, in addition to killing Odin and destroying much of the world, will eat the sun and the moon during Ragnarok.”  

McCoy also believes that many other mythological wolves such as Garm and Skoll were different reflections of the Fenrir legend.  

Many Viking tattoo depictions of Fenrir include realistic or Norse traditional breaking free from his chains to wreak havoc. 

What does a Mjolnir tattoo symbolize? 

Thor, with his mighty hammer Mjolnir, was the patron God of thunder and war. He prized strength, honor and valor in battle above all else. 

The Norsemen would invoke his name in prayers for the strength to cleave their enemies, as well as for protection: for themselves, and for their loved ones back home. 

The Vikings observed all deities in their proper rituals and festivals, but Thor was one of the most popular.  

Much of the Norse way of life revolved heavily around Thor’s area of influence over the natural world.  

He was believed to grant victory to the brave and the strong, and to welcome them to his side in Valhalla after they’d fought their last battle. 

Jono Elderton

Writer

Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University.

Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University.

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