Yellow is a bright, warm color that is often associated with sunshine, happiness, and optimism. It sits between green and orange on the color spectrum. While “yellow” is the most common name for this color in English, there are several other names and phrases used to describe the varying shades and hues of yellow.
Other Common Names for Yellow
Here are some of the most common alternate names for yellow:
Gold
Gold is used to describe yellow with a slightly darker, orangey hue. Metallic gold and golden yellow are very similar. Gold conjures images of treasure and luxury.
Amber
Amber describes a yellow that leans towards orange. It is the color of fossilized tree resin, which is where it gets its name. Amber is associated with warmth and autumn.
Lemon
Lemon yellow is a bright, light yellow, like the color of lemons. It has a zesty, upbeat feel. Lemon yellow is lighter than gold.
Blonde
Blonde is used to describe pale, yellowish hair, ranging from nearly platinum to light golden. It overlaps with “yellow” when describing hair colors.
Butter
Butter yellow is a creamy off-white yellow, like the color of butter. It’s a pale, soft shade associated with butter, daisies, and corn.
Mustard
Mustard yellow is a spicy, brownish yellow, like prepared mustard. It’s a deeper yellow with hints of orange and brown.
Canary
Canary yellow is a bright, clear yellow, like the color of a canary bird’s feathers. It is lighter and more vibrant than mustard yellow.
Variations of Yellow
There are many words that are used to describe more specific shades and hues within the yellow color spectrum:
Chartreuse
Chartreuse is a fluorescent yellow-green color. It was named after the green French liqueur of the same name.
Buff
Buff is a pale, sandy yellow. It originally referred to the color of buffed or sanded leather.
Cream
Cream is an off-white yellow with hints of beige. It’s named after the pale color of dairy cream.
Khaki
Khaki is a light yellow-brown. It was originally used to describe the tan uniforms worn by British soldiers in India.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a gold-tinged yellow named after the wildflower. It’s brighter than gold itself.
Safron
Safron is a yellow tinted with orange, red and brown hints. It comes from the rust-colored stigmas of crocus flowers used to make saffron spice.
Corn
Corn yellow is a yellowish tan color like corn husks or toasted corn. It has earthy, brownish undertones.
Yellow ochre
Yellow ochre is an earthy, clay-like yellow that was originally produced by grinding yellow minerals. It was popular with painters.
Yellow Dyes, Pigments, and Minerals
Some specific yellow dyes, pigments, and minerals also lend their names to shades of yellow:
Gamboge
Gamboge is a clear, bright yellow made with resin from gamboge trees. It produces a color similar to cadmium yellow.
Naples yellow
Naples yellow is a light, warm yellow made from lead antimonate. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the city of Naples.
Cadmium yellow
Cadmium yellow is a vibrant, reddish shade of yellow made with cadmium sulfide. Cadmium pigments are known for their excellent tinting strength.
Indian yellow
Indian yellow is a transparent, fluorescent yellow made from the urine of cows fed mango leaves. Its production is now banned.
Orpiment
Orpiment is a historical pigment made from the mineral arsenic sulfide. It produced a rich, golden yellow but was highly toxic.
Yellow in Culture
Yellow has symbolic meanings in many cultures that have given rise to other names for shades of yellow:
Saffron
Saffron is a spice made from the stigmas of crocus flowers. Its orange-yellow color has symbolic meaning in many cultures.
School bus yellow
In North America, school buses are painted a distinctive yellow called school bus yellow for visibility.
Khaki
Khaki became the name for a dull yellow-brown after British soldiers in colonial India wore tan uniforms called khakis.
Banana
Banana yellow is the color of a ripe banana peel. Bananas are associated with happiness and laughter.
Marigold
Marigold yellow comes from the flower of the same name. Marigolds symbolize optimism, creativity, and success.
Using Colors for Branding
Yellow and its many variations are popular colors in business branding:
| Company | Type of Yellow |
|---|---|
| IKEA | Safron yellow |
| McDonald’s | Golden yellow |
| Best Buy | Sunshine yellow |
| DHL | Goldenrod |
| Subway | Maize yellow |
| Nikon | Warm yellow |
Warm, energetic shades of yellow help these brands stand out and create positive associations with optimism, happiness, and imagination in customers. The variety of yellow hues allows brands to choose a shade that best represents their identity.
The Meaning of Yellow
So why are there so many names for the color yellow? The wide range of shades captures the diverse symbolic meanings and impressions of the color yellow:
Optimism
Bright, light yellows like lemon, butter, and canary yellow convey youthful optimism. Yellow is associated with sunshine and spring.
Happiness
Warm yellows like gold and amber evoke happiness and cheer. The brightness adds energetic, uplifting qualities.
Creativity
Radiant yellows like chartreuse and saffron inspire creativity and imagination. Yellow stimulates mental curiosity.
Attention-Grabbing
Vivid yellows like cadmium catch people’s attention. Yellow has the highest visibility of any color, great for highlighting.
Conclusion
While yellow may seem like a simple color, its wide range of hues give it an expressive, nuanced personality. The diverse shades and names for yellow reflect the color’s ability to convey a spectrum of symbolic meanings from optimism to attention-grabbing to creativity. From the radiance of a golden sunrise to the earthiness of mustard and the gentleness of cream, yellow’s many facets make it one of the most versatile, vibrant colors.