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. Lori Avatar

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

  2. gato Avatar
    gato

    best fucking cover-up of the year… laughed til i pissed myself… thank the lord for adult diapers… but i’ll save that story for another more appropriate blog… *thumbs up*

  3. gato Avatar
    gato

    best fucking cover-up of the year… laughed til i pissed myself… thank the lord for adult diapers… but i’ll save that story for another more appropriate blog… *thumbs up*

  4. gato Avatar
    gato

    best fucking cover-up of the year… laughed til i pissed myself… thank the lord for adult diapers… but i’ll save that story for another more appropriate blog… *thumbs up*

  5. JD LaRish Avatar
    JD LaRish

    ha, ha, ha … of course i was gonna get both “Curtis” & “Slut” tattooed on me.

  6. JD LaRish Avatar
    JD LaRish

    ha, ha, ha … of course i was gonna get both “Curtis” & “Slut” tattooed on me.

  7. JD LaRish Avatar
    JD LaRish

    ha, ha, ha … of course i was gonna get both “Curtis” & “Slut” tattooed on me.

  8. Shutterbug Avatar

    In my case we got something that had more meaning beyond our relationship: matching Tetris pieces. 😀

  9. Shutterbug Avatar

    In my case we got something that had more meaning beyond our relationship: matching Tetris pieces. 😀

  10. Shutterbug Avatar

    In my case we got something that had more meaning beyond our relationship: matching Tetris pieces. 😀

  11. Sneezy Avatar

    lol that is just his seal of approval for the girls that he liked alot lol

  12. Sneezy Avatar

    lol that is just his seal of approval for the girls that he liked alot lol

  13. Sneezy Avatar

    lol that is just his seal of approval for the girls that he liked alot lol

  14. lala Avatar
    lala

    I really like that….

  15. lala Avatar
    lala

    I really like that….

  16. lala Avatar
    lala

    I really like that….

  17. [email protected] Avatar

    I DONT BELIEVE IN THE CURSE!!!!!!! I NEVER WILL!!!!! ITS NOT THE TATOO THAT RUINS IT SO DONT BLAME IT ON THE TATOO!!!!! ITS THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE RELATIONSHIP AS TO WHY IT GOES WRONG!!!!!

  18. [email protected] Avatar

    I DONT BELIEVE IN THE CURSE!!!!!!! I NEVER WILL!!!!! ITS NOT THE TATOO THAT RUINS IT SO DONT BLAME IT ON THE TATOO!!!!! ITS THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE RELATIONSHIP AS TO WHY IT GOES WRONG!!!!!

  19. [email protected] Avatar

    I DONT BELIEVE IN THE CURSE!!!!!!! I NEVER WILL!!!!! ITS NOT THE TATOO THAT RUINS IT SO DONT BLAME IT ON THE TATOO!!!!! ITS THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE RELATIONSHIP AS TO WHY IT GOES WRONG!!!!!

  20. McKelley Avatar
    McKelley

    Full on CLASS.

  21. McKelley Avatar
    McKelley

    Full on CLASS.

  22. McKelley Avatar
    McKelley

    Full on CLASS.

  23. adams Avatar
    adams

    yup didn’t know this and went and got my husbands name on my wrist…but i believe it’s the people not the tat that dooms a relationship…i’ll keep you posted when we celebrate our 10th anniversary!!!

  24. adams Avatar
    adams

    yup didn’t know this and went and got my husbands name on my wrist…but i believe it’s the people not the tat that dooms a relationship…i’ll keep you posted when we celebrate our 10th anniversary!!!

  25. adams Avatar
    adams

    yup didn’t know this and went and got my husbands name on my wrist…but i believe it’s the people not the tat that dooms a relationship…i’ll keep you posted when we celebrate our 10th anniversary!!!

  26. Syn Avatar

    Damn, it’s weird cause I was just looking for ideas for a good back tattoo and here I stumble upon a tattoo from the tattoo shop I was gonna get it done at. Nice.

  27. Syn Avatar

    Damn, it’s weird cause I was just looking for ideas for a good back tattoo and here I stumble upon a tattoo from the tattoo shop I was gonna get it done at. Nice.

  28. Syn Avatar

    Damn, it’s weird cause I was just looking for ideas for a good back tattoo and here I stumble upon a tattoo from the tattoo shop I was gonna get it done at. Nice.

  29. kerry Avatar
    kerry

    I had a tattoo done of a swallow, scroll and heart wiv my exes name…i thought it was def wot i wanted, that we wud work no matter wot and even if worst come 2 worst and we did split up, id still keep the tat as a milestone kinda memory type thing of my life. the name was of my 1st love, i was very young and stupid………she actuly ended up stabbin me in the leg! so need less 2 say we split up. i lived wiv the tat for bout 2yrs after we split and never regreted anythin so much! so 2day was the day i got it covered wiv sum lil purple flowers over the name! oh yeh by the way the tat is on my boob 2! but hey, its all good coz the bitches name is gone! cant even c it at all!……but 1 thing thats sweet is my ex got a tat of my name 2 bout 3 times the size of mine!! so that kinda helps make me feel beta….
    anywhooo sori bout the v.long post!

  30. kerry Avatar
    kerry

    I had a tattoo done of a swallow, scroll and heart wiv my exes name…i thought it was def wot i wanted, that we wud work no matter wot and even if worst come 2 worst and we did split up, id still keep the tat as a milestone kinda memory type thing of my life. the name was of my 1st love, i was very young and stupid………she actuly ended up stabbin me in the leg! so need less 2 say we split up. i lived wiv the tat for bout 2yrs after we split and never regreted anythin so much! so 2day was the day i got it covered wiv sum lil purple flowers over the name! oh yeh by the way the tat is on my boob 2! but hey, its all good coz the bitches name is gone! cant even c it at all!……but 1 thing thats sweet is my ex got a tat of my name 2 bout 3 times the size of mine!! so that kinda helps make me feel beta….
    anywhooo sori bout the v.long post!

  31. kerry Avatar
    kerry

    I had a tattoo done of a swallow, scroll and heart wiv my exes name…i thought it was def wot i wanted, that we wud work no matter wot and even if worst come 2 worst and we did split up, id still keep the tat as a milestone kinda memory type thing of my life. the name was of my 1st love, i was very young and stupid………she actuly ended up stabbin me in the leg! so need less 2 say we split up. i lived wiv the tat for bout 2yrs after we split and never regreted anythin so much! so 2day was the day i got it covered wiv sum lil purple flowers over the name! oh yeh by the way the tat is on my boob 2! but hey, its all good coz the bitches name is gone! cant even c it at all!……but 1 thing thats sweet is my ex got a tat of my name 2 bout 3 times the size of mine!! so that kinda helps make me feel beta….
    anywhooo sori bout the v.long post!

  32. Jenn Avatar

    Hah, that stamp is great!

  33. Jenn Avatar

    Hah, that stamp is great!

  34. Jenn Avatar

    Hah, that stamp is great!

  35. mike Avatar
    mike

    my former fiance tattooed my name under a beautiful tattoo she had on her shoulder and part of her arm. the tattoo was a mrs. “my last name” that looked like a beautiful addition to her art work. in the end she dumped me. i dont get it. im still getting over the relationship. i just dont understand why someone would commit to marriage, commit to a very permanent tattoo, and get rid of you only to act like she never even knew me. people are just fucking weird. i didnt need the tattoo to know that i was committed to her forever. thank god!

  36. mike Avatar
    mike

    my former fiance tattooed my name under a beautiful tattoo she had on her shoulder and part of her arm. the tattoo was a mrs. “my last name” that looked like a beautiful addition to her art work. in the end she dumped me. i dont get it. im still getting over the relationship. i just dont understand why someone would commit to marriage, commit to a very permanent tattoo, and get rid of you only to act like she never even knew me. people are just fucking weird. i didnt need the tattoo to know that i was committed to her forever. thank god!

  37. mike Avatar
    mike

    my former fiance tattooed my name under a beautiful tattoo she had on her shoulder and part of her arm. the tattoo was a mrs. “my last name” that looked like a beautiful addition to her art work. in the end she dumped me. i dont get it. im still getting over the relationship. i just dont understand why someone would commit to marriage, commit to a very permanent tattoo, and get rid of you only to act like she never even knew me. people are just fucking weird. i didnt need the tattoo to know that i was committed to her forever. thank god!

  38. Cubba Avatar

    Yeah..I got my girls first name tattooed over my heart. Ever since then it seemed like things got worse and worse. Today we finally just ended it. We’ve said our goodbyes..sad part is she doesnt think we should talk anymore. It was all just to hard to make it work since her family hates me with the deepest passion of hate because of love her.

  39. Cubba Avatar

    Yeah..I got my girls first name tattooed over my heart. Ever since then it seemed like things got worse and worse. Today we finally just ended it. We’ve said our goodbyes..sad part is she doesnt think we should talk anymore. It was all just to hard to make it work since her family hates me with the deepest passion of hate because of love her.

  40. Cubba Avatar

    Yeah..I got my girls first name tattooed over my heart. Ever since then it seemed like things got worse and worse. Today we finally just ended it. We’ve said our goodbyes..sad part is she doesnt think we should talk anymore. It was all just to hard to make it work since her family hates me with the deepest passion of hate because of love her.

  41. q_t_pie Avatar
    q_t_pie

    i really dont see y u would want to tattoo someones name(spouse) on your body. Tattooing your kids name is different, iv seen that and its adorable. But your partners? i dont know i think its a bit much. Not much can last forever but with relationships, its really rocky, just alot of people trully beleive they will be with someone forever and alot of times it can backfire. when i was young i was addicted to abba, i wanted abba tattoed across my ass, and now, i listen to heavy metal, tastes change, sometimes is better to just know something in your heart and keep it at that. I have nothing wrong with people that do it, truly its your choice but sometimes its better to play it safe then sorry. Plese think about it befor hand, you dont have to beleive in the curse but maybe beleive in realtity and that fact that everything changes

  42. q_t_pie Avatar
    q_t_pie

    i really dont see y u would want to tattoo someones name(spouse) on your body. Tattooing your kids name is different, iv seen that and its adorable. But your partners? i dont know i think its a bit much. Not much can last forever but with relationships, its really rocky, just alot of people trully beleive they will be with someone forever and alot of times it can backfire. when i was young i was addicted to abba, i wanted abba tattoed across my ass, and now, i listen to heavy metal, tastes change, sometimes is better to just know something in your heart and keep it at that. I have nothing wrong with people that do it, truly its your choice but sometimes its better to play it safe then sorry. Plese think about it befor hand, you dont have to beleive in the curse but maybe beleive in realtity and that fact that everything changes

  43. q_t_pie Avatar
    q_t_pie

    i really dont see y u would want to tattoo someones name(spouse) on your body. Tattooing your kids name is different, iv seen that and its adorable. But your partners? i dont know i think its a bit much. Not much can last forever but with relationships, its really rocky, just alot of people trully beleive they will be with someone forever and alot of times it can backfire. when i was young i was addicted to abba, i wanted abba tattoed across my ass, and now, i listen to heavy metal, tastes change, sometimes is better to just know something in your heart and keep it at that. I have nothing wrong with people that do it, truly its your choice but sometimes its better to play it safe then sorry. Plese think about it befor hand, you dont have to beleive in the curse but maybe beleive in realtity and that fact that everything changes

  44. Destiny Avatar
    Destiny

    I am booked in 2moro to get my mans name tattooed on my ribs, just under my left boob, small, plain script, the day I booked in to get it done we had the WORST day of our 1yr relationship and he didn’t even kno I’d booked in for it! I later realised that it was me making it worse! I was wanting him to love me more that day because of what I’d done, and he didn’t even kno about it, when I stopped expecting supersweet love and commitment that day everything levelled out back to normal, we do love each other sooo much, I want to do this to show how committed I am to him, we don’t need it, but I want to do it. And its easily hidden, I saw a chick yday with “Kevin” tattooed on her neck!! I meant to ask her if they were still 2getha!

  45. Destiny Avatar
    Destiny

    I am booked in 2moro to get my mans name tattooed on my ribs, just under my left boob, small, plain script, the day I booked in to get it done we had the WORST day of our 1yr relationship and he didn’t even kno I’d booked in for it! I later realised that it was me making it worse! I was wanting him to love me more that day because of what I’d done, and he didn’t even kno about it, when I stopped expecting supersweet love and commitment that day everything levelled out back to normal, we do love each other sooo much, I want to do this to show how committed I am to him, we don’t need it, but I want to do it. And its easily hidden, I saw a chick yday with “Kevin” tattooed on her neck!! I meant to ask her if they were still 2getha!

  46. Destiny Avatar
    Destiny

    I am booked in 2moro to get my mans name tattooed on my ribs, just under my left boob, small, plain script, the day I booked in to get it done we had the WORST day of our 1yr relationship and he didn’t even kno I’d booked in for it! I later realised that it was me making it worse! I was wanting him to love me more that day because of what I’d done, and he didn’t even kno about it, when I stopped expecting supersweet love and commitment that day everything levelled out back to normal, we do love each other sooo much, I want to do this to show how committed I am to him, we don’t need it, but I want to do it. And its easily hidden, I saw a chick yday with “Kevin” tattooed on her neck!! I meant to ask her if they were still 2getha!

  47. Stephanie Avatar

    I’m sorry, but I have a tattoo on my leg of my husband and mine last name. Got it 5 years ago before I ever even married him (he got my last name on the side of his index finger). Yes, we have our days (like any normal couple), but we are still more in love than ever. In my opinion if you put belief in a curse than you are letting that curse become true. If you don’t want it to happen it won’t. It’s mind over matter. If you’re not meant to be inked or not you won’t last…that’s just the plain truth of it…sorry.

  48. Stephanie Avatar

    I’m sorry, but I have a tattoo on my leg of my husband and mine last name. Got it 5 years ago before I ever even married him (he got my last name on the side of his index finger). Yes, we have our days (like any normal couple), but we are still more in love than ever. In my opinion if you put belief in a curse than you are letting that curse become true. If you don’t want it to happen it won’t. It’s mind over matter. If you’re not meant to be inked or not you won’t last…that’s just the plain truth of it…sorry.

  49. Stephanie Avatar

    I’m sorry, but I have a tattoo on my leg of my husband and mine last name. Got it 5 years ago before I ever even married him (he got my last name on the side of his index finger). Yes, we have our days (like any normal couple), but we are still more in love than ever. In my opinion if you put belief in a curse than you are letting that curse become true. If you don’t want it to happen it won’t. It’s mind over matter. If you’re not meant to be inked or not you won’t last…that’s just the plain truth of it…sorry.

  50. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    It depends on the people, not a curse. If you want it to work it will, specially if you are determined to make it work. Some people get too caught up in their selfishness that they do not realize they are the ones messing up a relationship. No curse is out there waiting for it’s next victim. It all depends on wether you control your mind or your mind controls you, If you have self-control you probably have a better chance of staying committed. So if you’re sure that it is something you want, then why not get your love’s name tattooed? I know I will, and since my son has his dad’s name, it has two meanings as well.

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