Butterfly tattoos for guys have been around for centuries, dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome. In those days, the butterfly was seen as a symbol of transformation due to its metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. Today, the butterfly is still seen as a symbol of transformation, but it also carries with it a number of other meanings. Commonly, a butterfly tattoo on a man symbolizes freedom, change, and transformation, as well as love, joy, and beauty.