Names of a Different Color

[lunastar]

In the last two weeks, I've come across two unusual color names on children from separate families: Indigo and Crimson.

Both are girls under four. Indigo had a younger sibling, too, but I'm not sure of her name. Has anyone else come across color names lately? Does this seem like a random occurrence or could it speak to a larger trend of "word" names?

Indigo was called "Indy," and Crimson "Crimmie" by their parents, if anyone was wondering how nicknames would go. :)

[Mirth]

Indigo's not unknown as a name, though it is rare.

Cree Buttercup
Indigo Summer
Sienna Honey


Eden Naomi
Indigo Honeysuckle

Blue
Indigo

Emerald Moon
Indigo River
Lilac Sand
Sapphire Rose

Indigo Altima
Saffron Mariama

Indigo Belle
Salus Bay

Indigo Chenoa
Oka Phoenix

Indigo Eve
Freya Lilith
Cressida Lark
Tallulah Rose

Indigo Lewis
Viridian Joshua
Tyrian Dexter

Indigo Lilyfrix
Cei Audrey

Indigo River
Topaz Summer

Indigo Romana
Coco Kenosha

Tansy Lydia
Indigo Verity

Crimson, hmm. Families with Crimson in the UK:

Esmeralda Violet
Zenobia Crimson
Zuleika Lavender

Asterix Rose
Ophelia Scarlett
Cordelia Crimson

Crimson Lily
Ruby Mae

And a couple of boys called Crimson.

What surprises me is the kids called Beige and Ochre.

And why there are so few Chartreuses. Probably cos it sounds a bit like Gertrude. And so few Cobalts, with Coby such a convenient diminutive. Not to mention Mauve, which looks so like Maeve. No Sepias or Taupes, and not many Russets.

And there are no Turquoises in the UK :(

On the other hand, there are lots of Teal(e)s.

And there's an Oak Vermilion, and a Persia Viridian. Not related.

:)

[ClaudiaD]

I don't have documentation, but my notes say that over the years I've run across people named Azure, Burgundy, Crimson, Cyan, Indigo, Ivory, Magenta, Mahogany, Mauve, Ochre, Sable, and Teal. And of course, many Ebonys and Scarlets. But these would not be babies born recently so I can't speak to a color-theme trend--except that word names in general have become more common. And I do recall seeing quite a few recently born babies with the middle name Blue (wasn't this used by a celebrity?)

[ckevans]

Turquoise has definitely turned up on occasion as a given name in the USA.

Green was a surprisingly common name for males in the USA during the 19th century, though parents who used it probably thought of it more as a surname than as a direct use of the word for the color. Olive, Viiolet and Orange are others from the 19th century that probably weren't meant to be color names originally but sound like that today.

Of the names Claudia mentions, the only one I have not run across myself yet is Ochre.

And no one has mentioned Lavender yet. Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter books is an interesting juxtaposition of two colors in the name of a character. :)

[Rusalka]

Wasn't one of Matilda's friends/classmates in the Rol Dahl novel named Lavender?

Cher's son is named Elijah Blue. And John Travolta's daughter is Ella Bleu. I'm sure other celebs have used it, but I can't recall who.

I know sisters named Sapphire & Rose; and obviously I'm Sage. I guess Ruby and Violet could be considered 'colour names' too, but those are quite mainstream.
I do think colour names are just a facet of the general 'word' trend, as many of the names used are also plants/jewels/whatever.

Having grown up watching Captain Scarlet colour names make me happy and I totally see them working on people (and indeed marionettes). I'd totally name a kid Ochre, he's my favourite character. :)

[Jenaphora]

I met a little girl named Burgundy recently - and a little boy Cobalt, Mirth!

I did know a young boy named Crimson in my old city, his brother was named Willow and their parents were Goths.

[brokentv]

I really like Indigo. Love it actually. Crimson, not so much... not so much at all.
I really dig on the more 'out there' colour names a lot of the time.

[Elliebean]

I love color names!! Indigo is definitely a favorite although Im not sure I would have the guts to use it--I also think Sapphire for a girl would be really pretty! :princess:

[Mirth]

I met a little girl named Burgundy recently - and a little boy Cobalt, Mirth!

Yay, a Cobalt!

And yes, Blue is really fashionable as a middle name. Too many to list in the UK records.

[LaLaLalena]

I love color names! I've met a Turquoise before :)

[WillCall]

I could see Crimson as a name trend for alumni of Univ. of Alabama. Roll Tide! ;)

I've met a Turquoise before. my cousin's mn is Brown, but it was after a family friend's surname, does that count? lol

along the lines of Lavender Brown in Harry Potter, Macauley Culkin played a character named, Blue Black, in the movie Rocket Gibralter. He was only about 6 in the movie, so it was a very cute little boy association I got of the name. And doesn't Ginger Spice have a dd, Bluebell, now? I believe too there's a young actor named Callum Blue. Of course with the name Blue I still hear Will Farrell yelling "You're my boy, Blue!" in the movie Old School. lol

How about Goldie Hawn?

[nomdeplume]

The other day a waiter who served us in a restaurant introduced himself as Blue. I asked (naturally) about his name and he said it was a name he chose for himself when he moved to California. (We get a lot of that around here! :cool: )

I don't know any little kids with color names, but it seems like a natural extension of the popularity of names like Violet, Ruby, and Scarlett. The parents of those kids may be thinking flower, gem, and Gone With the Wind, but they may inspire parents looking for fresh alternatives to look to colors.

[lacascada]

I know a Fuchsia (though the spell it differently). Her sister's name is Turquoise (also spelled differently).

[Rosielia]

I always say that if I had GG twins I'd name them Crimson and Clover (like the song)- but DH wouldn't go for it!!
I grew up with a (female) Burgundy (bro. Austin and sis Brecken)- that's all I can think of off the top of my head, besides the very mainstream Violet, Scarlet, etc.
ETA: And hello, we're all forgetting Indigo Montoya in The Princess Bride!!

[Panya]

ETA: And hello, we're all forgetting Indigo Montoya in The Princess Bride!!
That was Inigo.

[JessiesGirl]

I knew an Indigo nn Indy :) I also knew a Blue and a Fuschia (http://www.fuschiadesigns.co.uk/)

[alouette]

I've heard of a few little girls named Crimson, especially daughters of Alabama football fans.

I used to know a girl named Magenta, and there's an actress on Gilmore Girls named Teal.

I wrote a story about a girl named Indigo. She had sisters named Coral, Azure, Lilac, Magenta, and Teal.

[vivid]

I met an adorable little Navy Mae recently, to add to the growing list of colour names. She is about 4 years old. I think it suited her wonderfully, although I would never have thought it up myself.