Color Name Finder
Enter HEX, RGB, or HSL color codes to find the closest color name from CSS 140 + Extended 1,500 color database. Provides similar color recommendations and one-click copy.
Color Name Finder
What is Color Name Finder?
Color Name Finder is a tool that displays the closest color name when you enter HEX, RGB, or HSL color codes. It searches through 140 web standard CSS colors and an extended database of over 1,500 colors to find the name most similar to your input.
When you’re curious about the name of a specific color during design work, or when you only know the color code and want to find an appropriate name to describe that color, this tool can help. It provides both the CSS standard name and common color names, along with 5 similar color recommendations.
When to Use This Tool
- Design Work – Search by color code when you want to know the exact name of a brand color
- Color Communication – Use precise names when explaining colors to clients or colleagues
- CSS Writing – When you want to use meaningful CSS color names instead of HEX codes
- Learning Colors – Learn the official names of various colors in English
- Finding Alternatives – When you want to find similar alternative colors to a specific color
- Building Palettes – Reference color names in the same family to create palettes
Key Features
- Multiple Input Formats – Enter colors in HEX, RGB, or HSL format for convenience. You can also select directly with the color picker.
- Color Database Selection – Choose between CSS colors (140) and extended colors (1,500+) to find more accurate or diverse color names.
- Similarity Display – Shows how closely your input color matches the found color as a percentage. Displays “Exact match” when perfectly matched.
- Similar Color Recommendations – Shows 5 similar colors alongside the closest match, making it easy to find alternatives.
- One-Click Copy – Click on color codes (HEX, RGB, HSL) to copy them directly to your clipboard.
- Search History – Automatically saves your last 20 searched colors for quick reference to previously found colors.
How to Use
- Enter Color – Click the color picker to select directly, or enter a color code in the HEX/RGB/HSL input fields.
- Select Database – Choose between CSS colors (140) and extended colors (1,500+). Extended colors provide more diverse names.
- View Results – Check the closest color’s name and color codes. Similarity percentage is also displayed.
- Explore Similar Colors – Click on any of the 5 similar colors shown below to switch to that color.
- Copy Codes – Click on any color code (HEX, RGB, HSL) to copy it to your clipboard.
Color Database Guide
CSS Colors (140)
These are CSS named colors defined in the W3C web standard. They can be used by name directly in all web browsers, applying color names like red, blue, or gold directly in CSS.
Extended Colors (1,500+)
Color names collected from various sources beyond the CSS basic colors. Includes color names from various categories such as food, nature, gems, metals, pastels, and neons. Useful for finding more specific and expressive color names.
Color Distance Calculation
The similarity between input color and database colors is calculated based on the CIE76 Delta E formula. This method measures color differences similar to human visual perception, providing more accurate results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between CSS colors and extended colors?
CSS colors (140) are defined in the W3C web standard and can be used directly as color names (e.g., gold, coral) in CSS. Extended colors (1,500+) provide more diverse color names but cannot be used directly as names in CSS – you need to convert them to HEX codes.
How is the similarity percentage calculated?
Similarity is calculated using the CIE76 Delta E formula to compute the distance between colors. This formula applies weights to RGB value differences according to human visual perception characteristics. 100% means an exact match, and closer to 0% means completely different colors.
Can I enter 3-digit HEX codes?
Yes, when you enter a 3-digit HEX code (e.g., F00), it’s automatically expanded to 6 digits (FF0000) for processing. You don’t need to include the # symbol.
Where is the search history stored?
Search history is stored in your browser’s local storage. Up to 20 recent colors are saved, and the history is deleted when you clear browser data or click “Clear All”. History is not shared across different devices or browsers.
The color picker isn’t working
The color picker is supported in modern browsers. If it’s not working, you can enter color values directly in the HEX, RGB, or HSL input fields. Updating your browser to the latest version should make the color picker work properly.
What are the sources for the color names?
CSS basic color names are based on the W3C standard. Extended color names come from various sources including traditional color names, brand colors, and commonly used descriptive names for colors representing objects like food, gemstones, and natural elements.