Colour has always shaped how people name their children. Ruby brought warmth into the Victorian nursery. Scarlett arrived bold. Violet came softly, then stayed.
In 2024, the Office for National Statistics confirmed what UK parents already knew. Ivy reached the top 10 in England and Wales, Sienna held the top 20, and Ruby stayed firmly in the top 30. Colour names are not fringe choices anymore.
This guide covers 70 colour-inspired baby names: 25 for girls, 25 for boys, and 20 gender-neutral picks. Each name comes with its meaning, origin, and current standing in UK naming. Some carry their colour openly, like Scarlett. Others carry it quietly, like Finn, which means fair or white in Irish Gaelic.
Colour Names for Baby Girls
Colour names for girls have deep roots in British naming. Many sat in Victorian nurseries, disappeared for decades, then returned stronger. The names below cover the full spectrum, from the boldly red to the quietly green, each with a meaning worth knowing.
Ruby
Meaning: Deep red gemstone | Origin: Latin
Ruby comes from the Latin rubinus, meaning red. July's birthstone, it suits summer babies naturally. The name left the UK top 100 in the mid-twentieth century, came back hard, and now sits in the top 30 in England and Wales.
Scarlett
Meaning: Bright red | Origin: Old French
Scarlett traces back to an Old French word for richly dyed red cloth. ONS data places it in the top 50 for girls in England and Wales. The single-t spelling Scarlet also appears regularly in UK birth records.
Violet
Meaning: Purple flower | Origin: Latin
Violet derives from the Latin viola. It peaked in the Edwardian era, faded through the mid-twentieth century, and re-entered the top 50 in England and Wales over the last decade. The nickname Vi gives it easy everyday use.
Sienna
Meaning: Reddish-brown earth colour | Origin: Italian
Sienna takes its name from the Italian city of Siena, known for its terracotta clay. The colour raw sienna has been used by painters for centuries. ONS 2024 data confirms it in the top 20 in England and Wales.
Ivy
Meaning: Climbing evergreen plant | Origin: Old English
Ivy comes from the Old English ifig. Green and resilient, the plant symbolises loyalty in British folk tradition. Ivy reached the top 10 in England and Wales in 2024, making it one of the highest-ranked botanical colour names in current UK data.
Hazel
Meaning: Warm honey-brown | Origin: Old English
Hazel derives from the Old English hæsel, the hazel tree. The name entered the UK top 100 for the first time in 2023. Its colour sits in the warm brown family, the same shade most people associate with hazel eyes.
Amber
Meaning: Golden-orange fossilised resin | Origin: Arabic
Amber comes from the Arabic anbar. It reached its UK peak in the 1990s and has since settled into the popular range. It remains one of the most widely recognised colour names in British naming culture.
Iris
Meaning: Rainbow | Origin: Greek
Iris originates from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. The iris flower ranges from deep purple to pale blue. Jude Law named his daughter Iris, giving the name a strong British association. It is rising steadily in England and Wales.
Jade
Meaning: Precious green gemstone | Origin: Spanish
Jade entered English from the Spanish piedra de ijada, stone of the flank. The name has strong British cultural recognition through Jade Jagger and Jade Goody. It peaked in England and Wales in the 1990s and remains widely used.
Rose
Meaning: Pink-red flower | Origin: Latin
Rose derives from the Latin rosa. ONS data shows it consistently in the UK top 100. It also holds a separate record as the most common hyphenated first name for girls in England and Wales, appearing in combinations like Lily-Rose and Evie-Rose.
Pearl
Meaning: Lustrous creamy-white gemstone | Origin: Latin
Pearl comes from the Latin perla. Widely used in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, it disappeared through most of the twentieth century and now sits in the top 200 for girls in England and Wales, driven by the vintage name revival.
Olive
Meaning: Muted green | Origin: Latin
Olive derives from the Latin oliva, the olive tree. Parents who love Olivia but want something less common often land here. It carries a quiet literary feel and is rising steadily in England and Wales.
Coral
Meaning: Pinkish-orange | Origin: Latin
Coral comes from the Latin corallium, the sea organism in vivid pinkish-orange formations. Popular in Victorian Britain, largely forgotten through the twentieth century, it is now seeing a genuine revival among UK parents drawn to coastal nature names.
Lilac
Meaning: Soft pale purple | Origin: Persian
Lilac traces back to the Persian nilak, meaning bluish. The colour sits between soft purple and pale pink. It is growing in England and Wales among parents who want something in the Violet family but with less mainstream exposure.
Lavender
Meaning: Soft muted purple | Origin: Old French
Lavender comes from the Old French lavandre, connected to washing. The plant was historically used to scent laundry across Britain. The name carries a distinctly British character and appears in several well-known British children's books.
Fern
Meaning: Forest green | Origin: Old English
Fern derives from the Old English fearn, the leafy plant found across British woodland. Rising in England and Wales, it suits parents drawn to single-syllable nature names that feel grounded rather than decorative.
Primrose
Meaning: Pale yellow spring flower | Origin: Latin
Primrose comes from the Latin prima rosa, the first rose. It ranked in the top 200 for girls in England and Wales by 2021. The name carries a specifically British character, common in the UK long before The Hunger Games brought it wider attention.
Marigold
Meaning: Golden yellow flower | Origin: English
Marigold means the golden flower of Mary. Winston Churchill named his third daughter Marigold. Lady Edith in Downton Abbey chose it for her child. The name is rising again in England and Wales as part of the vintage botanical revival.
Saffron
Meaning: Deep golden-yellow spice | Origin: Arabic
Saffron derives from the Arabic za'faran. Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran named his daughter Saffron. The character Saffron in Absolutely Fabulous gave it lasting British recognition. It is growing among UK parents who want something vivid and uncommon.
Emerald
Meaning: Deep green gemstone | Origin: Old French
Emerald comes from the Old French esmeraude. May's birthstone, it suits spring babies naturally. The nicknames Em and Esme give it flexibility in daily use. It is rising in England and Wales as gemstone names continue their comeback.
Goldie
Meaning: Golden | Origin: English
Goldie is an English name meaning golden. It carries a retro warmth that fits the current UK taste for vintage names with personality. Goldie Hawn gave the name lasting cultural recognition. It is growing in England and Wales.
Clementine
Meaning: Orange citrus; mild and merciful | Origin: Latin
Clementine derives from the Latin clemens. Its colour association comes from the vivid orange citrus fruit. Winston Churchill chose it for his wife. The nicknames Clem and Clemmie give it warmth in everyday British use.
Opal
Meaning: Iridescent gemstone | Origin: Sanskrit
Opal comes from the Sanskrit upala, precious stone. The opal shifts through every colour under light. October's birthstone, it is rising in England and Wales as part of the Victorian gem name revival.
Cerise
Meaning: Cherry red | Origin: French
Cerise is the French word for cherry. It is uncommon in England and Wales, which is precisely its appeal for parents who want a colour name that does not appear on every class register. Elegant and immediately distinctive.
Ivory
Meaning: Creamy white | Origin: Latin
Ivory derives from the Latin ebur. Growing in England and Wales among parents seeking a softer white-toned name, it carries a polished, understated quality that works across ages.
Colour Names for Baby Boys
Colour names for boys work differently. Some carry their colour directly, like Jet or Cobalt. Others hold it in their roots, like Rory, which means red king in Irish Gaelic, or Finn, which means fair and white. The names below cover both.
Jasper
Meaning: Spotted gemstone; bringer of treasure | Origin: Persian
Jasper comes from the Persian ganzabara. The jasper stone appears in reddish-brown, green, and yellow tones. It sits in the UK top 100 in England and Wales and is one of the fastest-rising boys names in current ONS data.
Rory
Meaning: Red king | Origin: Irish Gaelic
Rory derives from the Irish Gaelic Ruairí, combining the words for red and king. The name is popular across England, Scotland, and Wales. Golfer Rory McIlroy is its most recognised British bearer. It works for both boys and girls but trends firmly boyward in UK data.
Rowan
Meaning: Little red-haired one | Origin: Old Irish
Rowan comes from the Old Irish Ruadhán, from rúad meaning red. The rowan tree carries the same root, named for its vivid red berries. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, is its most prominent British namesake.
Ash
Meaning: Ash grey | Origin: Old English
Ash derives from the Old English æsc, the ash tree. The colour it evokes is a sooty, muted grey. It works as a standalone name or as a short form of Ashton. Sleek and minimal, it sits comfortably in current UK naming.
Finn
Meaning: Fair; white-blonde | Origin: Irish
Finn comes from the Irish fionn, meaning white or fair. The name sits in the UK top 100 in England and Wales. It is short, strong, and carries a Celtic heritage that resonates widely across Britain.
Flynn
Meaning: Son of the red-haired one | Origin: Irish
Flynn derives from the Irish Floinn, a descendant of Flann meaning red. Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr chose it for their son. It carries a casual, easy charm that sits well in the current UK taste for surname-style first names.
Jet
Meaning: Deep black gemstone | Origin: Old French
Jet comes from the Old French jaiet, named after Gagae, a town in Turkey where the stone was mined. The colour jet black is one of the deepest blacks in natural material. Bold and minimal, it is growing in England and Wales.
Cole
Meaning: Coal black | Origin: Old English
Cole derives from the Old English col, meaning charcoal or coal. The colour sits in the deep black family. Short and strong, Cole is widely used across England and Wales and carries an easy, modern feel.
Forest
Meaning: Deep woodland green | Origin: Old French
Forest comes from the Old French forest. The name evokes dense, rich green imagery. It is gaining momentum in England and Wales with the broader shift towards nature names. Forrest is an accepted alternative spelling.
Flint
Meaning: Steel grey stone | Origin: Old English
Flint derives from the Old English flint, the hard grey stone used to produce fire. The name carries a sharp, grounded quality. It is rising in England and Wales alongside other single-syllable nature names like Reed and Ash.
Slate
Meaning: Blue-grey rock | Origin: Old French
Slate comes from the Old French esclate. The colour sits in the cool blue-grey family, familiar across British landscapes and architecture. Modern and architectural in feel, it is increasingly chosen by UK parents seeking something understated.
Bruno
Meaning: Brown | Origin: Old High German
Bruno derives from the Old High German brun, meaning brown. The name is rising steadily in England and Wales. Bruno Mars brought it fresh global recognition. Bruno Tonioli, a familiar face in British television, gives it a strong UK cultural anchor.
Cobalt
Meaning: Vivid steely blue | Origin: German
Cobalt comes from the German kobold, meaning goblin, a term used in old mining culture for the blue mineral. The colour is one of the most vivid blues in nature. MadeForMums confirms UK parents are actively choosing it for boys.
Sterling
Meaning: Pure silver | Origin: Old English
Sterling derives from Old English, historically linked to high-quality silver. The name carries a sense of quality and reliability. It is rising in England and Wales among parents drawn to names that feel both strong and polished.
Rufus
Meaning: Red-haired | Origin: Latin
Rufus comes from the Latin rufus, meaning red. Classical and distinctly British in feel, it is carried by Rufus Wainwright and actor Rufus Sewell. The name is due a revival and fits naturally into the current UK taste for Victorian-era boys names.
Onyx
Meaning: Deep black gemstone | Origin: Greek
Onyx comes from the Greek onyx, meaning fingernail or claw, referring to the stone's layered appearance. The colour sits in the deep black family. It is rising in England and Wales with the broader trend for bold gemstone names.
Auburn
Meaning: Reddish-brown | Origin: Old French
Auburn derives from the Old French and Latin alburnum. The colour describes a warm reddish-brown, most commonly associated with hair. Rare as a first name in England and Wales, it carries a literary, evocative quality that sets it apart.
Garnet
Meaning: Deep red gemstone | Origin: Old French
Garnet comes from the Old French grenate, named for its resemblance to pomegranate seeds. January's birthstone, it suits winter babies. The name is uncommon in England and Wales, which gives it a distinctive edge among red-toned names.
Clay
Meaning: Pale tan earth | Origin: Old English
Clay derives from the Old English clæg. The colour sits in the warm tan and sandy brown family. Short, grounded, and unpretentious, it is rising in England and Wales alongside the broader earthy nature-name trend.
Caspian
Meaning: Of the deep blue Caspian Sea | Origin: Latin
Caspian derives from the Latin Caspius. C.S. Lewis used the name for Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia, giving it a strong literary foothold in British culture. The name is rising in England and Wales among parents drawn to romantic, adventurous choices.
Beau
Meaning: Handsome; fair | Origin: French
Beau comes from the French beau, meaning beautiful or fair. The name carries a golden, sun-lit quality. It is well-established in England and Wales and suits parents who want something short, confident, and easy to carry through life.
Grayson
Meaning: Son of the grey-haired one | Origin: English
Grayson is an English surname used as a first name. It sits in the grey colour family. The surname-to-first-name trend has carried it steadily upward in England and Wales over the last decade.
Hunter
Meaning: Hunter green | Origin: Old English
Hunter derives from the Old English hunta. The colour hunter green is a deep, rich green associated with British countryside and field sports. The name is consistently popular in England and Wales and carries a strong, outdoorsy appeal.
Rusty
Meaning: Rust orange-red | Origin: English
Rusty is an English nickname from the word rust, describing a warm orange-red. It works as a standalone name or as a nickname for Russell. Retro and friendly, it carries a warmth that suits the current UK appetite for informal, personality-forward names.
Reed
Meaning: Red-haired; reed green | Origin: Old English
Reed comes from the Old English read, meaning red. The name also evokes the tall green reeds found across British wetlands. Clean, minimal, and one syllable, it fits naturally alongside Ash, Flint, and Slate in the current UK nature-name set.
Gender-Neutral Colour Names for Babies
Gender-neutral naming is growing steadily in the UK. ONS data shows more parents choosing names that sit outside the traditional boys and girls columns. Colour names are particularly well suited to this: a shade belongs to no gender. The names below all appear in England and Wales birth records for both boys and girls.
Sage
Meaning: Grey-green herb | Origin: Latin
Sage comes from the Latin salvia. The colour sits in the muted grey-green family. ONS data confirms use for both boys and girls in England and Wales. The Romans believed sage carried wisdom-imparting qualities, which gives the name a meaning that goes beyond its colour.
Indigo
Meaning: Deep blue-purple dye | Origin: Greek
Indigo derives from the Greek indikon, meaning Indian dye, named after the tropical plant used to produce it. ONS data confirms use for both boys and girls in England and Wales, though it trends more strongly towards girls. The colour sits between deep blue and violet on the spectrum.
Sky
Meaning: Sky blue | Origin: Old Norse
Sky comes from the Old Norse sky, meaning cloud. Both Sky and the Scottish island variant Skye appear in England and Wales birth records for boys and girls. It is one of the most straightforwardly visual colour names in use.
Grey
Meaning: The colour grey | Origin: Old English
Grey derives from the Old English grǣg. The British spelling with an e, as opposed to the American gray, gives it a distinctly UK character. Mumsnet threads confirm active use for both sexes. Minimal, modern, and carrying a quiet confidence.
Blue
Meaning: The colour blue | Origin: Old English
Blue comes from the Old English blǣwen and the Norse blár. Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their daughter Blue Ivy, which brought the name into mainstream conversation. MadeForMums lists it as a genuine gender-neutral choice. Bold, simple, and unmistakable.
Teal
Meaning: Blue-green | Origin: English
Teal takes its name from the Eurasian teal, a small duck with a distinctive blue-green stripe across its head. Mumsnet data confirms UK parents are using it for both boys and girls. Distinctive and modern.
Silver
Meaning: The precious silver metal | Origin: Old English
Silver derives from the Old English seolfor. Nameberry identifies it as one of the rising colour middle names of 2025, used for both boys and girls. It is growing in England and Wales as a standalone first name.
Cedar
Meaning: Warm reddish-brown wood | Origin: Latin
Cedar comes from the Latin cedrus. The colour evokes the warm reddish-brown of cedar wood grain. It is gaining momentum in England and Wales as parents reach for nature names that feel grounded and textured rather than floral or decorative.
Clover
Meaning: Bright green plant | Origin: Old English
Clover derives from the Old English clāfre. It works for boys and girls and fits naturally into the current UK appetite for botanical names. The four-leaf association adds a layer of meaning that parents find appealing.
Storm
Meaning: Dark stormy grey | Origin: Old English
Storm comes from the Old English and Old Norse storm. It is used for both sexes in England and Wales. Stormi, chosen by Kylie Jenner, brought wider awareness to the name without altering its unisex standing in UK data.
Azure
Meaning: Bright sky blue | Origin: Old French
Azure comes from the Old French azur, which traces back to the Arabic lazaward, the lapis lazuli stone. Nameberry identifies it as a rising colour middle name for both boys and girls in 2025. One of the purest, most vivid blues in natural language.
Raven
Meaning: Blue-black bird | Origin: Old English
Raven comes from the Old English hræfn. The bird carries strong symbolism in British mythology, most notably through the ravens kept at the Tower of London. It is well-used for both sexes in England and Wales.
Ebony
Meaning: Deep black wood | Origin: Greek
Ebony derives from the Greek ebenos, the dense black hardwood tree. Well-established in England and Wales, it is used predominantly for girls but sits comfortably as a unisex option.
Moss
Meaning: Muted grey-green | Origin: Old English
Moss comes from the Old English mos. Rising steadily in England and Wales, it suits parents drawn to the cottagecore aesthetic. One syllable, grounded, and quietly distinctive.
Blaze
Meaning: Fiery orange-red | Origin: Old English
Blaze derives from the Old English blæse, meaning torch. It is growing in England and Wales for both boys and girls. Strong, energetic, and impossible to mishear.
Robin
Meaning: Red-breasted bird | Origin: Old French
Robin comes from the Old French diminutive of Robert. ONS data confirms use for both boys and girls in England and Wales. Quintessentially British and carrying a warmth that few nature names match.
Navy
Meaning: Deep rich blue | Origin: Old French
Navy comes from the Old French navie, a fleet of ships, with the colour named after the deep blue of naval uniforms. It is rising for both boys and girls in England and Wales. Clean, strong, and carrying a distinctly British maritime character.
Amber
Meaning: Golden-orange fossilised resin | Origin: Arabic
Amber appears here as a genuinely unisex option. MadeForMums confirms male usage in the UK through Jade Jones, partner of Emma Bunton, whose given name is Amber. Primarily used for girls in England and Wales, it carries enough unisex standing to sit comfortably in this section.
Sunny
Meaning: Bright golden yellow | Origin: English
Sunny comes from the English word sun. It is growing in England and Wales for both sexes. Cheerful, accessible, and carrying a warmth that most single-word colour names do not.
Jade
Meaning: Precious green gemstone | Origin: Spanish
Jade appears here alongside its girls section entry because MadeForMums specifically confirms male usage in the UK. Jade Jones, partner of Spice Girl Emma Bunton, is the most prominent British male bearer. The name sits comfortably across both columns in UK naming data.
Colour Names Popular in the UK Right Now
The Office for National Statistics publishes birth registration data for England and Wales every year. That data tells a clear story about colour names. They are not a niche category. Several sit inside the national top 50, and more are climbing steadily toward it.
Ivy is the highest-ranked colour name in current UK data. It reached the top 10 in England and Wales in 2024, placing fifth overall for girls. No other colour name sits that high in the current ONS rankings.
Sienna holds the top 20 for girls in England and Wales. It has maintained that position consistently since the early 2000s, when actress Sienna Miller brought it into the mainstream. Two decades of steady use have given it a permanence that trend-driven names rarely achieve.
Ruby sits in the top 30 for girls in England and Wales. It is one of the longest-running colour names in modern UK data, having re-entered the top charts in the 1990s and never left. The name has now been in continuous UK popularity for over thirty years.
Scarlett holds the top 50. Its rise through the 2000s and 2010s was one of the fastest climbs any colour name has made in ONS history. It entered the top 100 in England and Wales in 2002 and reached the top 20 within fifteen years.
Violet is climbing. After sitting outside the top 100 for most of the twentieth century, it re-entered and has been rising steadily. It currently sits inside the top 50 for girls in England and Wales and shows no sign of slowing.
Jasper is the standout on the boys side. It sits inside the top 100 in England and Wales and is one of the fastest-rising boys names in current ONS data. Finn also holds the top 100 comfortably, having been a consistent presence in British naming for well over a decade.
Primrose entered the top 200 for girls in England and Wales in 2021 and has held that position since. Hazel broke into the top 100 for the first time in 2023. Pearl is now in the top 200. Each of these movements reflects the same broader shift: UK parents are returning to colour names with botanical and gemstone roots, names that feel grounded rather than decorative.
The pattern across all this data points in one direction. Colour names in the UK are not peaking. They are still rising.
Celebrate Your Baby's Colour-Inspired Name with a Personalised Print
A colour name carries something most names do not. It holds a visual world inside it. Violet is not just a name. It is a shade, a flower, a piece of Latin history, and a story a child grows into. Ruby is not just red. It is July's birthstone, a Victorian revival, and thirty years of consistent presence in British naming.
That story deserves more than a birth announcement.
At Name Stories, every name gets its own print. Each one is researched, designed, and produced in the UK on museum-quality 250gsm matte paper. The meaning, the origin, the character traits behind the name: all of it sits together in a single framed piece. It is the kind of thing that goes on a nursery wall and stays there.
If you have chosen a colour name from this list, the chances are good that Name Stories already has a print for it. Ruby, Scarlett, Violet, Sienna, Ivy, Jade, Jasper, Sage, Amber, Iris: each one has its own dedicated design. For names not yet in the collection, a custom name request option is available.
Prints start from £24.99. Framed options are available in white, black, and maple. Every order ships free across the UK.
