Lady Gaga is no stranger to the tattoo parlor. From musical tributes to intensely emotional designs, the singer has more than 20 tattoos — here’s what each one means.
Lady Gaga sure loves her ink.
The singer, 32, has gotten tattoos to commemorate everything from her own music to her onscreen roles to her personal heroes. Though she has a total of more than 20 tattoos, Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, promised her father that she would keep one side of her body (mostly) free from ink; she has called the left half of her body her “Iggy Pop” side, and the tattoo-less right side her “Marilyn Monroe.”
Below, a comprehensive list of all of Lady Gaga’s tattoos and their meanings.
Monster paw
Just under her left armpit and on her back, Lady Gaga has a huge piece dedicated to her fans: a manicured hand covered in lace and beads making a monster paw, the international sign of a Lady Gaga devotee.
Little Monsters
As a second tribute to her fans, Gaga got the words “Little Monsters” inked in calligraphy near the inside of her left elbow.
Mother Monster
To complete the theme, Gaga added the words “Mother Monster” with lace detailing, a large piece that extends from her ribcage to her armpit.
Dad
Gaga inked the word “dad” inside of a heart as a tribute to her father Joe Germanotta, after convincing him to undergo open-heart surgery despite his protests. The star even wrote a song, “Speechless,” as a plea for him to get the medical procedure. The tattoo session was recorded and shown during the musician’s “Monster Ball” tour in 2009-2010.
December 18,1974
Gaga’s “12/18/1974” tattoo honors her beloved aunt Joanne Stefani Germanotta, who died on that date at the age of 19. Born on March 12,1955, Joanne suffered from lupus and has been a huge presence in the Germonatta family. Not only is Gaga’s fifth and most recent studio album named after her aunt, but her dad also owns a restaurant with the same name.
Joanne
After releasing “Joanne” in 2016, Gaga got her aunt’s signature permanently inked on her forearm. Her father also got his sister’s name tattooed on his shoulder, despite his dislike for body art.
Mouse
In tribute to her sister Natali, whose nickname is “Mouse,” Gaga has a cartoon mouse holding a sewing needle and thread on the back of her arm. Natali is a fashion designer who graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City; the end of the thread reads “Nat.
