100 Color Baby Names: Meanings & Origins

Adam

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Man, to be red, red earth
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Adamo, Adem
Famous Namesakes: Singer Adam Levine, comedian Adam Sandler, actor Adam Driver
Peak Popularity: Adam is a popular boy name in the U.S. It ranked number 18 in 1983 and 1984. It was number 96 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The Hebrew word adam refers to the reddish color of human skin, as well as being similar to the word for earth (adamah), from which the Bible says Adam was formed.

Alani

Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: Orange, as in the fruit
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alana, Alanis, 'Alani, Ailani
Famous Namesakes: TV personality Alani Nicole "La La" Anthony.
Peak Popularity: Alani was uncommon before 2003, when it entered the top 1,000 names for girls. It has risen to number 221 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Alani is the Hawaiian word for the orange tree or its fruit. In Greek slang, it relates to an alleyway or lane, and singer Alanis Morrisette got her name from this Greek usage.

Alba

Origin: Latin, Ancient Roman
Meaning: White
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Albus, Elba
Famous Namesakes: Albus Dumbledore of the Harry Potter series, Olympic medalist synchronized swimmer Alba Maria Cabello Rodilla
Peak Popularity: Alba was most popular 100 years ago.

Fun Fact: In Roman mythology, Alba Silvius was a king of Alba Longa and an ancestor of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

Amber

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Yellowish orange jewel of fossilized resin
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ambre, Aamber, Ambur
Famous Namesakes: Actress Amber Heard, model Amber Rose, actress Amber Tamblyn
Peak Popularity: Amber was in the top 20 names for girls born from 1981 to 1993, but fell to number 513 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Amber is fossilized tree resin that can be 230 million years old. It can contain inclusions of ancient insects and plants, on which hinged the plot of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park.

Amethyst

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Semiprecious violet form of quartz
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amathyst, Amethyste
Famous Namesakes: Rapper Amethyst Amelia Kelly (birth name of Iggy Azalea)
Peak Popularity: Amethyst has never been in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: The Greek word for amethyst means "not drunk" as the Greeks believed that wearing amethyst or drinking from amethyst cups prevented intoxication.

Apple

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: A bright yellowish-green, like the unripe fruit
Alternative Spellings & Variations: None Aeppel, Apel, Appel, Appell
Famous Namesakes: Apple Martin (daughter of singer Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow)
Peak Popularity: Apple has never been in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: Apple has many connotations, including education (being given to teachers), lost innocence (the apple given by Eve to Adam that led to them being cast out of Eden), health ("an apple a day keeps the doctor away"), and the technology giant.

Ash/Ashley

Origin: Old English
Meaning: As a color, gray
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ashe, Ashly, Ashlyn, Ashleigh, Ashlea, Ashlee
Famous Namesakes: Actresses Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Judd, Ashley Olson
Peak Popularity: Ashley became a popular girl's name in the 1980's and was number one in 1991 and 1992. Ash has never been in the top 1,000, but Asher (from a different meaning) is rising fast and was at 32 for boys in 2020.

Fun Fact: As a name, Ash and Ashley refer to the ash tree rather than the gray ashes left after a fire burns. Ashley was originally a male name exclusively, with Ashleigh used for girls.

Auburn

Origin: Latin, Old French
Meaning: Reddish-brown
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aubern, Auburne, Auberne
Famous Namesakes: Nineteenth Century Politician Auburn Lorenzo Pridemore
Peak Popularity: Auburn has not reached the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: Auburn University is one of the largest universities in the Southern U.S.

Azure

Origin: Latin, Old French
Meaning: Blue stone, often used to describe the sky
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Azur, Azul, Azura
Peak Popularity: Azure has not reached the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: The word azure comes from the beautiful blue lapis lazuli stone. This stone was ground to make blue pigment used in painting by Renaissance artists including Vermeer and Titian.

Beryl

Origin: Greek, Latin
Meaning: Pale green precious stone (emerald and aquamarine are forms of beryl)
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beril, Beryll, Beryle
Famous Namesakes: Aviator Beryl Markham
Peak Popularity: Beryl was a fairly common name for girls in the first half of the 20th century, ranking in the top 500. It dropped out of the top 1,000 in 1958.

Fun Fact: Beryl can grow in massive crystals, such as one from Albany, Maine that weighed 18 metric tons. It is New Hampshire's state mineral.

Bianca

Origin: Italian
Meaning: White
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Biancha, Bianka, Biankah
Famous Namesakes: Actress Bianca Jagger, singer Bianca Ryan, tennis player Bianca Andreescu
Peak Popularity: Bianca had its peak at 84 in 1990 but has been dropping since.

Fun Fact: Shakespeare wrote two characters named Bianca. In Othello, Bianca is Cassio's jealous lover. In The Taming of the Shrew, Bianca is the lovely and sought-after younger sister of the protagonist, Kate. Their father will not allow her to marry until the "shrewish" Kate marries.

Blaine

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Yellow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Blayne, Blayn, Blain, Blaan
Famous Namesakes: Baseball player Blaine Boyer, football player Blaine Gabbert
Peak Popularity: Blaine has been in the 400 to 600 rank of popularity as a male name for most of the past 100 years.

Fun Fact: Blaine, Washington is on the U.S.- Canadian border in the state of Washington. It is the north terminus of Interstate 5, which becomes B.C. Highway 99 after crossing the border.

Blue

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Blue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bleu, Blu, Bluebell
Famous Namesakes: Blue Ivy Carter (daughter of rapper Jay-Z and singer Beyoncé), author Blue Balliett
Peak Popularity: Blue has never been in the top 1,000 names for boys or girls.

Fun Fact: Blue can be a unisex name. It might be chosen to relate to a favorite color or that of a school or sports team.

Bowie

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Yellow or fair-haired
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bowey, Bowi, Bowy, Beauie, Boey
Famous Namesakes: Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, pioneer Jim Bowie, and singer David Bowie as a surname
Peak Popularity: Bowie appeared as a top 1,000 name for boys in the U.S. in 2018 with a rank of 982.

Fun Fact: Bowie rose in popularity upon the death of David Bowie in 2016, as people named their children in tribute.

Boyd

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Yellow, blond, or light hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Boyde, Boid, Boide
Famous Namesakes: Actor Boyd Holbrook, musician Boyd Tinsley
Peak Popularity: Boyd was a common first name for boys throughout the first half of the 20th century, but it fell out of the top 1,000 in 1983.

Fun Fact: In Scottish history, one theory suggests that Clan Boyd may have originated from Robert Boyd named for his yellow hair.

Brick

Origin: German
Meaning: Clay red, like the building material
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bryck, Bricke, Brik
Added Famous Namesakes: Coach and athlete Brick Haley, actor Brick Bronsky
Peak Popularity: Brick is a unique name that does not appear in the top 1,000 for boys or girls.

Fun Fact: Brick can allude to strength and solidity. It makes a good middle name.

Bruno

Origin: German
Meaning: Brown
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bruino, Broono, Brewno, Brunoh
Famous Namesakes: Singer Bruno Mars, soccer player Bruno Alves
Peak Popularity: Bruno was most popular in 1915 with a rank of 259. It was number 709 for 2020.

Fun Fact: St. Bruno of Cologne was a monk who founded the Carthusian Order in the 11th century. His feast day is October 6.

Burgundy

Origin: German, French
Meaning: Reddish-purple, like red wine
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Burgundee, Burgundi, Burgandy, Burgandi
Peak Popularity: Burgundy is an uncommon name.

Fun Fact: Burgundy was first used as the name of a color in 1881.

Carmine

Origin: Arabic, French
Meaning: Crimson red
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmen, Carmela
Famous Namesakes: Musician Carmine Coppola, singer and dancer Carmen Miranda
Peak Popularity: Carmine was most popular in the first half of the 20th century. Carmen is perennially popular, ranking in the top 500 for over 100 years.

Fun Fact: The pigment carmine is extracted from scale insects that grow on cacti. It is used as a natural food coloring and in lipstick.

Cerise

Origin: French
Meaning: Cherry
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cherise, Cher, Cerrise, Cereese, Cerese, Cherry
Peak Popularity: Cerise has never made the top 1,000 in the U.S., but Cherise appeared on the list six times between 1967 and 1984.

Fun Fact: The color cerise is a deep reddish pink. It was popularized as a color of pencil, Hollywood cerise, in the 1950s.

Cherry

Origin: Latin, Greek
Meaning: Bright red, like the fruit
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cher, Cherri, Cherrie
Famous Namesakes: Actress Cherry Jones, actress Cherry Campbell
Peak Popularity: Cherry was most popular in 1948, but fell out of the top 1,000 in 1975.

Fun Fact: Cherry red is a deep, bright red color. The name has seen a decline in recent decades in the U.S. due to a sexual connotation.

Chloris

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pale green
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cloris, Khloris, Chlorys
Famous Namesakes: Actress Cloris Leachman
Peak Popularity: Chloris and Cloris are unique names.

Fun Fact: Chloris is the name of an Ancient Greek goddess of flowers.

Cinnamon

Origin: Semitic, Greek
Meaning: Reddish-brown, like the spice
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cynamon, Cinnamin, Cinnamen, Sinnamon
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Cinnamon Carter
Peak Popularity: Cinnamon made the top 1,000 list of girl names one time. It was number 699 in 1969.

Fun Fact: Cinnamon was a rare spice in Europe of the Middle Ages, the source of which (Sri Lanka) was kept secret by traders who brought it around the Arabian Penisula during the spice trade.

Clementine

Origin: French, Latin
Meaning: Orange citrus fruit
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Clementyne, Klementine, Clementina
Famous Namesakes: Singer Clementine Creevy, Singer Clémentine Delauney, political wife Clementine Churchill
Peak Popularity: Clementine was most popular in the early 1900s reaching a peak rank of 444 in 1911. It fell out of top 1,000 in 1954 but made a return in 2014. It ranked 610 in 2020.

Fun Fact: There is some debate over the origin of the clementine orange. However, it was named in 1902 after Father Clement Rodier, who may have discovered this hybrid by crossing a sweet orange and a mandarin orange in his garden in Algeria.

Cocoa

Origin: Nahuatl, Spanish, English
Meaning: Chocolate brown, like the cacao bean
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Coco, Cacao, CoeCoe, Koko
Famous Namesakes: Fashion designer Coco Chanel, celebrity child Coco Arquette
Peak Popularity: As of 2018, Cocoa and its variants have never been in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Cocoa can refer to a chocolate color. The most common use of Coco is as a nickname for Colette or Nicolette.

Coral

Origin: Latin
Meaning: A pinkish-orange to reddish-orange hue, like the marine animals
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Corall, Coraline, Coralee, Coralie, Koral
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Coraline, actress Coral Browne
Peak Popularity: Coral was most popular in the late 1800s, and has not been above 900 since 1906. But, the variant Coraline is rising in popularity due to the book and movie of that title. It was at 643 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Marine corals can be seen in many shades of orange to pink. As a color name, coral was first used in 1513.

Crystal

Origin: Greek, Latin
Meaning: Ice, clear glass
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Christal, Cristal, Chrystal, Crystall, Kristal, Kristell, Krystal, Krystle, Kristol, Krystol
Famous Namesakes: Country singer Crystal Gayle, actress Crystal Reed
Peak Popularity: Crystal was most popular in 1982 when it reached number 9. It has since dropped in popularity ranking 864 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Krystle became a trendy name due to 1980s television series Dynasty, with the character Krystle Carrington portrayed by actress Linda Evans.

Daffodil

Origin: Latin, English
Meaning: Yellow flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Daffodyl, Daffodill, Daffodyl, Daffi
Famous Namesakes: Celebrity child Daffodil Hurley (daughter of singer Michael Hurley)
Peak Popularity: Daffodil is a rare name, but it was used in the 1800s.

Fun Fact: As one of the first flowers of spring, the color of daffodils represents renewal and vitality.

Dove

Origin: English
Meaning: Warm gray or soft white with a hint of gray, like the bird
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dova, Duv
Famous Namesakes: Actress Dove Cameron
Peak Popularity: Dove was most popular in the late 1800s, and has not been above 1,000 since.

Fun Fact: Dove gray can evoke tranquility and peace.

Ebony

Origin: Greek, English
Meaning: Black, like the wood from the ebony tree
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ebone, Ebonee, Eboni, Ebonie
Famous Namesakes: Actress Ebonie Smith, TV host Eboni K. Williams
Peak Popularity: Ebony was most popular in the 1980s. It has not been above 1,000 since 2005.

Fun Fact: Ebony reached number 132 in 1982 when the song "Ebony and Ivory" was a number one hit by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.

Emerald

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Green, like the gem
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Esmeralda, Emeraude
Famous Namesakes: Actress Esmeralda Pimentel, model Emerald Ignacio, actress Emerald Fennell
Peak Popularity: Emerald was a top 1,000 girl name from 1991 through 2002. It popped up again in 2017 at number 978. Esmeralda is far more popular and has been in the top 400 for decades.

Fun Fact: Ancient emeralds came from mines in Egypt, India, and Austria. But today, most emeralds come from Colombia.

Fawn

Origin: French
Meaning: Beige, light brown, or tan, like a young deer
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fawne, Fawna
Famous Namesakes: Writer Fawn McKay Brodie
Peak Popularity: Fawn cracked the top 1,000 seventeen times between 1960 and 1983. It was most popular in 1977 when it reached number 763.

Fun Fact: Fawn was first used as the name of a color in 1789. It is used as an official coat color for dog breeds including boxers and pugs.

Fern

Origin: German, Old English
Meaning: Green, like the plant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ferne, Fearne, Furn
Famous Namesakes: Fern Arable of Charlotte's Web, actress Fern Fitzgerald, lawyer Fern Holland, author Fern Michaels
Peak Popularity: Fern was most popular from 1900 through 1924, reaching number 152 in 1916. But, it hasn't been in the top 1,000 since 1961.

Fun Fact: Fern was the name of a university student who helped a team of contestants in the second season of The Amazing Race. Her name came to be used as a term for any locals who took teams under their wing to help them to their destinations.

Fiona

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: White or fair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fyona, Fionna, Fionah, Fianna, Fiana, Finola
Famous Namesakes: Singer Fiona Apple
Peak Popularity: While Fiona has long been common in Scotland and Ireland, it was rare in the U.S. until 1990. In 2020, it ranked 296 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: As a name, Fiona first appeared in poems by James Macpherson, who said his works were translations from ancient Gaelic works.

Flynn

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Red
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Flin, Flinn, Flyn, Flann, Flannery, Flannigan
Famous Namesakes: Athlete Flynn Robinson, actor Flynn Morrison, celebrity children Flynn Bloom and Flynn Earl Jones
Peak Popularity: Flynn has been a top 1,000 name since 2011 and was number 659 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Flynn has found its way from being an Irish surname to being used as a first name. It might be used to honor grandparents with that surname.

Forest

Origin: Latin, French
Meaning: Deep green, like the plants and trees of a forest
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Forrest, Fourest, Forrester
Famous Namesakes: Actor Forest Whitaker, actor Forrest Tucker
Peak Popularity: Forest and Forrest have been historically popular names for boys with Forrest being the more commonly used version. In 2020, Forest ranked 811 and Forrest ranked 470.

Fun Fact: Forrest saw a big jump in popularity in 1994 due to movie Forrest Gump. It reached a rank of 217, a popularity level it hadn't seen since the 1920s. However, it was short lived. The name quickly went out of fashion and dropped off the top 1,000 list in 2004. As of 2013, it returned as a top 1,000 name.

Fuchsia

Origin: Modern Latin
Meaning: Bright, deep pink, like the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fushia, Fushcia, Fuesha, Fushea
Famous Namesakes: Writer Fuchsia Dunlop
Peak Popularity: Fuchsia has not yet appeared in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: The bright purple-red color of the dye fuchsine was so-named because it evoked the beautiful flower. This dye was renamed magenta, but both came to be used as color names.

Gannon

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Fair-skinned or fair-haired
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ganon, Gannen
Famous Namesakes: Football player Gannon Sinclair, fictional character Ganon from Nintendo's video game, The Legend of Zelda
Peak Popularity: Gannon became a top 1,000 name for boys in 2002. It was most popular in 2014 with a rank of 414.

Fun Fact: Gannon is also the name of a university in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Garnet

Origin: English
Meaning: Dark red, like the most common variety of the gemstone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Garnett, Garnette, Garnetta
Famous Namesakes: Hockey player Garnet Hathaway
Peak Popularity: Garnet has been used as both a male and female name, but as a male name is rare in the U.S. As a female name it was popular in the early 1900s, but fell out of the top 1,000 in 1945.

Fun Fact: Garnet is the birthstone for January, and different garnet varieties are also state gems and minerals. The wine red garnet is the state gem of New York, the star garnet is the state stone of Idaho, the grossular garnet is the state gem of Vermont, and the almandine garnet is the state mineral of Connecticut.

Giada

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Jade
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Giadda, Jayda, Jiada
Famous Namesakes: TV chef Giada De Laurentiis, director Giada Colagrande
Peak Popularity: Giada was a top 1,000 girl name from 2007 to 2013. It was most popular in 2010 with a rank of 753.

Fun Fact: Giada De Laurentiis evoked a play on words by naming her daughter Jade.

Ginger

Origin: English
Meaning: Reddish-brown, like the spice or reddish, like hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jinger, Gynger, Jynger, Ginjer
Famous Namesakes: Actress Ginger Rogers, meteorologist Ginger Zee
Peak Popularity: Ginger was most popular in the 1950s through the 1970s. It fell out of the top 1,000 in 1990.

Fun Fact: Ginger is commonly used to describe people with red hair, which occurs in only 1% to 2% of the worldwide population.

Gray

Origin: Old English
Meaning: A color between black and white
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Grey, Grai, Graye
Famous Namesakes: Former governor of California Gray Davis, photographer Gray Malin
Peak Popularity: Gray was a top 1,000 name for boys at the turn of the 20th century. It ranked 869 in 1900 and 990 in 1901. It hasn't been in the top 1,000 since. Grey entered the top 1,000 in 2013 and rose to 775 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Grey was used as a color name since 700 A.D. In the U.S., the color is usually spelled gray, while in the U.K. it is typically spelled grey.

Gwen

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: White
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gwendolyn, Gwendolen, Gwendolyne, Gwyneth, Guinevere, Jennifer
Famous Namesakes: Journalist Gwen Ifill, singer Gwen Stefani, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, actress Gwendoline Christie
Peak Popularity: Gwen was most popular in 1959 with a rank of 295. Gwendolyn is a popular variant that peaked at 112 in 1951 and 1953. In 2020, Gwendolyn was number 377.

Fun Fact: Jennifer is the Cornish form of Guinevere, which is one of the forms of Gwen.

Hazel

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Brown to green, related to the tree and nut
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hayzel, Hazil, Hazell, Hazyl
Famous Namesakes: Former Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O'Leary, singer Hazel O'Connor
Peak Popularity: Hazel was a top 30 female name in the early 1900s. After a continuous decline through the 1950s and 1960s, it dropped out of the top 1,000 in 1976. With a comeback in 1998, it has seen a quick and steady rise reaching number 31 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Hazel most often refers to an eye color that is light brown to gold, shifting toward green in certain lighting.

Heather

Origin: English
Meaning: A muted mixture of gray shades with flecks of other colors or a purple-pink, like the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Heathar, Hether, Heath, Heathe
Famous Namesakes: Actress Heather Graham, business executive Heather Bresch, soccer player Heather O'Reilly, actor Heath Ledger
Peak Popularity: Heather was extremely popular in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1975, it was the third most popular name for girls. It has fallen dramatically in since 2003 and was no longer a top 1,000 name as of 2017.

Fun Fact: The heather plant grows in rocky areas and is strongly associated with Scotland.

Hunter

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: As a color, a deep, dark green
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Huntor, Huntter, Huntur, Huntyr, Huntar
Famous Namesakes: Writer Hunter S. Thompson, actress Hunter Tylo
Peak Popularity: Hunter has traditionally been a name for boys. It began to see a rise in popularity in the late 1970s and has been a top 100 boy name since 1993. Hunter hit the top 1,000 list of girl names in 1993 and reached number 305 in 1998. It continues to be more popular for boys than girls.

Fun Fact: Hunter green is an official color of Oswego State. It was the official color of the New York Jets from 1998 to 2018, but in 2019 the uniforms were redesigned changing the shade of green from Hunter to Gotham.

Indigo

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Deep violet blue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Indigoh, Indego, Indygo,
Famous Namesakes: Actress Indigo, celebrity child Indigo Sanara Phillips
Peak Popularity: Indigo is a rare name for both sexes.

Fun Fact: Indigo is one of the colors of the rainbow, between blue and violet.

Iris

Origin: Greek
Meaning: A rainbow of colors, or purple-blue like the purple variety of the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Irys, Irus, Ires, Iriss, Iryss
Famous Namesakes: Journalist Iris Shun-Ru Chang, actress Iris Apatow
Peak Popularity: Iris has been a perennially popular name for girls. As of 2020, it surged to a U.S. all-time high at number 127.

Fun Fact: The iris is the state flower of Tennessee.

Ivory

Origin: English
Meaning: White
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ivorie, Ivori, Ivoree, Ivrie
Famous Namesakes: Actor Keenen Ivory Wayans, actress Ivory Aquino
Peak Popularity: Ivory was once a more commonly given male name. It was most popular in 1906 at 447. But, by 1980, it fell out of the top 1,000 for boys. Ivory was on the top 1,000 list of girls names in the early 1900s, in 1935, and briefly in 1982 and 1983. It returned in 2013 and was number 599 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Ivory refers to the color of elephant and whale tusks. It was first used as a color name in 1385.

Ivy

Origin: Old English
Meaning: A deep green with a hint of blue, cyan, or teal, like the vine
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ivie, Ivi, Ivee
Famous Namesakes: Actress Ivy Latimer, singer Ivy Levan
Peak Popularity: Ivy has been a top 1,000 name for girls for well over a century. However, it's popularity since 2010 has skyrocketed. In 2018, it broke the top 100 rising to number 86 and remained through 2020 at number 58.

Fun Fact: Ivy is used in the names of many green paint colors, including Ivy League by Glidden.

Jacinthe

Origin: French
Meaning: Orange-red
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jacynthe, Jacinth, Jacintha
Famous Namesakes: Singer Jacintha Abisheganaden
Peak Popularity: Jacinthe is a rare name that has never been in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: If you love the color orange, Jacinthe is a more melodious way to express it. It comes from the word for the hyacinth flower, which can be many different colors.

Jade

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Green or blue-green, like the mineral stone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jada, Jayde, Jaide, Jayden
Famous Namesakes: Actress Jade Pettyjohn, actress Jada Pinkett Smith
Peak Popularity: Jade hit the top 1,000 list for girls in 1975 and was most popular in 2002 at number 86. It was in the top 1,000 for boys from 1968 to 2001 with a high rank of 727 in 1978.

Fun Fact: The Jade stone has been used for decorative items in China since prehistoric times and was mined as early as 6000 B.C. It is also found in Guatemala and was used by the Olmec and Maya.

Jet

Origin: French
Meaning: Dark black, like the gemstone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jett, Jette, Jetta
Famous Namesakes: Actor Jet Li, chef Jet Tila
Peak Popularity: Jet is uncommon, and Jett was rare in the U.S. until 1999. Jett rose to number 300 for boys in 2017. In the Netherlands, Jet is a common nickname or short form name for girl names such as Mariette.

Fun Fact: Jet dates back to 10,000 B.C., and it was used in jewelry and small sculptures since 1400 B.C. It comes from fossilized wood transformed by pressure similar to the formation of coal.

Kelly

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Bright green with a hint of yellow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kelley, Kelli, Kellie, Kelleigh
Famous Namesakes: TV host Kelly Ripa, singer Kelly Clarkson, actress Kelly Macdonald
Peak Popularity: Kelly was a common name for boys, ranking as high as 97 in 1968, but it fell out of the top 1,000 in 2003. As a name for girls, it was in the top 100 from 1959 to 2000. If fell below 500 in 2016.

Fun Fact: Kelly green is a very pure and intense green that evokes the green colors of Ireland.

Lavender

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Light purple, like the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lavandar, Lavynder
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Lavender Brown
Peak Popularity: As of 2020, Lavender has not cracked the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: According to the Crayola website, lavender was introduced as a crayon color in 1972.

Lilac

Origin: Arabic, French
Meaning: Pale bluish-violet, like the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lilach, Lilak, Lylac, Lielac
Famous Namesakes: Celebrity child Lilac Moyer
Peak Popularity: Lilac does not appear as a top 1,000 name between 1900 and 2020.

Fun Fact: The purple lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire.

Mahogany

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Dark reddish brown, like the wood
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mahoganie, Mahoganey, Mahoganee
Famous Namesakes: Rapper Mahogany Jones, singer Mahogany Lox
Peak Popularity: Mahogany is a unique name for boys or girls.

Fun Fact: According to the Crayola website, Mahogany was introduced as a crayon color in 1991.

Maize

Origin: Arawakan/Taíno, Spanish (Haiti)
Meaning: Yellow, like corn
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maiz, Mayze, Maise
Peak Popularity: Maize has never been in the top 1,000. is an uncommon name.

Fun Fact: Maize has been used as the name of a color since 1861.

Marigold

Origin: English
Meaning: Yellow-orange, like the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marygold, Marigolde, Marrigold, Maragold
Famous Namesakes: Actress Marigold "Goldie" Semple, child of former British Prime Minister Marigold Frances Churchill
Peak Popularity: Marigold has never been in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Marigold is often used as the name of paint colors. The flower was used to produce a dye in several ancient cultures.

Mauve

Origin: Latin, French
Meaning: Pale blue-purple-pink
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mauv, Mawve
Peak Popularity: Mauve has never been in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Mauve is the name of a synthetic dye discovered in 1956 by English Chemist Sir William Henry Perkin. It was so popular in art that the 1890s are called the Mauve Decade.

Midori

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Green
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Midorie, Midoree, Midory
Famous Namesakes: Actress Midori Francis, violinist Midori Goto
Peak Popularity: Midori is not a common name.

Fun Fact: Midori is a sweet, bright green liqueur often used in Japanese cocktails.

Moss

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Green, like the plant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mosse, Maus
Famous Namesakes: Playwright Moss Hart
Peak Popularity: Moss is not a popular name.

Fun Fact: Moss green was first used as a color name in 1884.

Nila

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Dark blue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nilah, Neela, Niela, Nilam, Neelam
Famous Namesakes: Celebrity wife Nila Myers Hollingsworth, actress and designer Neelam Kothari, actress Neela Todd
Peak Popularity: Nila was most popular in the first half of the 20th century, ranking as high as 567 in 1935. It fell out of the top 1,000 in the 1950s.

Fun Fact: Today, Nila and its variants are mostly found among people from India.

Olive

Origin: Greek, Latin
Meaning: Dark, muddy yellow-green, like the olive fruit
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oliva, Olivia
Famous Namesakes: Actresses Olivia Newton-John, Olivia Wilde, Olivia Munn
Peak Popularity: Olive was a top 100 name for girls in the early 1900s. It dropped out of the top 1,000 in 1951, but popped back up in 2007 and rose to 197 in 2020. Meanwhile, the ever popular version, Olivia, has been a top ten name since 2001, and the second most popular name from 2014 to 2018. It was number one in 2020.

Fun Fact: The name Olivia sprang into popularity from the pen of William Shakespeare and was associated with the word for olive.

Onyx

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Black, like the gemstone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Onix, Oniks, Onyks
Famous Namesakes: Brazilian politician Onyx Lorenzoni, celebrity child Onyx Solace Morissette-Treadway
Peak Popularity: Onyx is a unisex name. It hit the top 1,000 for the first time in 2018 as a boy name ranking 864, and ranked 613 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Onyx was believed by the Romans to give courage in battle and by the Renaissance Europeans to bestow eloquence.

Orrin

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Pale green, also dark-haired
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oran, Orin, Oren, Odran, Odhran
Famous Namesakes: U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch
Peak Popularity: Orrin was most popular early in the 20th century, but was last in the top 1,000 in 1961.

Fun Fact: The Irish name Odran or Odhran is the source the English variations.

Pearl

Origin: Latin, French
Meaning: Cream or off-white
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Perle, Pearle, Purl, Purle
Famous Namesakes: Writer Pearl S. Buck, actress Pearl Bailey
Peak Popularity: Pearl had a high point at number 24 in 1900, then declined and fell out of the top 1,000 in 1987. It has resurged since 2007.

Fun Fact: Pearl is the June birthstone.

Phoenix

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Reddish-purple or dark red
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fenix, Phoenyx, Phenix, Pheenix, Phenyx, Pheenyx
Famous Namesakes: Actor Phoenix List
Peak Popularity: Phoenix debuted in the top 1,000 in 1995, and by 2020 it had risen to number 238 for boys and is also at 286 for girls.

Fun Fact: It might seem odd that Phoenix is a color name, but the original Greek meant reddish-purple. Today, it might allude to a place name or "rising from the ashes."

Pink

Origin: English
Meaning: Pink
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Pynk, Pinky, Pinkie
Famous Namesakes: Singer P!nk (Alecia Beth Moore), TV comic Pinky Lee
Peak Popularity: In 1900, Pink ranked 509 as a boy name. It fell out of the top 1,000 in 1910. As of 2018, Pink does not appear in the top 1,000 for girls.

Fun Fact: Pink is strongly associated with baby girls today, but it was originally marketed as a color for boys. It became more popular for girls by the 1940s and became trendy in fashion when First Lady Mamie Eisenhower often wore the color.

Poppy

Origin: Latin, English
Meaning: Red flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Poppie, Poppi, Poppey
Famous Namesakes: Actress Poppy Montgomery, actress Poppy Drayton
Peak Popularity: Poppy was first seen in the top 1,000 names for girls in 2016. It ranked 462 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The red poppy is the symbol of remembrance of the millions of soldiers lost in World War I, inspired by the poem, "In Flanders Fields." The golden California poppy is the state flower of its namesake.

Raven

Origin: Germanic, Old English
Meaning: A black bird
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ravin, Raeven, Rayven, Ravenna
Famous Namesakes: Actress Raven-Symoné, actress Raven Goodwin
Peak Popularity: Raven entered the top 1,000 names for girls in 1977, and it was most popular in 1993 reaching a rank of 139. It was also a top 1,000 name for boys from 1997 to 2002 with a highest rank of 813 in 1999.

Fun Fact: Raven is referenced as a color in the Bible. It describes Solomon's hair: "His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven." (Song of Solomon 5:11, RSV)

Reed

Origin: English
Meaning: Red, as in having a ruddy complexion or red hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Read, Reid
Famous Namesakes: Hockey player Reed Larson, actor Reed Diamond
Peak Popularity: Reed has been perennially ranked in the top 700 names for boys and was at 450 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Reed or Reid refers to a ruddy facial complexion, becoming a name applied to people with that characteristic.

Rory

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Red king
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rorie, Rorey, Rori, Ruari, Ruadhri
Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Rory Gilmore, actor Rory Culkin, filmmaker Rory Kennedy
Peak Popularity: Rory has been in the top 1,000 for boys since 1947. It was most popular in 1959 at 280. In 2020, it ranked 330. Rory became a top 1,000 girl name in the U.S. in 2003 and ranked 457 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Rory has been used since antiquity to refer to red-haired kings.

Rose

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dark pink
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rosa, Rosalie, Rosaria, Rosie
Famous Namesakes: Actress Rose Byrne, philanthropist Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, actress Rose McGowan, actress Amber Rose Revah
Peak Popularity: Rose was in the top 100 names for girls from 1900 to 1961. After dipping for a few decades, it was back up to 113 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The rose is the state flower or New York.

Rowan

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Red hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rowen, Roane, Ruadh, Rowanne
Famous Namesakes: Actor Rowan Atkinson, actress Rowan Blanchard
Peak Popularity: Rowan debuted as a top 1,000 boy name in 1999 and rose quickly to number 113 in 2020. It made it as a top 1,000 girl name in 2003 reaching 255 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Rowan is a unisex name.

Roy

Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Red or red hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Roi, Ruadh, Royce
Famous Namesakes: Singer Roy Rogers, actor Roy Scheider, musician Roy Orbison
Peak Popularity: Roy was most popular in the first half of the 20th century when it ranked in the top 50. It has since declined, ranking 574 in 2020.

Fun Fact: While Roy can also mean "king" from the Old French roi, its use in Scotland derives from the nickname for red.

Ruby

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Red, like the gemstone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rubie, Rubye, Rube, Rubee, Rubina
Famous Namesakes: Dancer Ruby Keeler, actress Ruby Dee
Peak Popularity: Ruby is a very popular name for girls. It was a top 100 name from before 1900 to 1935, when it began to drop a bit. It never fell out of the top 500 and reemerged in the top 100 again in 2013. It ranked 74 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The ruby is the birthstone of July.

Rufus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Red-haired
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ruffus, Roufus, Ruffis, Rufous
Famous Namesakes: Actor Rufus Sewell, singer Rufus Wainwright
Peak Popularity: Rufus was most popular at the beginning of the 20th century when it was in the top 150. It dropped out of the top 1,000 in 1989.

Fun Fact: In ancient Rome, Rufus was a popular cognomen, a third name given to a person to identify which branch of the family the person came from or to highlight that person's individual achievements. An example is consul Quintus Pompeius Rufus.

Russell

Origin: French
Meaning: Little red one or redhead
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Russ, Russel, Rousell
Famous Namesakes: Actor Russell Crowe, comedian Russell Brand, football player Russell Wilson
Peak Popularity: Russell was a top 100 name for boys from before 1900 through 1982. It has since dropped to 370 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Russell was a surname or last name before it became a given name or first name.

Rusty

Origin: English
Meaning: Reddish-brown or rust-colored, as in hair
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rusti, Rustee, Rustey
Famous Namesakes: Racing driver Rusty Wallace, astronaut Rusty Schweickart
Peak Popularity: Rusty is often a nickname, but it was also a moderately popular legal given name for boys. It ranked in the top 500 from 1955 to 1988.

Fun Fact: Rusty is the name of a few fictional characters, including Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation, and Rusty the Little Diesel in Thomas & Friends.

Saffron

Origin: Arabic, Old French
Meaning: Yellow-orange or gold, like the spice
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Saphron, Saffren, Saffronn
Famous Namesakes: Actress Saffron Burrows
Peak Popularity: Saffron has not been a top 1,000 baby name.

Fun Fact: Saffron is an extremely expensive spice derived from crocus flowers, imparting a golden color and a slight flavor to food. It has long been used as a dye and is important color in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Sage

Origin: Latin, Old French
Meaning: Gray-green, like the dried herb
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Saige, Saje, Sayge, Saije, Sauge
Famous Namesakes: Actor Sage Stallone, sportscaster Sage Steele
Peak Popularity: Sage entered the top 1,000 names for girls in 1993 and was number 223 in 2020. It became a top 1,000 name for boys in 1991 and was number 442 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Sagebrush is the state flower of Nevada.

Sapphire

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Deep blue, like the gemstone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sapphyre, Saffira, Safira
Famous Namesakes: Poet Sapphire, actress Sapphire Elia
Peak Popularity: Sapphire has never been in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: The sapphire is one of the state gemstones of Montana along with the Montana Agate.

Scarlett

Origin: English
Meaning: Red
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Scarlet, Scarlette, Skarlett
Famous Namesakes: Actress Scarlett Johansson, actress Scarlett Pomers
Peak Popularity: Scarlett had some minor popularity from 1940 to 1943 following Gone With the Wind. It also appeared in the top 1,000 in 1962 and 1963. But, since its reemergence in 1992, this name has skyrocketed to the top of the list. It made the top 100 in 2011, and was number 21 for girls in 2020.

Fun Fact: Scarlet is one of the official colors of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ohio State University, Texas Tech University, and Boston University. Scarlet is also the color worn by cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church.

Shani

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Red
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Shanie, Shanni, Shaney
Famous Namesakes: Speed skater Shani Davis, soccer player Shani Tarashaj, actress Shani Atias
Peak Popularity: Shani made the top 1,000 list of girl names seven times between 1969 and 1977 with a highest rank of 664 in 1969.

Fun Fact: Shani is a popular name in Israel. It is also the Sanskrit name for the planet Saturn.

Sherry

Origin: Spanish, English
Meaning: Red, like the fortified wine
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sherri, Sherrie, Sheri, Sherie
Famous Namesakes: Actress Sherry Stringfield, writer Sherry Thomas, actress Sherri Shepherd
Peak Popularity: Sherry was a top 1,000 girl name in the U.S. from 1925 to 1995. It was most popular in 1962 when it reached number 48.

Fun Fact: The song "Sherry" was released in 1962 by The Four Seasons and was a number one hit.

Sienna

Origin: English
Meaning: Reddish-brown
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Siena, Siennah, Syenna
Famous Namesakes: Actress Sienna Miller, actress Sienna Guillory
Peak Popularity: Sienna first appeared on the top 1,000 list of girl names in 1995. It hit a high of 170 in 2007 and was number 166 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Burnt sienna has been a Crayola crayon color since 1949.

Sigal

Origin: Hebrew, Jewish
Meaning: Violet flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sigalit, Segal, Siegal
Famous Namesakes: Artist Sigalit Landau, politician Sigal Mandelker, actress Sigal Erez
Peak Popularity: Sigal has not been in the top 1,000 girl names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Sigal is more common as a girl's name in Israel than the U.S.

Sky

Origin: Old Norse, English
Meaning: Blue, like the sky
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Skye, Skai, Skie
Famous Namesakes: Film director Skye Borgman, actress Skye Townsend
Peak Popularity: While Sky is a unisex name, it has never been in the top 1,000 for boys and ranks between 736 and 1,000 since 1999. The more popular variation, Skye, has ranked as high as 367 for girls in 2014.

Fun Fact: The sun's white light contains all the colors. The sky appears blue because as light from the sun reaches the earth, more of the short blue wavelengths of light scatter around us and we see more blue.

Slate

Origin: Old French, English
Meaning: Gray with a hint of blue, purple or green, like the rock
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Slayte, Slaite, Slait
Famous Namesakes: Athlete Slater Trout, musician Slater Davis
Peak Popularity: Slate is an unusual name that does not appear in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Slate blue has a purple-gray tone while slate gray is a medium gray with a slight blue tinge.

Steel

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Blue-gray, like the metal
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Steele, Steale, Stahl
Famous Namesakes: Olympic diver Steele Johnson, actor Steele Stebbins
Peak Popularity: Steel and Steele have not been popular baby names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Steel blue is one of the team colors of the Houston Texans football team and the Colorado Avalanche hockey team.

Sterling

Origin: English
Meaning: Silver or gray
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Stirling, Styrling, Stearling
Famous Namesakes: Actor Sterling K. Brown, racing driver Sterling Martin
Peak Popularity: Sterling has been a top 1,000 name for boys for over 120 years. It was number 356 in 1900 and 400 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Sterling silver is a silver alloy that needs to be rhodium plated so it won't tarnish and turn gray and black.

Sunny

Origin: English
Meaning: Yellow, like the sun
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sunni, Sunnie, Sunney, Sunshine
Famous Namesakes: Actress Sunny Sandler, TV chef Sunny Anderson
Peak Popularity: Sunny and Sunshine are relatively rare, occasionally breaking into the top 1,000. Sunny made the top 1,000 list for girls 15 times between 1942 and 2020. It was most popular in 1975 at 541. Sunshine was in the top 1,000 from 1974 to 1981. It was also most popular in 1975 at 534.

Fun Fact: Sunshine yellow has been used as a paint color by both Volkswagen and Chrysler.

Tawny

Origin: Old French
Meaning: Light brown or tan
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tahnee, Tawnee, Tawnie, Tawni
Famous Namesakes: Actress Tawny Kitaen, actress Tawny Cypress
Peak Popularity: Tawny spent five years as a top 1,000 name in the 1980s. It's highest rank was 860 in 1989.

Fun Fact: Tawny port is a sweet port wine that gets its tawny, golden-brown color from reacting with oxygen as it ages for long periods in wood barrels.

Teal

Origin: English
Meaning: Greenish-blue
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Teale, Teel, Teele
Famous Namesakes: Actress Teal Redmann, athlete Teal Bunbury
Peak Popularity: Teal has not been in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: The color teal is named for the blue-green stripe that extends from the eye area of male teal ducks.

Topaz

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Golden yellow, like the precious stone
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Topaaz, Topazz
Famous Namesakes: Rapper Topaz Jones
Peak Popularity: Topaz is a unique name.

Fun Fact: Topaz is the state gemstone of Texas and Utah.

Violet

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Violet or purple
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Viola, Violette, Violett, Violeta
Famous Namesakes: Actress Violett Beane, shipwreck survivor Violet Jessop, writer Violet Needham
Peak Popularity: Violet was a top 100 name during the first two decades of the 20th century. It fell out of favor from the 1960s through the 1980s. It began a comeback in 1998 and quickly rose in popularity to number 37 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The violet is the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Willow

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Soft pale green with blue, gray, or yellow undertones
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Willo, Willough, Willoh
Famous Namesakes: Singer Willow Smith, actress Willow Shields
Peak Popularity: Willow entered the top 1,000 names for girls in 1998 and has become quite popular reaching number 48 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Willow is used as the name for paint and fabric colors.

Wisteria

Origin: English
Meaning: Soft purple, like the flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wysteria, Wistaria
Peak Popularity: Wisteria is not a common name.

Fun Fact: Wisteria has been a Crayola crayon color since 1993.

Xanthe

Origin: Ancient Greek
Meaning: Yellow or blonde
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zanthe, Xantha, Xanthos
Famous Namesakes: Xanthe, a water nymph in Greek mythology, actress Xanthe Elbrick
Peak Popularity: Xanthe is a rare name.

Fun Fact: A number of medical terms use xanth as prefix when referring to something yellow in color.

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Sources

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United States Social Security Administration. Popularity of a Name. ssa.gov