Color Names
English has hundreds of color names, and most of them are tiny history lessons: vermilion was a pigment made from cinnabar, sienna is named after the Italian city, and magenta after a battle. This guide lists 88 of the most useful color names across eleven color families, each with a standard hex code so you can use it on the web, in design software or on a paint chip hunt.
Each family below links to a full list, like our blue color names and green color names. If you’re naming a person or pet rather than a paint, see our names by meaning or gemstone names.
Color Names: browse all lists
Red color names
From bright scarlet to deep burgundy. Many red names come from dyes and pigments; more in our red color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Crimson | #DC143C | Deep, slightly bluish red; from kermes insect dye |
| Scarlet | #FF2400 | Bright red with a hint of orange |
| Vermilion | #E34234 | Orange-red pigment once made from cinnabar |
| Cardinal | #C41E3A | Rich red of a cardinal’s robes |
| Burgundy | #800020 | Dark red named after the French wine |
| Maroon | #800000 | Brownish crimson |
| Firebrick | #B22222 | Muted brick red |
| Carmine | #960018 | Deep red made from cochineal insects |
Orange color names
Fruity, fiery and autumnal. See the full list of orange color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Tangerine | #F28500 | Juicy citrus orange |
| Pumpkin | #FF7518 | Bright fall orange |
| Apricot | #FBCEB1 | Pale, peachy orange |
| Amber | #FFBF00 | Golden orange, like fossil resin |
| Burnt orange | #CC5500 | Darker, earthy orange |
| Rust | #B7410E | Reddish-brown orange of oxidized iron |
| Coral | #FF7F50 | Pinkish orange |
| Persimmon | #EC5800 | Deep, ripe-fruit orange |
Yellow color names
Sunny, buttery and golden. Browse more yellow color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | #FFD700 | Metallic yellow |
| Saffron | #F4C430 | Warm yellow of the saffron spice |
| Mustard | #FFDB58 | Earthy, muted yellow |
| Canary | #FFFF99 | Pale, cheerful yellow |
| Goldenrod | #DAA520 | Deep yellow of the wildflower |
| Maize | #FBEC5D | Corn yellow |
| Flax | #EEDC82 | Soft straw yellow |
| Lemon chiffon | #FFFACD | Very pale, creamy yellow |
Green color names
From fresh mint to deep forest. See all our green color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald | #50C878 | Bright jewel green |
| Jade | #00A86B | Cool, bluish green |
| Olive | #808000 | Yellowish green of unripe olives |
| Sage | #BCB88A | Soft grayish green |
| Mint | #3EB489 | Fresh, cool green |
| Chartreuse | #7FFF00 | Yellow-green named after a French liqueur |
| Forest green | #228B22 | Deep woodland green |
| Hunter green | #355E3B | Dark, muted green |
Blue color names
The most-loved color in many surveys, with a huge vocabulary. Explore over 100 shades in our blue color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Navy | #000080 | Dark blue of naval uniforms |
| Cerulean | #007BA7 | Deep sky blue |
| Cobalt | #0047AB | Rich blue from cobalt pigment |
| Azure | #007FFF | Bright blue of a clear sky |
| Sapphire | #0F52BA | Jewel-toned blue |
| Teal | #008080 | Blue-green, named after the duck |
| Periwinkle | #CCCCFF | Soft lavender blue |
| Midnight blue | #191970 | Near-black blue |
Purple color names
Once the most expensive dye in the world. More in our purple color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender | #E6E6FA | Pale, misty purple |
| Lilac | #C8A2C8 | Soft pinkish purple |
| Violet | #8F00FF | Pure spectral purple |
| Amethyst | #9966CC | Medium jewel purple |
| Mauve | #E0B0FF | Pale pinkish purple |
| Orchid | #DA70D6 | Bright pinkish purple |
| Eggplant | #614051 | Dark, brownish purple |
| Tyrian purple | #66023C | Ancient dye made from sea snails |
Pink color names
From barely-there blush to electric fuchsia. See all pink color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Blush | #DE5D83 | Warm rosy pink |
| Fuchsia | #FF00FF | Vivid purplish pink, named after the flower |
| Hot pink | #FF69B4 | Bright, bold pink |
| Cerise | #DE3163 | Cherry pink |
| Carnation pink | #FFA6C9 | Soft pink of carnations |
| Rose | #FF007F | Vivid pinkish red |
| Salmon pink | #FF91A4 | Pink with orange warmth |
| Light pink | #FFB6C1 | Soft, classic pastel pink |
Brown color names
Earthy and cozy. Many are named after woods, spices and coffee; more in our brown color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | #7B3F00 | Deep, rich brown |
| Sienna | #A0522D | Reddish-brown earth pigment from Siena, Italy |
| Umber | #635147 | Dark brown earth pigment |
| Chestnut | #954535 | Reddish brown |
| Mahogany | #C04000 | Red-brown of the tropical wood |
| Coffee | #6F4E37 | Medium brown |
| Tan | #D2B48C | Light, sandy brown |
| Taupe | #483C32 | Dark grayish brown; from French for “mole” |
Black color names
Black has more shades than you might think. See the full list of black color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Onyx | #353839 | Deep black with a gray hint |
| Jet | #343434 | Glossy black, named after the gemstone |
| Charcoal | #36454F | Dark blue-gray black |
| Ebony | #555D50 | Dark with a green-gray cast, named after the wood |
| Licorice | #1A1110 | Warm, candy black |
| Eerie black | #1B1B1B | Almost pure black |
| Raisin black | #242124 | Purplish black |
| Smoky black | #100C08 | Brown-tinged black |
White color names
Off-whites are a designer favorite. More in our white color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Ivory | #FFFFF0 | Warm white with a yellow tint |
| Snow | #FFFAFA | Bright, slightly pink white |
| Alabaster | #EDEAE0 | Soft stone white |
| Pearl | #EAE0C8 | Creamy, lustrous white |
| Eggshell | #F0EAD6 | Pale white with a hint of yellow |
| Linen | #FAF0E6 | Soft beige-white |
| Cream | #FFFDD0 | Rich, yellowish white |
| Ghost white | #F8F8FF | Cool, faintly blue white |
Gray color names
Cool, calm and endlessly versatile. See all our gray color names.
| Color name | Hex code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Slate gray | #708090 | Blue-gray of slate rock |
| Silver | #C0C0C0 | Metallic light gray |
| Gunmetal | #2A3439 | Dark blue-gray |
| Ash gray | #B2BEB5 | Pale, greenish gray |
| Platinum | #E5E4E2 | Pale, silvery gray |
| Gainsboro | #DCDCDC | Light web gray |
| Battleship gray | #848482 | Medium neutral gray |
| Davy’s gray | #555555 | Dark neutral gray, named after a slate pigment |
Tips for choosing and using color names
- Use hex codes as a starting point. Screens, printers and paint brands all render color differently, so always check a physical sample.
- Name colors by association. Food (saffron, eggplant), gems (sapphire, jade) and places (sienna, burgundy) make color names easier to remember.
- Keep a consistent system. For brand palettes, pick names from one theme — all gems or all spices — so the set feels intentional.
- Borrow color names for pets. Colors make great pet names: Ash for a gray cat, Coco for a brown dog. See our grey cat names and brown dog names.
- Check accessibility. On the web, test text and background colors for contrast so everyone can read them.
Frequently asked questions
How many color names are there?
There’s no fixed number. CSS defines 140-plus named web colors, while paint companies each sell thousands of named shades.
What is a hex code?
A hex code is a six-digit code (like #DC143C for crimson) that tells screens how much red, green and blue light to mix. It’s the standard way to specify colors on the web.
What are the rarest color names?
Some unusual historical names include Tyrian purple, smalt, gamboge, fulvous and falu red. Many come from pigments that are no longer in common use.
What is the difference between teal and turquoise?
Teal is a darker, deeper blue-green (#008080), while turquoise is lighter and brighter (#40E0D0), named after the gemstone.
What color is taupe?
Taupe is a dark grayish brown. The word is French for “mole,” after the animal’s fur color.