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Color Name Finder: Find the Nearest CSS Color Name

This free color name finder matches any color to the closest of the 148 CSS named colors, using perceptual distance in LAB color space. Type a name instead to get its HEX, RGB and HSL values.

By Debmedia Technologies LLP · Kolkata, India · Updated

What Is It and When Do You Need It?

A color name is easier to remember and talk about than a HEX code. CSS defines 148 of them, from aliceblue to yellowgreen. Designers use names in quick prototypes, and developers use them to describe colors in code reviews.

This tool finds which name sits closest to your color, and lists the next four closest as well.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Type a color in any format, or a CSS color name.
  2. Press Find.
  3. Read the closest name and its distance.
  4. Compare the four other close matches.

How the Calculation Works

The input is converted to LAB color space, where equal distances look like equal color differences to the human eye. The tool measures the distance to every named color and sorts them. A distance of 0 is an exact match, under 2 is hard to tell apart, and over 10 is clearly different.

Worked Example

The color #1d4ed8 is closest to royalblue (#4169e1), at a distance of about 17, so the name is only a loose match. The color #ff6347 is exactly tomato, so the distance is 0.

Common Uses

  • Describing a color in plain words.
  • Quick CSS prototypes using names.
  • Naming colors in a design system.
  • Learning the CSS color list.

Tips and Common Mistakes

  • Distances under 5 are good enough to use the name.
  • Names are not case sensitive.
  • For exact brand colors, always keep the HEX code.

Next, you may need the color converter, color difference calculator, color palette generator, random color generator.

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or sent to any outside service.

Frequently Asked Questions

The color is converted to CIE LAB and compared with each named color by straight-line distance (Delta E 76). A smaller distance means a closer match.
The 148 names cover only a small part of all colors, so the nearest name can look different. A distance under 5 is a very close match.
Yes. Type tomato, rebeccapurple or any CSS name and the tool returns its codes and similar colors.
These are the names defined in CSS. Paint makers and Pantone use thousands of other names, which are not included here.

Disclaimer: results are calculated in your browser from the numbers you enter. Check important results before you rely on them for money, health, safety or legal decisions.