Whether it is a pet or a new baby, choosing the perfect name is key and a major part of the fun. That being said, naming a child is a lot more difficult than naming a pet. When a new pet comes into your home, the family's brainstorm session includes lots of names that just describe it: Fluffy, Goldie, Fuzzbutt, etc. Naming a baby is a lot more complex and (hopefully) no one is planning to name their baby Baldy or Lil Squirmy.
But maybe in naming babies, we should take a page from pet naming and think of colors. Many a dog has been named Red or Blue based on an orangey red or blue-gray coat, and on the flipside Scarlett and Azul are beautiful name options for new babies. (Please note we do not advocate any other overlap in child rearing and pet rearing activities; well almost, we know it's controversial but we always thought those toddler leashes got a bad rap.)
Within the realm of colors are a whole rainbow's worth of name options. Color-based names can still be sentimental. Inspired by a loved one's eye color (Hazel) or the color of flowers blooming the day you realized you might be pregnant (Hyacinth), rainbow-tinged names can still evoke a vivid hue and a nostalgic moment. Other memories to mine for color-based name inspiration include: the color of a cherished family's member's kitchen that always felt filled with love, the color of fragrant herb that has calming properties, or a color mentioned in sentimental favorite song.
From Amber Rose to Scarlett Johansson to Sterling K. Brown, pop culture is filled with color-inspired names. They can add a bit of flowery language and whimsy to offset a formal-sounding last name, or as in the case of Amber Rose and Sterling K. Brown a color-inspired first name pairs perfectly with a colorful last name. There are so many brilliant color-inspired name combinations. If all else fails, consult the super size box of crayons, randomly pick a few and see what inspiration strikes!
ASH
Ash is a gender neutral baby name that evokes the color gray, which will be appealing to parents who are interested in the popular baby name trend of cool, muted colors. Its origin is inspired by the ash tree. Ash is seen as a modern update to the name Ashley, which is another unisex baby name.
SAGE
Sage is a another great unisex baby name option that has been steadily becoming a more popular choice. It has a Latin meaning of "wise and knowing." It also refers to the gray-green color inspired by the hue of sage leaves, which makes it appealing for eco-conscious parents who want an earthy vibe for their baby.
SIENNA
Any child who has ever had the 64 count box of crayons has probably seen the color burnt sienna. Sienna, which is a reddish brown hue that comes from pigment in clay, is perhaps most associated with actress Sienna Miller. It is also somewhat associated with the Toyota Sienna minivan, so parents should consider whether that is a deal breaker for them. Sienna is also the name of the city in Tuscany, Italy, where the colored clay traditionally came from.
GRAY
Parents looking for a name that is color-inspired, elegant, and easy to spell and pronounce might want to consider Gray! Gray is a sweet and simple unisex baby name. Other popular forms of this name include Grey, Grayson, and Greyson. It's also frequently used as a middle name.
OLIVE
Parents who like the name Olivia but fear it is too popular may want to consider Olive instead! This name, which comes from the Latin for olive, has connotations of both the color green and of calm, as olive tree branches represent peace and reconciliation. In pop culture, actresses Drew Barrymore and Isla Fisher have daughters named Olive.
LAVENDER
Lavender is a girls' name inspired by the soft-hued purple flower. The fragrant plant is said to have calming properties. Consider pairing this name with other purple names, like Violet and Lilac. Harry Potter fans will also remember the character of Lavender Brown, who had two color inspired names!
VIOLET
Violet is a girls' name that is gaining in popularity. It has a Latin origin, meaning "purple," but also has roots in the French word violette. Violet was originally a popular Victorian name but is making a comeback. Unfortunately, some people may still associate the name with the less-than-charming character of Violet Beauregarde from the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
SCARLET
Scarlett is a girls' name that led the way in this current crop of color-based names. Originally thought of as a Southern name due to the iconic Gone With the Wind character Scarlett O'Hara, the popularity of actress Scarlett Johansson made this name more modern. It's now in the top 20 baby names.
MAUVE
Mauve is a girls' name of French origin. It has the meaning "violet-colored" but in English the color mauve takes on more of a grayish, dusty purple hue. As a baby name, its popularity is rooted in the Victorian era. It is the least common of the purple names on this list, which may make it appealing to parents looking for something more unusual.
EBONY
Parents looking for a name that is strong and striking could consider Ebony. While Ebony has primarily been a girls' name of English origin named after the black wood traditionally used for piano keys, it is starting to become more of a gender neutral option. Ebony was at its most popular in the 1980s, although it is making a comeback. The name is perhaps most associated with the popular magazine Ebony.
BRICK
Brick is a name that has several connotations, some positive and one not as ideal. Brick, as a color-inspired name, can bring to mind a reddish orange hue. Brick can also evoke a sense of a child who is steady, stable, and reliable. On the negative side, parents should consider whether the phrase "dumb as a brick" is a deal breaker for them or a possible source of teasing.
JADE
Jade is experiencing popularity both as a color name and as a gem-inspired name. Jade is more often used as a girls' name but it can be a unisex name. In popular culture, Jade has be climbing in popularity since the 1970s when Mick and Bianca Jagger used it for their daughter.
ROSE
Rose is a delicate name for girls that also evokes the flower and a reddish pink hue. Originally popular in the early 1900s, the name is having a modern comeback. In addition to being a popular first name, it's also frequently used as a middle name. It is a popular choice for parents who like a traditional Anglophile name.
HAZEL
Hazel is an old-fashioned sounding name that has made a modern comeback. Formerly, a "grandma name," it's an on-trend name for baby girls. It has been popular with celebrities like Julia Roberts and Emily Blunt, who have daughters named Hazel. Hazel is often connected to the eye color, which is a mixture of green and brown hues.
AZUL
Parents looking an uncommon but beautiful choice may want to consider Azul, pronounced ah-SOOL. Azul has a Spanish origin, meaning blue. Azul would be a perfect name for a baby born on a day with a clear, bright blue sky. Azul also works well as a middle name when paired with a longer first name.
HYACINTH
Parents who love the trend of floral names but who want to avoid more common choices, like Lily or Rose, may want to consider Hyacinth. Hyacinth flowers are in the blue-purple family, which would also be a lovely color story for little Hyacinth's nursery!
PLUM
Hello plucky little Plum! This name, which comes from the plum tree and is associated with the deep purple color, is such a fun name for a sassy and independent girl. While this name has never been super popular, it is starting to get a little more ground. We love it!
STERLING
Sterling is a unisex baby name meaning "of the highest quality." It's frequently associated with silver, giving it the color connection. In pop culture, the name Sterling has been gaining popularity thanks to handsome This is Us star Sterling K. Brown.
TEAL
Although it has been used for both boys and girls, the uncommon choice of Teal is primarily a girls' name. Teal, which is a gorgeous blueish-green color, is also a kind of colorful duck or waterfowl. Teal would be an unexpected but strong middle name choice as well.
MARIGOLD
Marigold is a name inspired by the golden-orange color and the perennial flower. It's mainly used for girls. Marigold is more commonly used in England, but it starting to get attention in the US. Fans of the show Downton Abbey will recall that Lady Edith named her daughter Marigold.
RUBY
Ruby is a great name choice for parents who love that deep red jewel tone color! The name, which has Latin roots, has been making a comeback and is often associated with actress Ruby Rose or civil rights icon Ruby Bridges.
SILVER
Silver is an uncommon, but seriously cool name choice that works well for both boys and girls. The name evokes the metal, making it an interesting choice for parents looking for something edgy and quirky. Parents interested in this name may also want to consider Sterling, Copper, or Goldie.
CORAL
Create a connection with the ocean with the charming name Coral! Coral, is of course associated with oceanic coral reefs, but it also has a color connection to the gemstone created from corals. Coral, which has a red/orange/pink color profile, offers several nickname options, including Cora and Cori.
CYAN
Parents who are feeling a little blue, might we suggest perking up with the cool name Cyan? This unisex name, which is pronounce "sai-an," has some cool hipster energy and is a great choice for parents who want a short but strong name that nobody else in their preschool is going to have.
RED
Red is one of the most identifiable colors, and it also makes a great name for a boy! The name is strong, easy to pronounce, and hits that sweet spot of being familiar as a word but uncommon as a name. One word of caution though, it may be a little too on the nose for families who tend to have redheaded babies!
