Unique colour list

This is a curated list of single-word named colours with fixed hex values and approximate dates of first recorded use.

The list is intentionally limited, historically grounded, and opinionated. It does not adhere to, derive from, or attempt to mirror any web colour standard or browser-defined colour set. Each colour has a single canonical hex value to avoid ambiguity.

It exists as a practical reference for design, development, mapping, and any system that benefits from stable, named colours.

List of colours

Rules and constraints

This colour list follows a fixed set of constraints intended to prioritise clarity, distinctiveness, and historical grounding over compatibility with existing digital colour systems.

One name, one colour

Each colour name maps to a single, fixed hex value. Names are not reused, aliased, or shared across multiple colours.

One colour, one name

No two entries represent the same or perceptually identical colour. Near-duplicates are intentionally excluded, even if historically attested.

Distinct by perception, not maths

Colours must be visually distinguishable to a typical viewer under normal conditions. Numeric separation alone is insufficient justification for inclusion.

Names must be established or defensible

Colour names are drawn from historical usage, material pigments, cultural convention, or long-standing descriptive practice. Coined names are avoided unless necessary to preserve clarity or distinctness.

Historical metadata is descriptive, not authoritative

Recorded years indicate earliest known usage as a colour term. They do not imply invention, exclusivity, or universal adoption.

No dependency on web colour standards

The list does not conform to, derive from, or attempt compatibility with CSS colour keywords, system palettes, or accessibility-driven contrast schemes.

Digital representation is a compromise

Hex values are practical approximations. They represent intent, not a claim of absolute accuracy across devices, colour spaces, or lighting conditions.

Categories are organisational, not normative

Family groupings and sort orders exist to aid navigation. They do not imply hierarchy, primacy, or correctness.

Stability over completeness

Once included, colours are not removed lightly. Gaps and exclusions are accepted in preference to constant expansion or revision.

The list is finite by design

This is a curated reference, not an exhaustive catalogue. Absence is intentional and should not be read as oversight.

Out of scope

This project explicitly does not aim to do the following:

Be a complete colour dictionary

The list does not attempt to include every named colour in history, art, or industry. Omission is intentional.

Resolve linguistic disputes

The project does not adjudicate “correct” meanings across languages, regions, or eras. Names are selected for usefulness and distinctness, not consensus.

Match physical pigments exactly

Hex values are not intended to be spectrally accurate reproductions of historical dyes, paints, or minerals. They are digital representations chosen for stability and recognisability.

Serve as an accessibility standard

The list does not guarantee contrast ratios, colour-blind safety, or WCAG compliance. Those concerns are context-dependent and out of scope.

Track semantic drift

If a colour name’s popular meaning changes over time, the list does not follow it. Historical grounding takes precedence over modern usage.

Optimise for branding or UI trends

Colours are not selected to align with contemporary design fashion, platform palettes, or marketing needs.

Accept user-defined additions by default

External suggestions are welcome but not automatically incorporated. Curation remains centralised to preserve coherence.

Provide emotional or symbolic interpretation

The list does not assign moods, meanings, cultural symbolism, or psychological traits to colours.

Guarantee display consistency

The project does not account for variation across monitors, colour profiles, printers, or lighting conditions.