Color names, either flat-out color names like Blue or names with colorful meanings like Aurelia, are more and more popular.

　　But do you know the secret meanings behind the color behind that name you love?

　　Color-related meanings are drawn from a wide range of cultures and are often even older and more resonant than the names themselves. Drawing from The Book of Symbols, here are the primary symbolic meanings, good and bad, behind colors and the names that embody them.

　　

Red

Red is known for being one of the boldest colors, and is filled with energy and emotion. Names that mean red range from precious stones like Jasper and Ruby, fiery choices like Phoenix and Blaze, and names traditionally given to red-haired babies, like Rowan and Rufus.

　　

Positive

Life

　　Energy

　　Blood

　　Warmth

　　

Negative

War

　　Anger

　　Danger

　　

Top Names with Red Meanings

Heart1ScarlettChevron - RightHeart2AidenChevron - RightHeart3RubyChevron - RightHeart4AdamChevron - RightHeart5RowanChevron - RightHeart6RoseChevron - RightHeart7JasperChevron - RightHeart8SiennaChevron - RightHeart9RowanChevron - RightHeart10PhoenixChevron - Right

　　

Unique Names with Red Meanings

HeartAdmonChevron - RightHeartAkakoChevron - RightHeartFlannaChevron - RightHeartGarnetChevron - RightHeartKurenaiChevron - RightHeartRoganChevron - RightHeartRooneyChevron - RightHeartRufusChevron - RightHeartRumoChevron - RightHeartSorrelChevron - Right

　　

Blue

The serene color blue has been shown to have calming effects, conjuring up imagery of a clear sky and tranquil water. Names that mean blue can relate to water directly, like River and Ocean, or in a less obvious way, like Maya or Talia. Names relating to the sky or heaven are also common with blue names, from Celeste to Sema.

　　

Positive

Eternity

　　High quality

　　Spirituality

　　Heaven

　　

Negative

Cold

　　Melancholy

　　Despair

　　

Top Names with Blue Meanings

Heart1MayaChevron - RightHeart2AaliyahChevron - RightHeart3IrisChevron - RightHeart4RiverChevron - RightHeart5KehlaniChevron - RightHeart6KailaniChevron - RightHeart7TaliaChevron - RightHeart8CelesteChevron - RightHeart9KalaniChevron - RightHeart10RoyalChevron - Right

　　

Unique Names with Blue Meanings

HeartAzureChevron - RightHeartBluebellChevron - RightHeartCieloChevron - RightHeartCyanChevron - RightHeartFairuzaChevron - RightHeartLulaniChevron - RightHeartNeelChevron - RightHeartSemaChevron - RightHeartSiniChevron - RightHeartZeruChevron - Right

　　

Yellow, Orange, and Gold

Yellow, orange, and gold brighten up any room. With bright and sunny yellow, rich, sunset orange, and luxurious gold, there's lots to love about this section of the color wheel. Names that mean yellow or orange range from nature picks like Marigold and Clementine to Latin names like Aurelius and Flavia.

　　

Positive

Wealth

　　Sun

　　Harvest

　　

Negative

Aging

　　Cowardice

　　Caution or Warning

　　

Top Names with Yellow, Gold, or Orange Meanings

Heart1DaisyChevron - RightHeart2SiennaChevron - RightHeart3AlaniChevron - RightHeart4RoryChevron - RightHeart5CyrusChevron - RightHeart6RussellChevron - RightHeart7PoppyChevron - RightHeart8AureliaChevron - RightHeart9AmberChevron - RightHeart10ClementineChevron - Right

　　

Unique Names with Yellow, Gold, or Orange Meanings

HeartAeliaChevron - RightHeartAurelioChevron - RightHeartCressidaChevron - RightHeartEurosChevron - RightHeartFlanneryChevron - RightHeartFlaviaChevron - RightHeartMillarayChevron - RightHeartRaviChevron - RightHeartXantheChevron - RightHeartZarinChevron - Right

　　

Green

The color green is full of life, bringing to mind imagery of lush forests and grassy meadows. Names that mean green can take inspiration from a shade of green itself, such as Olive, Kelly, or Sage, or they can take inspiration from nature, like Fern, Rowan, or Meadow.

　　

Positive

Renewal

　　Hope

　　Creativity

　　Nature

　　

Negative

Envy or Jealousy

　　Illness

　　Immaturity

　　

Top Names with Green Meanings

Heart1ChloeChevron - RightHeart2HazelChevron - RightHeart3WillowChevron - RightHeart4IvyChevron - RightHeart5HunterChevron - RightHeart6JadeChevron - RightHeart7SilasChevron - RightHeart8RowanChevron - RightHeart9JuniperChevron - RightHeart10AshtonChevron - Right

　　

Unique Names with Green Meanings

HeartCypressChevron - RightHeartFlorianChevron - RightHeartIrvingChevron - RightHeartMintyChevron - RightHeartMossChevron - RightHeartOrenChevron - RightHeartPeridotChevron - RightHeartSirkkaChevron - RightHeartVerdiChevron - RightHeartZelenkaChevron - Right

　　

Purple

Purple is known for being the color of royalty, with purple dyes having been the height of luxury in many cultures. While there may be fewer than some other color names like red or blue, Names that mean purple are in style right now. From popular Violet and Iris to the more offbeat Lilac and Lavender, there are several gorgeous options.

　　

Positive

Royalty

　　Wealth

　　Perfect union of opposites

　　

Negative

Extravagance

　　Death

　　

Top Names with Purple Meanings

Heart1VioletChevron - RightHeart2IrisChevron - RightHeart3HadleyChevron - RightHeart4HaydenChevron - RightHeart5HaydenChevron - RightHeart6VioletaChevron - RightHeart7IndigoChevron - Right

　　

Unique Names with Purple Meanings

HeartAmethystChevron - RightHeartBrucChevron - RightHeartHattonChevron - RightHeartIndigoChevron - RightHeartIoneChevron - RightHeartJacintoChevron - RightHeartLavenderChevron - RightHeartMauveChevron - RightHeartPlumChevron - RightHeartViorelChevron - Right

　　

About the Author

　　

Pamela Redmond

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　　Pamela Redmond is the cocreator and CEO of Nameberry and Baby Name DNA. The coauthor of ten groundbreaking books on names, Redmond is an internationally-recognized baby name expert, quoted and published widely in such media outlets as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, CNN, and the BBC. She has written about baby names for The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post, and People.

　　Redmond is also a New York Times bestselling novelist whose books include Younger, the basis for the hit television show, and its sequel, Older. She has three new books in the works.

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