How It Works

This generator converts your chosen date, year, or number into accurate Roman numerals formatted specifically for tattoo designs. It eliminates the guesswork and prevents the permanent mistakes that happen when people try to convert dates manually or trust unreliable sources.

The conversion follows this principle:

For a date like March 15, 1995, this converts to III • XV • MCMXCV (with dotted separator) or III / XV / MCMXCV (with slashes), depending on your style preference. The generator ensures proper subtractive notation (IV instead of IIII, IX instead of VIIII) and validates that your numbers fall within the Roman numeral range.

Why Roman Numeral Tattoos Are So Popular

Roman numeral tattoos have become one of the most requested tattoo styles worldwide because they look elegant, timeless, and personal without being obvious. A date in Roman numerals is meaningful to you but subtle to everyone else.

People get them for birth dates, wedding anniversaries, dates they lost someone important, sobriety dates, or any moment that changed their life. The classic aesthetic works on any body part and ages well compared to more elaborate designs.

But here’s the problem: Roman numeral tattoos are also one of the most commonly misspelled tattoos. Once it’s on your skin, fixing it requires expensive laser removal or a cover-up. That’s why using a verified generator matters.

What Makes a Good Roman Numeral Tattoo

Accuracy First

Your tattoo needs to be mathematically correct. That means using proper subtractive notation (IV for 4, not IIII) and placing symbols in the right order. A mistake like writing the year 1990 as MCMLXXXX instead of MCMXC is permanent and embarrassing.

Clear Formatting

Dates need separators so people can tell where one number ends and another begins. “VIII.XV.MCMXC” is clear (August 15, 1990). “VIIIXVMCMXC” all run together is confusing and looks wrong. Choose dots, slashes, or line breaks to separate the parts.

Font and Sizing

Roman numerals look best in serif fonts (like the preview in this generator uses). Sans-serif can work, but serif fonts have that classic, timeless feel most people want. Work with your artist on sizing, but remember that tiny Roman numerals can blur together as the tattoo ages. Go bigger than you think you need.

Placement Considerations

Horizontal layouts work well on forearms, ribs, or collarbones. Vertical designs fit spines, sides of the body, or behind the ear. Think about how the tattoo will look with your body’s natural lines and whether you want it easily visible or more private.

Common Roman Numeral Tattoo Dates

Date Format: American vs European

Americans write dates as month/day/year (7/4/1995 = July 4, 1995). Most of the rest of the world writes day/month/year (4/7/1995 = April 7, 1995). This causes massive confusion with Roman numeral tattoos.

If you want March 15, 1995, that’s 3/15/1995 in American format or 15/3/1995 in European format. In Roman numerals: III • XV • MCMXCV (American) or XV • III • MCMXCV (European).

Be absolutely clear about this with your tattoo artist. If you’re American getting tattooed abroad or vice versa, write out the month name (March 15, 1995) to avoid any mixup. A tattoo artist in Europe might assume you want day-first format unless you specify.

The IIII vs IV Debate

Standard Roman numerals use IV for 4 and IX for 9 (subtractive notation). But you’ve probably seen IIII on clock faces and wondered if that’s also correct for tattoos.

Short answer: use IV for tattoos unless you specifically want the clock-style IIII for aesthetic reasons. IIII is called “watchmaker’s four” and exists for visual symmetry on clock faces (IIII balances VIII on the opposite side). It’s not wrong historically, but it’s non-standard.

If someone sees IV, they’ll read it as correct. If they see IIII, they might think it’s a mistake, even though it has historical precedent. For a permanent tattoo, standard notation (IV) is safer unless you’re deliberately going for the clock aesthetic.

How to Verify Your Tattoo Design

Before your appointment, convert your design using this generator, then verify it using at least one other converter or chart. The designs should match exactly.

Print or screenshot your design. Bring it to your tattoo consultation. Don’t rely on your artist to convert the date. Many tattoo artists aren’t Roman numeral experts, they’re visual artists. Give them the exact design you want.

On tattoo day, before the needle touches your skin, look at the stencil. Verify each number matches your printed design. If something looks off, speak up immediately. Once it’s inked, it’s permanent.

If you’re getting a date that could be read multiple ways (like 5/6/2020, which could be May 6 or June 5), write out the month name on your reference sheet to eliminate any ambiguity.

What If You Already Have a Wrong Roman Numeral Tattoo?

It happens more than you’d think. The most common mistakes are using IIII instead of IV, getting the date format backwards, or having incorrect subtractive notation.

Your options: laser removal (expensive, takes multiple sessions, hurts), cover-up (incorporating the wrong numerals into a larger design), or correction (adding elements to fix the error if possible). Some mistakes can’t be fixed without removal.

Prevention is way cheaper and less painful than correction. That’s why using a verified generator matters. A few minutes of checking now saves you thousands in removal costs later.

Frequently Asked Questions