11 Popular Pirate Symbols & Flags (& What They Mean)

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Symbolism expert Alexander Labbé explains the most common symbols used by pirates

Co-authored by Alexander Labbé and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: August 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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Common Pirate Symbols

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Pirate Flags

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Flag Symbols of Famous Pirates

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Symbols, like skulls and swords, were used by pirates to strike fear in enemies. Many pirates hoisted a flag, known as a Jolly Roger, on their ships that featured a powerful symbol that would demonstrate their prowess while out on the high seas. There are various symbols that have become synonymous with pirates. For this article, we partnered with a symbolism expert to help us explain the meaning behind the most popular pirate symbols and flags, including the infamous Jolly Roger flag. We also look at the flags of famous pirates.

What symbols are associated with pirates?

Symbolism expert Alexander Labbé says the most common pirate symbol is the skull and crossbones. Other common symbols include an hourglass, bleeding heart, and dagger. These symbols were often depicted on the Jolly Roger flag, which is the infamous flag flown by pirates on their ships.

Section 1 of 3:

Common Pirate Symbols

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Skull and Crossbones Labbé says the skull and crossbones is the most common symbol associated with pirates, although its origins date back to the Late Middle Ages. It symbolizes the inevitability of death and was often used as a memento mori on tombstones.^{[1]
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Alexander Labbé
Symbolism & Occultism Expert

Expert Interview} It’s also popularly used to identify poisonous or toxic substances. Its morbid and intimidating appearance is likely why it became a big part of the Jolly Roger symbol.^{[2]
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- According to Labbé, the skull and crossbones symbol often appeared on the Jolly Roger flag, which is the infamous flag pirates flew on their ships. “Prior to 1730, pirates would decorate black or red flags with their own designs. Between 1716 and 1726, most pirates were part of large interconnected groups, and this is when the skull and crossbones became standardized on the Jolly Roger flag,” Labbé explains.^{[3]
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  Alexander Labbé
  Symbolism & Occultism Expert
  
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Alexander Labbé is a symbolism & occultism expert based in Canada. He began studying esoteric and occult symbolism at a young age. Known as The Mindseed Show on social media, he's been creating content for over 5 years.
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Hourglass The hourglass signaled to a pirate’s opponent that time was running out. The image was used on flags to let the opposition know that the window to surrender was limited, so they better make a decision fast. Some variations depict wings on the hourglass to reinforce the message.^{[4]
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Bleeding Heart A bleeding heart signified life and its fragility. It’s believed that pirates used this imagery to communicate that they weren’t going to show any mercy. Others think it meant that fighting back would result in a high death toll. Either way, the heart with dripping blood was meant to make the enemy shake in their boots.^{[5]
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Swords, Cutlasses, and Spears Weapon imagery represented pirates’ readiness to fight. Common pirate weapons depicted usually included crossed swords, cutlasses, daggers, and spears. All meant that violence was certain and inevitable. The designs of these symbols were typically customized to the captain’s preferences and not copied.
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Skeleton Like the skull and crossbones, skeletons were also featured on flags to signify death in a bold way. These skeletal figures were portrayed in various ways. Some held an hourglass to signal that time was running out. Others gripped a weapon, like a spear, aimed at a heart.^{[6]
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Masts A ship’s mast is one of its most significant parts. It’s how pirates were able to hoist their flags and get sailing. Masts were so special to pirates that many often got tattoos of a mast after their first voyage. The number of masts tattooed also had different meanings. Two masts meant authority, while three is believed to have been worn by those who successfully sailed the dangerous waters of Cape Horn.^{[7]
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- A broken mast usually represented a veteran pirate.^{[8]
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“X” Marks the Spot “X” marks the spot signaled the location of buried treasure. While it wasn’t a symbol actually used by pirates, it’s become very well known in connection to them. This is mainly due to works of fiction, like the book Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It’s believed Stevenson got the idea from the British navy who would use Xs on their navigational maps.^{[9]
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Section 2 of 3:

Types of Pirate Flags

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Jolly Roger Jolly Roger refers to the flag used by pirates on their ships. The most popular design associated with a Jolly Roger is the white skull and crossbones on a black flag. Labbé says the Jolly Roger flag with the skull and crossbones represents the pirate’s reputation of death and danger. The X-shaped crossbones represent crossed swords or bones, symbolizing conflict and violence.^{[10]
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Alexander Labbé
Symbolism & Occultism Expert

Expert Interview} While the skull and crossbones was the most common image on the Jolly Roger, the appearance could vary from ship to ship. Captains usually decided the design of their Jolly Roger.^{[11]
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- The goal of the Jolly Roger was to get enemy ships to surrender. These pirate flags instilled fear and represented death to those who chose to resist.
- Some say “Jolly Roger” comes from the French phrase “la jolie rouge,” which means “pretty red.” Alternatively, it could derive from “Old Roger,” which was a nickname that referred to the devil.^{[12]
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- The Jolly Roger flag has appeared in pop culture, from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and Peter Pan to the cover of the 2006 Iron Maiden album A Matter of Life and Death.
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Solid Black Flag According to global flag expert Thanos Sekeris, pirates used black flags in order to be feared by other ships.^{[13]
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Thanos Sekeris
Global Flag Expert

Expert Interview} When a pirate ship raised a solid black flag, it signaled to the enemy that they still had the opportunity to surrender and save their lives. They’d be shown mercy as long as they complied.
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Solid Red Flag When a ship raised a solid red flag, it meant time had run out. Sekeris explains that sometimes red in a flag can symbolize a revolution and lives lost.^{[14]
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Thanos Sekeris
Global Flag Expert

Expert Interview} In the case of pirates, the red flag guaranteed bloodshed and told the opponent to expect fighting and violence.

Section 3 of 3:

Flag Symbols of Famous Pirates

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Blackbeard It’s said the notorious pirate Blackbeard used a flag that depicted a horned skeleton with an hourglass in one hand and a spear piercing a heart in the other. Three drops of blood drip from the heart. There isn't any factual evidence that Blackbeard used this flag, and its connection to the pirate emerged sometime during the 20th century. Despite that, it’s come to be synonymous with Blackbeard.^{[15]
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Bartholomew Roberts Also known as Black Bart, this pirate used two flags. In one, he’s toasting a cup of wine with a skeleton who’s holding a spear. This was his version of the Jolly Roger flag. For his personal banner, the image shows him gripping a sword and standing on top of a pair of skulls.^{[16]
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Calico Jack Rackham The flag often associated with Calico Jack has a skull with two crossed cutlasses underneath it. The skull represented death and the cutlasses represented combat. Like Blackbeard’s flag, there’s no historical evidence that Calico Jack ever used this banner. It’s likely a modern invention that may have been inspired by the 1935 film Captain Blood.^{[17]
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Edward Low Edward Low’s flag featured a vibrant red skeleton against a black background. He had a reputation of being one of the cruelest pirates around. His flag was meant to imply violence and bloodshed and instill fear.^{[18]
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Henry Every The flag of Henry Every features a skull with a pirate bandana with crossed bones beneath it. The flag was used from 1694 to 1696, and it’s said that it may have inspired the Jolly Roger designs that came after it. Like most pirate flags that featured skull and bones, it symbolized death to the enemy.^{[19]
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Stede Bonnet’s flag shows a skull in the center with a bone beneath it. On one side of the skull is a dagger, and on the other is a heart. The image is a representation of life, death, and battle. It’s not known if Bonnet ever used this exact Jolly Roger. It’s thought that this design may be a modern adaptation.^{[20]
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