Dakota Johnson's Tattoos and Their Meanings

Dakota Johnson’s Persian Script Tattoo

On her right forearm, there's a script piece in Persian, which in English translates to "Love creates love."

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Dakota Johnson’s Moon Tattoo

On the side of her right forearm, Johnson has what appears to be a circular ring surrounded by two crescent moon-like shapes. The piece is nestled between her "Heaven" and wilted daisy designs.

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Dakota Johnson’s “Brad” Foot Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Mike Marsland

Johnson's right foot bears the name "Brad" in tiny font. She has yet to reveal its inspiration.

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Dakota Johnson’s Scarab Beetle Ankle Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Spicer

After attending the 2022 Met Gala, Johnson, her "The Lost Daughter" costar Jessie Buckley, and the director of the movie, Maggie Gyllenhaal, all decided to get matching tattoos. The trio got a scarab beetle, which symbolizes rebirth. Johnson's sits on her right ankle. In a Vanity Fair cover story, the "Our Friend" actor shared that they got it in Gyllenhaal's Brooklyn kitchen with the help of a friend. Olivia Colman missed out on this opportunity due to her busy shooting schedule, so Johnson later gave her a tattoo herself to make up for it. Colman shared on "The Graham Norton Show" that she got the initials of her loved ones on her left forearm.

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Dakota Johnson’s “All Seven” Forearm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Hector Vivas

The words "All seven" are tattooed across Johnson's left forearm, the significance of which isn't known. She got it sometime in 2021.

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Dakota Johnson’s “Heaven” Wrist Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Dominique Charriau

The word "Heaven" sits near Johnson's right wrist in neat, small fonts featuring dark and light shading.

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Dakota Johnson’s “I Love You” Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / JC Olivera

While joining host Josh Horowitz for a virtual interview in May 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, Johnson revealed she got a new tattoo at home using her stick-and-poke kit. The ink is located on her left tricep just above her elbow and reads, "I Love You" in all capital letters. It's likely dedicated to her long-time partner and now-fiancé, Chris Martin.

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Dakota Johnson’s Behind-the-Ear Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff

She also has a tiny piece of ink behind her right ear, which appears to depict part of a cartoon face. However, it's hard to decipher what it signifies.

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Dakota Johnson’s Birds Back Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

Placed over her right shoulder blade, she has three birds tattooed mid-flight. While Johnson hasn't shared its meaning, fans have long speculated that this could be a touching tribute to her maternal grandmother and veteran actress Tippi Hedren, who led Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 "The Birds."

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Dakota Johnson’s “Look at the Moon” Foot Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

The phrase "Look At The Moon" is etched in bold font across Johnson's right foot, horizontally above her heel. The script is surrounded by a bunch of tiny stars, enhancing the overall celestial theme of the piece.

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Dakota Johnson’s “Amor” Nape Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Luca Teuchmann

On the nape of her neck, Johnson has the word "Amor" tattooed in thick angular font, which means "love" in Spanish.

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Dakota Johnson’s Infinity Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Dominique Charriau

In 2018, Johnson and Martin got a matching infinity tattoo to commemorate their love for one another. The sweet design features fine-line elongated circles looping to make the infinity sign with two Xs intertwined at the top left corner. While Johnson got hers on the back of her left arm below the elbow, the Coldplay frontman got his matching design on his right forearm.

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Dakota Johnson’s “Tender” Forearm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Dominique Charriau

Done by the famous tattoo artist Dr. Woo in late 2016, Johnson has a one-word tattoo on her right forearm, which reads "Tender" in a delicate, fine-line style. In a 2017 Vogue cover story, she revealed that it's her favourite word.

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Dakota Johnson’s Daisy Forearm Tattoo

On her right forearm, Johnson has a delicate daisy flower, also tattooed by Dr. Woo in September 2017. The flower petal appears wilted, inspired by the 20th-century Australian artist Egon Schiele's artwork. "It's a lil f*cked up, but it's still a flower, like me," the LA-based tattooist captioned the picture of this design on Instagram, likely referencing the tattoo's significance to the actor.

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Dakota Johnson’s “Lightly My Darling” Wrist Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Variety

A direct quote from Aldous Huxley's "Island" is tattooed near Johnson's left wrist in white ink. "Lightly, my darling," the script piece reads, also done by her go-to tattooist, Dr. Woo, in his signature single-needle style.

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Dakota Johnson’s “Acta Non Verba” Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Hector Vivas

The Latin phrase "Acta Non Verba" is inscribed on the inside of Johnson's left bicep, which translates to "actions, not words." In a 2021 appearance on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," she shared that it was her very first tattoo, which she now has second thoughts about due to its too-on-the-nose quality.

Ina Bansal is a contributor at POPSUGAR, where she writes for the Beauty vertical.

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