From your marital status to your profession, your rings tell a lot about you. There aren't really any rules when it comes to the meaning of each finger for rings, but it is handy (no pun intended) to know a bit about some things people tend to associate with where you wear that band.
In addition to admiring your beautiful jewelry, people may look at how you wear your rings and make inferences about your personality, relationship status, and other factors. These assumptions are based on history, cultural beliefs, and the finger you choose for your ring. Before putting on your rings, it is helpful to understand what each finger says about you and your lifestyle.
Ring Placement Meaning by Finger and Hand
When it comes to rings, some fingers have special meaning (or even a bunch of possible meanings), while others don't mean anything at all.
Similarly, the hand you choose for your ring can also send a message. Culture and religion play a part; for example, in Western cultures, engagement and wedding rings are widely accepted on the left hand. The left hand is a major indicator for your character and your beliefs, whereas the right hand is seen as the more physical hand for most people. It has greater visibility, therefore makes more of a fashion statement. Keep these associations in mind as you decide where you'll wear your jewelry.
Ring Finger Meaning - Marital Status, Betrothal, and Romance
Your ring finger is the finger next to your pinky, and it has this illustrious name because people tend to wear wedding and engagement rings there. Some people choose to wear a promise ring on the left ring finger, although this is reserved for serious romantic promises. It's easily the most significant finger for sending a message with your jewelry, although the message it sends depends on the hand you wear the ring on.
Left Ring Finger
In many cultures, the left ring finger is reserved for wedding rings and engagement jewelry, although some people choose to wear a promise ring on this finger. In most Western countries, a married person wears a wedding ring on the left ring finger. Many people think the origin of this custom stems from an ancient Roman belief that a vein travels directly from the left ring finger to the heart.
Some people also choose to wear a chastity ring, or purity ring, on the left ring finger. This is to signify an abstinence from intimate relations until marriage.
Right Ring Finger
Although many cultures reserve the left ring finger for wedding and engagement rings, there are also several countries that use the right ring finger for the same purpose. These include Germany, Russia, India, and many others.
In countries where a ring on your right ring finger doesn't symbolize marriage (such as the US and Canada), wearing a ring on that finger doesn't have any set meaning.
Index Finger Meaning - High Impact and (Sometimes) Marriage
You know that finger you use to point with? That's your index finger, and even without the pointing, it has a lot of impact. A ring on the index finger is sure to get noticed, so you may want to choose this finger for your class ring, a favorite cocktail ring, or another high-impact piece.
Left Index Finger
The left index finger doesn't have any set symbolism, although it's a good place for showing off an important ring. You can get away with just about any ring on your left index finger. This is a great place to switch out favorite jewelry without sending a major message to anyone.
Right Index Finger
In some cultures, a ring on the right index finger symbolizes marriage. According to Chabad.org, the index finger is the proper place for the wedding ring in a traditional Jewish ceremony. Typically, a plain gold band goes on the index finger of the right hand. Some brides move the ring to the left ring finger after the ceremony, but some keep it in place on the index finger.
Thumb Ring Meaning - Open to Interpretation
A thumb ring on the left hand doesn't make a statement about your relationship status, profession, or any other important part of your life. Similarly, a ring on the right thumb doesn't say anything specific about you either.
Even though there's no deeper meaning here, your thumb is a great location for a fashion statement. Choose a chunky ring that doesn't impede your movement, and people viewing your jewelry will see you as fashionable and confident.
Middle Finger Ring Meaning - No Statement
A ring worn on the middle finger doesn't necessarily stand for anything, no matter which hand you wear it on. This lack of symbolism can actually come in handy too. This finger is a good choice if you want to show off a ring without making a statement about your life.
If you want to assign your own meaning for a ring on the middle finger, look to the finger's length. Since the middle finger is central to the hand and is the longest finger, a ring on this digit can symbolize power and responsibility, if you wish.
Pinky Finger Meaning - Marital and Professional Status
As the smallest finger on your hand, the pinky is a good place to wear a ring for a subtle statement. Although there aren't a lot of rules about what a pinky finger ring means, it can have some symbolism in certain cultures and context.
Left Pinky Finger
From signet rings to wedding bands, a ring on the left pinky finger can symbolize several different things. In Great Britain and other Western countries, men sometimes reserve the left pinky finger for a signet ring. This practice goes back hundreds of years, according to Lang Antiques, and the ring symbolizes family and status. A ring like this frequently features a coat of arms, and many families pass these rings down through the generations.
Two rings on the left pinky finger once indicated that a man was married. The bottom ring was the wedding ring, followed by the signet ring on top. Popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries, this custom has since fallen out of favor. Some historians believe that American president Franklin D. Roosevelt wore a wedding ring and signet ring in this fashion.
Pinky rings, on either hand, are sometimes associated with the culture of organized crime. Dramas like The Sopranos have further popularized this image.
Right Pinky Finger
In addition to some of the same meanings as a ring worn on the left pinky, a right pinky ring can also indicate professional status. In some professions, particularly engineering and ecology, a pinky ring is a symbol of graduating with a degree in that field. Graduates wear this ring on the dominant hand, which for about 90 percent of people, means the right pinky finger. Professional rings are typically simple bands made of iron, silver, stainless steel, or another metal.
Want to pick a finger that doesn't suggest you're married? If you're a single female or identify as female, wear a ring on any finger but your ring finger to show you aren't romantically attached.
Finger Meanings in Palmistry
Some people believe that finger choices for rings may also have mystical or magical connotations. Palmistry, the practice of reading the lines in a person's hands to determine character and fortune, associates the hands and fingers with attributes of the Greek gods. The combination of all this finger symbolism may influence how you wear your rings.
- Thumb: The thumb represents self-assertion and willpower. It is the only finger not named after a Greek god. Choose thumb rings made with carnelian, garnet, or ruby gemstones.
- Index finger: This finger is named for Jupiter to symbolize self-confidence, leadership, ambition, and spirituality. Select a ring with lapis lazuli, amethyst, or blue topaz stones.
- Middle finger: The middle finger, Saturn, stands for balance, justice, the law, responsibility, and soul-searching. Soothing stones such as rose quartz, coral, and aquamarine are appropriate for rings.
- Ring finger: The ring finger represents Apollo and symbolizes relationships, creativity, and the love of beauty. Complimentary gemstones include moonstone, jade, amethyst, sapphire, and turquoise.
- Pinky finger: Mercury rules the little finger, which stands for intelligence, communication, persuasion, and intuition. Pick rings with stones such as moonstone, amber, or citrine.
Understanding Ring Placement Meanings
These days, choosing a finger for your ring is mostly a matter of personal preference. However, it's important to understand what your ring placement says about you to other people. That way, you can make an informed choice about which finger you choose to display your ring.
