When we look up at the sky, there’s a wide range of colors we might see. While most people associate the sky with the color blue, it can change hues depending on the time of day and the weather conditions. The sun, clouds, and stars also have unique colors that make them stand out in the sky.
Since the sky and weather patterns are full of beautiful colors, there are lots of colors named after them, including obvious choices like sky blue and more unique options like winter sky.
1. Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Hex #87CEEB
RGB 135, 206, 235
CMYK 43, 12, 0, 8
When people think of the color of the sky, this light blue hue is probably what they picture. The concept of the sky’s color being a color name first occurred in French when geographer Nicolas de Nicolay used it in 1576. It wasn’t recorded in the English language until 1681.
It didn’t take long for sky blue to become popular in a wide range of areas, including synthetic dyes, fashion items, and coloring utensils. Sky blue is a beloved color because it evokes tranquility and serenity, making it a peaceful hue to have around. It can make people feel optimistic and hopeful.
2. Midnight Blue
Midnight Blue
Hex #191970
RGB 25, 25, 112
CMYK 78, 78, 0, 56
Midnight blue describes the dark hue that the sky takes on in the middle of the night, especially around a gorgeous full moon. This color has appeared as the sky in many art pieces throughout history, including Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. However, it didn’t officially become a color name until 1915. Crayola named one of its crayons “midnight blue” in 1958.
This dark blue provides elegance, sophistication, and tranquility. It resembles the serene beauty of the night sky, making it a great color to relax with.
3. Blizzard Blue
Blizzard Blue
Hex #ACE5EE
RGB 172, 229, 238
CMYK 28, 4, 0, 7
Rather than replicating the blue hues of the sky, blizzard blue evokes the frigid feelings people experience during a snowstorm. The first appearance of this word in the English language was when it became a Crayola crayon color around 1972 (the color was originally called “ultra blue”). However, many variations of blizzard blue have appeared in the world since then.
Despite being named after an unpleasant weather pattern, blizzard blue evokes feelings of calmness and relaxation, much like other types of blue. Of course, it could also make people feel cold when used in large amounts.
4. Sunset Orange
Sunset Orange
Hex #FA5F55
RGB 250, 95, 85
CMYK 0, 62, 66, 2
Sunset orange mimics the deep orange-red hue that the sky sometimes appears to be while the sun goes down. The exact origin is unclear, but it has been used to describe orange hues of a variety of products, including vehicles, hair dye, and clothing.
This warm color mimics the heat of the summer sun. It can make people feel energetic, passionate, creative, and excited, much like other types of bold orange can.
5. Twilight
Twilight
Hex #4E518B
RGB 78, 81, 139
CMYK 44, 42, 0, 45
In real life, the colors that appear during twilight include deep blue, purple, and orange. However, the color with the same name is a dark purple mixed with some blue, since people typically think of those times of day as dark.
As a dark hue that resembles the transition between day and night, twilight is a color that evokes mystery. It can also represent calmness or sadness, depending on the context.
6. Winter Sky
Winter Sky
Hex #FF007C
RGB 255, 0, 124
CMYK 0, 100, 51, 0
The name winter sky can apply to a wide range of colors, including obvious hues like blue and white. However, the color name is also associated with bright pink, which is a color we rarely see in the sky. Some sunrises and sunsets amid winter clouds appear pink, which is likely what inspired this color name.
Bright shades of pink like this evoke excitement, inspiration, and optimism. They can bring energy and joy during an otherwise cold and depressing winter.
7. Sunglow
Sunglow
Hex #FFCC33
RGB 255, 204, 51
CMYK 0, 20, 80, 0
Sunglow is a warm yellow color that reminds us of the sun’s light, hence the fitting name. In 1997, it became a Crayola crayon color, allowing people to easily draw images of the sun.
This color brings all the positive associations of yellow, such as joy and optimism, but makes the color easier on the eyes since it’s not as bright. It represents the warm glow of the sun rather than the sun’s blinding light.
8. Sunray
Sunray
Hex #E3AB57
RGB 227, 171, 87
CMYK 0, 25, 62, 11
Like sunglow, sunray is another color that represents the warm light of the sun. The main difference is that it’s darker, giving it a hint of gold and brown. It’s often found in coloring supplies, such as paints.
While it might not feel as optimistic as brighter yellows, dark yellow still gives off warmth. It also has a sense of maturity and creativity, encouraging people to express themselves in unique ways.
9. Stormcloud
Stormcloud
Hex #4F666A
RGB 79, 102, 106
CMYK 25, 4, 0, 58
Stormcloud (also called storm cloud) is a name used for a variety of dark gray colors. It’s often the name of interior paint colors. This dark gray hue resembles the color clouds turn during a big storm, making the sky and clouds look more ominous than before.
While some might view this color as moody and edgy, it can feel modern and professional when used in interior design. The context and colors surrounding it can greatly affect its meaning.
10. Morning Blue
Morning Blue
Hex #8DA399
RGB 141, 163, 153
CMYK 13, 0, 6, 36
Despite being called morning blue, this color appears more green or gray than blue. It’s not a widely recognized color, but it mimics the dark hue of the sky before the sun rises. It also resembles the dark clouds that sometimes appear during a storm.
This color could signify second chances and new beginnings since it reminds people of the start of a new day. It could also make people feel calm and at one with nature, similar to how you might feel outside while waiting to watch the sunrise.
11. Dusk
Dusk
Hex #4E5481
RGB 78, 84, 129
CMYK 40, 35, 0, 49
Dusk represents the darkest time of twilight, especially when referring to sunsets. So, this color is a very dark purple/blue because that’s the color you’ll likely see shortly before the sun disappears for the day.
As a time of day, dusk is often a time of peace and quiet, leading to deep thoughts and reflections. While the color dusk can have these effects as well, it’s also a color of sophistication, creativity, and sometimes sadness. It offers the calmness of blue, but its darkness can lead to negative thoughts for some people, much like the night sky.
12. Cloud
Cloud
Hex #C7C4BF
RGB 199, 196, 191
CMYK 0, 2, 4, 22
Cloud colors are more than just white. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, they can appear as any color of the rainbow. However, the color named cloud is a light gray hue, similar to how clouds appear when they’re thicker. Clouds may also appear as this hue if it’s about to rain.
This color is neutral and calm, not giving off many strong emotions. Some might see it as hopeful or sophisticated, but if it were a darker shade of gray, it could feel edgier or depressing, like dark storm clouds.
13. Hurricane
Hurricane
Hex #877C7B
RGB 135, 124, 123
CMYK 0, 8, 9, 47
Hurricane is a much darker gray than cloud to reflect the dark sky and eerie emotions associated with these natural disasters. It’s not commonly used as a color name, but when it is, this is the most common hue to represent it.
This dark gray color can make people feel pessimistic and depressed, especially when associated with the fear of hurricanes. It could also feel neutral, sophisticated, or mysterious.
14. Deep Sky Blue
Deep Sky Blue
Hex #00BFFF
RGB 0, 191, 255
CMYK 100, 25, 0, 0
Sky blue typically refers to a very light and pale blue. Deep sky blue is another form of light blue, but it’s a lot more vibrant. While sky blue is closer to the real sky, deep sky blue is a medium-light shade that’s similar to the bold sky colors you might see in paintings or cartoons.
Despite being brighter than traditional sky blue, it still evokes calmness and serenity as other light blues do. It can help people relax slightly, but it’s bright enough to prevent them from falling asleep.
15. Snow
Snow
Hex #FFFAFA
RGB 255, 250, 250
CMYK 0, 2, 2, 0
Finally, snow is a color that’s almost pure white, but not quite. In the RGB representation, it uses 100% red and slightly less green and blue. This is likely because, even though snow appears pure white to us, it can look a little different depending on the lighting.
Like pure white, the color snow represents innocence, cleanliness, and purity. It’s like how freshly fallen snow looks so perfect that you almost don’t want to touch it (but it’s usually worth it to make a snowman).
Explore the collection of themed color names and palettes for more inspiration.
