A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

The Curse of the Name Tattoo

Tattoo legend has it that if you get a tattoo of a romantic partner’s name, or get a matching tattoo with them, that the relationship is doomed. This further before and after anecdotal evidence is by Curtis Richter at The Quillian in Allentown, PA.

I have three matching tattoos with ex-partners. Two dumped me, I dumped the other. I can’t say I won’t do it again, because I record my life with my body, and I don’t regret any of the tattoos in the least… But from everything I’ve seen, I’d suggest this curse applies in at least 80% of cases.

Comments

108 responses to “The Curse of the Name Tattoo”

  1. Vienna Avatar
    Vienna

    This is why you talk your mate out of having your name on his/her body.

    I did.

    And boy am I glad.

    Anyway, I laughed! =]

  2. Vienna Avatar
    Vienna

    This is why you talk your mate out of having your name on his/her body.

    I did.

    And boy am I glad.

    Anyway, I laughed! =]

  3. Vienna Avatar
    Vienna

    This is why you talk your mate out of having your name on his/her body.

    I did.

    And boy am I glad.

    Anyway, I laughed! =]

  4. Robyn Avatar

    haha. that was sweet!

  5. Robyn Avatar

    haha. that was sweet!

  6. Robyn Avatar

    haha. that was sweet!

  7. chel Avatar

    hehehe i like, i’ve seen a similar one like it with a “VOID” stamp style tattoo over the top too.

  8. chel Avatar

    hehehe i like, i’ve seen a similar one like it with a “VOID” stamp style tattoo over the top too.

  9. chel Avatar

    hehehe i like, i’ve seen a similar one like it with a “VOID” stamp style tattoo over the top too.

  10. Jets Avatar

    I like that a lot more than a cover-up that would have completely hidden it :>

    I feel the need to admit that my fiancé and I are getting small matching tattoos, and he has an abstract tattoo of me on his chest. I tried to talk him out of the latter, but he said something similar to what you wrote: He couldn’t imagine no longer loving me, but if we did break up, that wouldn’t change the fact that it had happened and made him who he is.

  11. Jets Avatar

    I like that a lot more than a cover-up that would have completely hidden it :>

    I feel the need to admit that my fiancé and I are getting small matching tattoos, and he has an abstract tattoo of me on his chest. I tried to talk him out of the latter, but he said something similar to what you wrote: He couldn’t imagine no longer loving me, but if we did break up, that wouldn’t change the fact that it had happened and made him who he is.

  12. Jets Avatar

    I like that a lot more than a cover-up that would have completely hidden it :>

    I feel the need to admit that my fiancé and I are getting small matching tattoos, and he has an abstract tattoo of me on his chest. I tried to talk him out of the latter, but he said something similar to what you wrote: He couldn’t imagine no longer loving me, but if we did break up, that wouldn’t change the fact that it had happened and made him who he is.

  13. RustY Avatar

    That’s the coolest thing ever.. Better than a cover-up, no doubt about it!

  14. RustY Avatar

    That’s the coolest thing ever.. Better than a cover-up, no doubt about it!

  15. RustY Avatar

    That’s the coolest thing ever.. Better than a cover-up, no doubt about it!

  16. A Doc Who Pierces Too Avatar
    A Doc Who Pierces Too

    In my office I do all kinds of laser stuff, but tattoo removal is just an unhappy time for all. Results can be good but it’s painful, expensive and never seems to make people really happy. I always recommend a local shop and send people for cover art when I can. This is an alternative that I like a whole lot. Something new to suggest.

  17. A Doc Who Pierces Too Avatar
    A Doc Who Pierces Too

    In my office I do all kinds of laser stuff, but tattoo removal is just an unhappy time for all. Results can be good but it’s painful, expensive and never seems to make people really happy. I always recommend a local shop and send people for cover art when I can. This is an alternative that I like a whole lot. Something new to suggest.

  18. A Doc Who Pierces Too Avatar
    A Doc Who Pierces Too

    In my office I do all kinds of laser stuff, but tattoo removal is just an unhappy time for all. Results can be good but it’s painful, expensive and never seems to make people really happy. I always recommend a local shop and send people for cover art when I can. This is an alternative that I like a whole lot. Something new to suggest.

  19. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    80%?

    What happens to the other 20%? Do they die together, holding hands, with beatific smiles on their wizened faces? In the long view, 100% of relationships are doomed anyway.

  20. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    80%?

    What happens to the other 20%? Do they die together, holding hands, with beatific smiles on their wizened faces? In the long view, 100% of relationships are doomed anyway.

  21. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    80%?

    What happens to the other 20%? Do they die together, holding hands, with beatific smiles on their wizened faces? In the long view, 100% of relationships are doomed anyway.

  22. secretdesiresx Avatar

    i think this is my favorite “cover up” i’ve seen yet

  23. secretdesiresx Avatar

    i think this is my favorite “cover up” i’ve seen yet

  24. secretdesiresx Avatar

    i think this is my favorite “cover up” i’ve seen yet

  25. Saturnia Avatar
    Saturnia

    Someone got something similar to this – she had an ex’s name on her arm, and got a “VOID” stamp tattooed on top of it.

  26. Saturnia Avatar
    Saturnia

    Someone got something similar to this – she had an ex’s name on her arm, and got a “VOID” stamp tattooed on top of it.

  27. Saturnia Avatar
    Saturnia

    Someone got something similar to this – she had an ex’s name on her arm, and got a “VOID” stamp tattooed on top of it.

  28. Cheshirekat Avatar
    Cheshirekat

    The curse also holds true if your partner is the one tattooing you. I’ve been unfortunate enough to have that happen TWICE. Never again will i let a tattoo artist that i’m involved with ink me.

  29. Cheshirekat Avatar
    Cheshirekat

    The curse also holds true if your partner is the one tattooing you. I’ve been unfortunate enough to have that happen TWICE. Never again will i let a tattoo artist that i’m involved with ink me.

  30. Cheshirekat Avatar
    Cheshirekat

    The curse also holds true if your partner is the one tattooing you. I’ve been unfortunate enough to have that happen TWICE. Never again will i let a tattoo artist that i’m involved with ink me.

  31. Caitlin Avatar
    Caitlin

    Ouch!

  32. Caitlin Avatar
    Caitlin

    Ouch!

  33. Caitlin Avatar
    Caitlin

    Ouch!

  34. slackary Avatar
    slackary

    Hmmm….my wife’s family name means magpie in her language, so I got a magpie tattooed over my heart. I sure hope that’s crafty enough to fool the curse…

  35. slackary Avatar
    slackary

    Hmmm….my wife’s family name means magpie in her language, so I got a magpie tattooed over my heart. I sure hope that’s crafty enough to fool the curse…

  36. slackary Avatar
    slackary

    Hmmm….my wife’s family name means magpie in her language, so I got a magpie tattooed over my heart. I sure hope that’s crafty enough to fool the curse…

  37. valon Avatar
    valon

    it’s because you are giving them your world in a sense which is what ruins it all since they don’t know what to do with your world. they have their own to work with and if they do wrong(in your opinion) to your world it just fucks it up.

    i got her lips tattooed on my shoulder blade. lets put it this way, i am glad the curse worked in this case. hahahaahaha. but i will never regret the tattoo i got because it means so much more then just her.

  38. valon Avatar
    valon

    it’s because you are giving them your world in a sense which is what ruins it all since they don’t know what to do with your world. they have their own to work with and if they do wrong(in your opinion) to your world it just fucks it up.

    i got her lips tattooed on my shoulder blade. lets put it this way, i am glad the curse worked in this case. hahahaahaha. but i will never regret the tattoo i got because it means so much more then just her.

  39. valon Avatar
    valon

    it’s because you are giving them your world in a sense which is what ruins it all since they don’t know what to do with your world. they have their own to work with and if they do wrong(in your opinion) to your world it just fucks it up.

    i got her lips tattooed on my shoulder blade. lets put it this way, i am glad the curse worked in this case. hahahaahaha. but i will never regret the tattoo i got because it means so much more then just her.

  40. Hil Avatar
    Hil

    Was the name tattooed over with white ink, or does it just look more faded in comparison to the new addition?

  41. Hil Avatar
    Hil

    Was the name tattooed over with white ink, or does it just look more faded in comparison to the new addition?

  42. Hil Avatar
    Hil

    Was the name tattooed over with white ink, or does it just look more faded in comparison to the new addition?

  43. Jets Avatar

    Good comment, valon. I’m glad you still like the tattoo 🙂

  44. Jets Avatar

    Good comment, valon. I’m glad you still like the tattoo 🙂

  45. Jets Avatar

    Good comment, valon. I’m glad you still like the tattoo 🙂

  46. Lori Avatar

    Hahahahaha, I hope that was one of my ex’s. 🙂

  47. Lori Avatar

    Hahahahaha, I hope that was one of my ex’s. 🙂

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