Infinity Symbol Meaning — Symbolism, Origins & Significance
Quick answer
The infinity symbol (∞), the horizontal figure-eight (lemniscate), represents endlessness, eternity, and the limitless. Originally a mathematical symbol for infinity, it has become a beloved emblem of eternity, endless love and bonds, limitless possibility, and the unending — hugely popular in jewellery and tattoos.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Mathematical symbol introduced by John Wallis (1655); connects to ancient ideas of eternity (the ouroboros, the circle) |
| Primary meaning | Endlessness, eternity & the limitless; eternal love & bonds; limitless possibility |
| Common tattoo placement | Wrist, inner forearm, behind the ear, ankle (small & fine-line) |
| Popular use | Eternal love & bonds — often personalised with names, words, hearts, feathers, or birds |
| Related symbols | Ouroboros, heart, feather |
The infinity symbol (∞) — the elegant horizontal figure-eight, the lemniscate — is one of the most popular and beloved of modern symbols, representing endlessness, eternity, the limitless, and the unending. Originally a mathematical symbol for the concept of infinity (the boundless, the limitless), it has become, far beyond mathematics, a beloved emblem of eternity, endless love, limitless possibility, and the unending — hugely popular in jewellery, design, and especially tattoos, where it expresses eternal love, eternal bonds, and the limitless. A clean, simple, and meaningful symbol of the endless and the eternal.
What gives the infinity symbol its meaning is its form and its concept: a continuous, unbroken line that loops endlessly back on itself in a figure-eight, with no beginning and no end, representing the concept of infinity — the boundless, the limitless, the endless, the unending, the eternal. This made the infinity symbol a symbol of eternity and the eternal (endless, without end), of endlessness and the limitless (boundless, without limit), of endless or eternal love and bonds (eternal love, an unending bond, 'forever'), of limitless possibility and potential (the boundless, the limitless), and of continuity, cycles, and the unending. This page explores the infinity symbol's meaning, its mathematical origin and its connection to older ideas of eternity and the endless, and its significance as a symbol — including as one of the most popular of all modern tattoos.
What the Infinity Symbol Represents
The infinity symbol's central meaning is endlessness and eternity — the boundless, the limitless, the unending, that which has no end. As a continuous, unbroken line looping endlessly back on itself with no beginning and no end, the infinity symbol represents the concept of infinity itself: the endless, the eternal, the boundless, the limitless, the unending, that which goes on forever. This is its core and original meaning, and the foundation of all its other associations. The infinity symbol is the emblem of the endless and the eternal.
From this core meaning flows the infinity symbol's most popular modern meaning: endless or eternal love, eternal bonds, and 'forever.' Because the symbol represents the endless and the eternal, it became a beloved emblem of eternal love, of love that never ends, of an unending or eternal bond between people, of being together 'forever,' and of the永 permanence and endlessness of love and connection. This is the most popular meaning of the infinity symbol in modern use, especially in jewellery and tattoos — the symbol of eternal love and eternal bonds, expressing love or connection that lasts forever, without end.
The infinity symbol is a symbol of limitless possibility and potential. Because infinity is the boundless and the limitless, the symbol represents limitless possibility, boundless potential, endless opportunity, and the idea that possibilities are limitless and without bound — a positive, aspirational meaning of boundlessness and limitless potential.
The infinity symbol also carries associations with continuity, cycles, and the unending flow. The continuous, looping, unbroken line — flowing endlessly around the figure-eight — represents continuity, the unending flow, cycles and the cyclical (the endless return), and the continuous and the perpetual. (In this it connects to other symbols of eternity and the cycle, like the ouroboros — the serpent eating its tail — which represents a similar idea of the eternal, the cyclical, and the unending, and which is sometimes called a related or ancestral form of the infinity idea.)
The infinity symbol is also used to represent specific concepts of endlessness or the boundless in various contexts — endless or eternal life, boundless love or compassion, limitless freedom, and the like — and it is sometimes given personal or spiritual meanings of the eternal soul, eternal connection, or the boundless and divine. Underlying all of these is the infinity symbol's quality as the elegant emblem of the endless and the eternal — endlessness, eternity, and the limitless; eternal love and eternal bonds; limitless possibility and potential; and continuity, cycles, and the unending — making it one of the most popular, beloved, and meaningful of all modern symbols, especially as an expression of eternal love and the eternal.
Historical Origins
The infinity symbol (∞) as we know it — the horizontal figure-eight, the lemniscate, used to represent the mathematical concept of infinity — is relatively modern in its origin as a specific symbol, dating to the 17th century, though the concept of infinity and the endless, and related symbols and ideas of eternity and the unending, are ancient. Understanding the infinity symbol means distinguishing its specific modern origin from the ancient ideas it connects to.
The specific symbol ∞ for infinity was introduced by the English mathematician John Wallis in 1655, who first used the horizontal figure-eight to represent the mathematical concept of infinity — the boundless, the limitless, the endless, that which is greater than any finite quantity — in his mathematical work. The symbol was adopted into mathematics and became the standard symbol for the concept of infinity, used in mathematics to represent the infinite, the boundless, and the limitless (in calculus, set theory, and throughout mathematics). The reasons Wallis chose this particular form are not certain — it may have been derived from a Roman numeral form, from the Greek letter omega (the last letter, suggesting the end or the ultimate), or simply as a symbol of a quantity with no end — but the horizontal figure-eight became, from the 17th century, the established mathematical symbol for infinity. So the infinity symbol as a specific symbol has a clear, relatively recent, mathematical origin.
The concept of infinity and the endless, however, is ancient, and the infinity symbol connects to much older ideas and symbols of eternity, the endless, the boundless, and the cyclical. The idea of the infinite, the eternal, the boundless, and the endless has been contemplated by philosophers, mathematicians, and religious thinkers since antiquity (in Greek philosophy, in Indian thought, in religious ideas of the eternal and the infinite divine). And symbols of eternity, the endless, and the cyclical are ancient: the ouroboros — the serpent eating its own tail, forming an endless loop — is an ancient symbol (from ancient Egypt and beyond) of eternity, the endless, the cyclical, and the unending, and is sometimes seen as a related or ancestral form of the idea the infinity symbol expresses; the circle, with no beginning or end, is an ancient symbol of eternity and the endless; and various traditions have symbols of the eternal, the unending, and the cyclical. The infinity symbol's meaning of eternity and the endless thus connects to these ancient ideas and symbols, even though the specific figure-eight symbol is a 17th-century mathematical innovation. (The figure-eight form is also sometimes called the 'lemniscate,' a term for the figure-eight curve in mathematics.)
In the modern era, the infinity symbol moved far beyond mathematics to become a hugely popular and beloved general symbol of eternity, endlessness, the limitless, and especially eternal love and eternal bonds. Embraced in jewellery, design, fashion, and especially tattoos, the infinity symbol became one of the most popular of all modern symbols, used to express eternity, endless love, eternal bonds, 'forever,' limitless possibility, and the unending. It is especially popular as a symbol of eternal love and eternal bonds — in jewellery (infinity rings, necklaces, and bracelets, given as symbols of eternal love and commitment) and in tattoos (the infinity symbol, often combined with names, words, or other elements, as a symbol of eternal love, eternal bonds, and the eternal). From its specific 17th-century mathematical origin and its connection to ancient ideas of eternity and the endless, the infinity symbol became one of the most popular and beloved of modern symbols, an elegant and meaningful emblem of the endless and the eternal, and especially of eternal love.
Cultural Variations
Mathematical origin
The infinity symbol (∞) has its specific origin as a mathematical symbol, introduced in the 17th century to represent the mathematical concept of infinity — the boundless, the limitless, and the endless — and this mathematical meaning is the foundation of the symbol. The symbol ∞ was introduced by the English mathematician John Wallis in 1655, who first used the horizontal figure-eight (the lemniscate) to represent the concept of infinity in his mathematical work. In mathematics, infinity is the concept of that which is boundless, limitless, endless, and without bound — greater than any finite quantity, going on without end — and the symbol ∞ became the standard mathematical notation for this concept, used throughout mathematics (in calculus, where it represents quantities growing without bound or limits approaching the infinite; in set theory, where it relates to infinite sets; and throughout mathematical thought). The mathematical concept of infinity is profound and subtle — there are even different 'sizes' or kinds of infinity in advanced mathematics — but at its core, infinity represents the endless, the boundless, the limitless, that which has no end. The reasons Wallis chose the specific figure-eight form are not certainly known (possibly derived from a Roman numeral, the Greek omega, or simply as a form suggesting endlessness), but the horizontal figure-eight became the established and universal mathematical symbol for infinity. This mathematical origin and meaning — the symbol for the boundless, limitless, endless concept of infinity — is the foundation of the infinity symbol and the source of all its later, broader meanings of eternity, endlessness, and the limitless. The mathematical infinity symbol thus carries the foundational meanings of the concept of infinity — the boundless, the limitless, the endless, that which has no end and is greater than any finite quantity — the specific 17th-century mathematical symbol (introduced by John Wallis) for the infinite, which became the foundation for the symbol's broader and beloved meanings of eternity and the endless.
Eternity & the endless (ancient ideas)
Although the specific figure-eight symbol is a 17th-century mathematical innovation, the infinity symbol's meaning of eternity, the endless, and the boundless connects to much older and ancient ideas and symbols of the eternal, the unending, the cyclical, and the infinite, giving the modern symbol deep conceptual roots. The concept and contemplation of infinity, the eternal, the boundless, and the endless are ancient: philosophers, mathematicians, and religious thinkers across cultures have contemplated the infinite and the eternal since antiquity — in Greek philosophy (the concept of the apeiron, the boundless or infinite, and debates about infinity), in Indian thought (concepts of the infinite, the eternal, and the boundless divine and cosmos, and the cyclical and endless nature of time and existence), and in religious ideas of the eternal, the infinite, and the boundless divine (the eternity and infinitude of God or the ultimate). And symbols of eternity, the endless, and the cyclical are ancient and widespread: the ouroboros — the serpent (or dragon) eating its own tail, forming a continuous, endless loop — is an ancient symbol (originating in ancient Egypt and appearing across cultures) of eternity, the endless, the cyclical, the unending, and the self-renewing, and it expresses an idea very close to that of the infinity symbol (the endless loop with no beginning or end), so that the ouroboros is sometimes seen as an ancient, related, or ancestral form of the infinity idea; the circle, with no beginning and no end, is an ancient and universal symbol of eternity, the endless, wholeness, and the unending; and various traditions have symbols and concepts of the eternal, the infinite, the boundless, and the cyclical. The modern infinity symbol's meaning of eternity and the endless thus connects to and draws on these ancient ideas and symbols of the eternal, the endless, the boundless, and the cyclical — the figure-eight form being a modern symbol for an ancient and profound idea. The eternity-and-the-endless dimension of the infinity symbol thus carries the deep conceptual roots of the ancient ideas and symbols of eternity, the endless, the boundless, the cyclical, and the infinite (the ouroboros, the circle, the philosophical and religious concepts of the eternal and the infinite) — connecting the modern figure-eight symbol to humanity's ancient contemplation of and symbols for the eternal, the endless, and the boundless.
Modern (love & eternity)
In the modern era the infinity symbol moved far beyond mathematics to become one of the most popular and beloved of all symbols, embraced especially as an emblem of eternal love, eternal bonds, and the eternal — its most popular and cherished modern meaning, hugely popular in jewellery and tattoos. As the infinity symbol became known beyond mathematics, its meaning of endlessness, eternity, and the limitless was embraced as a beloved general and personal symbol, and above all as a symbol of eternal love and eternal bonds. The infinity symbol became enormously popular as an expression of love that never ends, of an eternal or unending bond between people, of being together 'forever,' and of the permanence and endlessness of love, connection, and commitment — making it a beloved symbol of eternal love, eternal friendship, eternal family bonds, and eternal commitment. This meaning made the infinity symbol hugely popular in jewellery — infinity rings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants, given and worn as symbols of eternal love, eternal bonds, and commitment (popular in engagement and wedding jewellery, friendship and family jewellery, and as gifts expressing 'forever') — and especially popular in tattoos, where the infinity symbol became one of the most popular of all tattoo designs, expressing eternal love, eternal bonds, and the eternal, very often combined with names, words ('forever,' 'love,' 'family'), dates, or other elements (such as a feather, a heart, a bird, or a word incorporated into the line of the symbol), or as matching tattoos shared between partners, friends, or family members. Beyond eternal love, the modern infinity symbol is also embraced as a symbol of eternity and the eternal generally, of limitless possibility and boundless potential (a positive, aspirational meaning), of continuity and the unending, and of personal or spiritual meanings of the eternal, the boundless, and the limitless. The modern infinity symbol thus carries, above all, the beloved meaning of eternal love and eternal bonds ('forever,' love and connection that never ends), as well as eternity and the eternal generally, limitless possibility and boundless potential, and continuity and the unending — one of the most popular and beloved of all modern symbols, an elegant emblem of the eternal and especially of eternal love, hugely popular in jewellery and tattoos as an expression of 'forever' and the eternal bond.
The Infinity Symbol as a Tattoo
The infinity symbol is one of the most popular of all tattoos, chosen above all for its meaning of eternal love and eternal bonds, and for its clean, elegant, and meaningful form. People choose infinity tattoos to represent eternal love (love that never ends), eternal bonds and connections (an unending bond between partners, family, or friends — 'forever'), the memory of a loved one (an eternal bond with someone who has died, eternal love that continues), limitless possibility and boundless potential, eternity and the eternal, or continuity and the unending. It is one of the most popular tattoos for expressing eternal love, eternal bonds, and 'forever,' especially as a couples', family, or memorial tattoo.
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Infinity Symbol — FAQ
- What does the infinity symbol mean?
- The infinity symbol (∞), the horizontal figure-eight (lemniscate), represents endlessness, eternity, and the limitless. Originally a mathematical symbol for infinity, it has become a beloved emblem of eternity, endless love and bonds, limitless possibility, and the unending.
- Where does the infinity symbol come from?
- As a specific symbol, it was introduced by the mathematician John Wallis in 1655 to represent the mathematical concept of infinity. The concept of eternity and the endless is ancient, though, connecting to older symbols like the ouroboros and the circle.
- Why does the infinity symbol mean eternal love?
- Because it represents the endless and the eternal — without beginning or end — it became a beloved emblem of love that never ends, of an eternal or unending bond, and of 'forever.' This is its most popular modern meaning, especially in jewellery and tattoos.
- What is the infinity symbol called?
- The infinity symbol or, in mathematics, the lemniscate (the term for the figure-eight curve). It represents the concept of infinity — the boundless, the limitless, the endless — and, in popular use, eternity and the eternal.
- What does an infinity tattoo mean?
- Usually eternal love, eternal bonds, or 'forever' (a hugely popular couples', family, or memorial tattoo), or limitless possibility and eternity. It's often personalised with names, words, dates, or elements like a heart, feather, or birds incorporated into the line.