Colour Name Finder
Enter any HEX colour and instantly find its closest standard colour name, plus a handful of other close matches, using the standard CSS colour keyword list.
Enter a Colour
Your colour: #4A7C59
Closest Named Colour
SeaGreen
HEX: #2E8B57
Other Close Matches
How to Use the Colour Name Finder
Enter a HEX colour code, or use the Random Colour button, and the tool compares it against the standard list of 140 CSS colour keywords, such as SeaGreen, Sienna and CornflowerBlue. It shows the single closest matching name at the top, along with five other nearby names so you can see how close (or far) each option really is.
How the Matching Works
Each named colour has a fixed position in Red, Green and Blue space. This tool measures the straight-line distance between your chosen colour and every name on the list, then ranks the names from the smallest distance (closest match) to the largest. A distance of zero means an exact match; the further the distance, the less accurate the name becomes as a description of your colour.
Naming Colours in Your Artist Practice
Putting a name to a colour can make it much easier to talk about your palette with a client, describe a custom order, or keep consistent notes across a series of works. Standard colour names are also a handy shorthand when you don't have the exact HEX code on hand, or when you want a quick, human-readable label for a swatch in your sketchbook or portfolio.
Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a colour name finder?
A colour name finder takes a HEX colour code and matches it against a standard list of named colours, showing you the closest recognised name, such as SeaGreen or Sienna, for that colour.
Where do the colour names come from?
This tool uses the standard CSS colour keyword list, a widely used, publicly documented set of 140 named colours defined for use on the web.
Will my colour always have an exact name?
Not always. Most colours you enter will not exactly match a named colour, so the tool finds and shows the closest available name, along with several other nearby options for comparison.
How is the closest match calculated?
The tool measures the straight-line distance between your colour and every named colour in Red, Green and Blue space, then ranks the names from the smallest distance to the largest.
Why do the other close matches matter?
Showing several nearby names, not just the single closest one, gives you a sense of how confident that match really is and offers useful alternatives if the top name doesn't feel quite right for your work.
Can I use these names as real paint colour names?
These are standard digital colour names, not paint brand names. They're useful as a shared, easy-to-remember label, but a specific paint you buy may be named and formulated differently.
Can I enter a 3-character HEX code?
Yes. A shorthand code like #4A7 is automatically expanded to its full six-character version before the closest names are calculated.
How is this different from the Colour Picker?
The Colour Picker helps you find and read the numeric values of a colour. This Colour Name Finder takes a colour you already have and matches it to the closest standard colour name.
Can I use the keyboard instead of a mouse or touchscreen?
Yes. Tab to the HEX field and type your code, or tab to the Random Colour and Reset buttons, all of which are fully keyboard operable.
Can I use this tool on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The field, swatches and results grid all resize to work comfortably on phones and tablets as well as desktop screens.
Is my colour data stored or sent anywhere?
No. All of the matching happens directly in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or stored.
Is this Colour Name Finder free to use?
Yes, it's completely free to use, with no account, sign-up or download required.
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