Left Doodads Right Doodads

Since 1903, when Binney & Smith introduced the first Crayola crayons, people have been fascinated with the history of our color names. Read on for a list of our 120 core crayon colors and the years when they were first introduced, along with discontinued colors and names that have changed over the years.

Click here for a listing of current Crayola colors.

Colors Available Beginning 1903

Number of Colors: 8

 

Black

Brown

Orange

Violet

Blue

Green

Red

Yellow

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Colors Available 1949 - 1957

Number of Colors: 48

 

Apricot

Gold

Orange

Silver

Bittersweet

Gray

Orange Red

Spring Green

Black

Green

Orange Yellow

Tan

Blue

Green Blue

Orchid

Thistle

Blue Green

Green Yellow

Periwinkle

Turquoise Blue

Blue Violet

Lemon Yellow

Pine Green

Violet (Purple)

Brick Red

Magenta

Prussian Blue*

Violet Blue

Brown

Mahogany

Red

Violet Red

Burnt Sienna

Maize

Red Orange

White

Carnation Pink

Maroon

Red Violet

Yellow

Cornflower

Melon

Salmon

Yellow Green

Flesh**

Olive Green

Sea Green

Yellow Orange

 

*Name changed to "midnight blue" in 1958 in response to teachers’ requests.

**Name voluntarily changed to "peach" in 1962, partially as a result of the U. S. Civil Rights Movement.

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Colors Available 1958-1971

Number of Colors: 64

All colors previously listed plus the following colors added in 1958.

 

Aquamarine

Copper

Lavender

Raw Sienna

Blue Gray

Forest Green

Mulberry

Raw Umber

Burnt Orange

Goldenrod

Navy blue

Sepia

Cadet Blue

Indian Red***

Plum

Sky Blue

 

***Indian Red is renamed Chestnut in 1999 in response to educators who felt some children wrongly perceived the crayon color was intended to represent the skin color of Native Americans. The name originated from a reddish-brown pigment found near India commonly used in fine artist oil paint.

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Colors Available 1972-1989

Number of Colors: 72

All colors previously listed plus the following fluorescent colors added in 1972.

 

Chartreuse

Ultra Blue

Ultra Orange

Ultra Red

Hot Magenta

Ultra Green

Ultra Pink

Ultra Yellow

 

Fluorescent colors name change in 1990.

 

Atomic Tangerine

Hot Magenta

Outrageous Orange

Shocking Pink

Blizzard Blue

Laser Lemon

Screamin’ Green

Wild Watermelon

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Colors Available 1990-1992

Number of Colors: 80

All Colors previously listed plus the following fluorescent colors added in 1990.

 

Electric Lime

Purple Pizzazz

Razzle Dazzle Rose

Unmellow Yellow

Magic Mint

Radical Red

Sunglow

Neon Carrot

 

In 1990, eight colors were retired and replaced by eight new shades.

 

Retired Colors

Green Blue

Orange Red

Orange Yellow

Violet Blue         

Maize

Lemon Yellow   

Blue Gray

Raw Umber

 

Replacement Colors

Cerulean

Vivid Tangerine

Jungle Green

Fuchsia

Dandelion

Teal Blue

Royal Purple

Wild Strawberry

 

Retired colors were enshrined in the Crayola Hall of Fame on August 7, 1990.

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Colors Available 1993

16 new colors added in 1993, named by consumers

Number of Colors: 96

 

Asparagus

Macaroni and Cheese

Razzmatazz        

Timber Wolf

Cerise

Mauvelous

Robin's Egg Blue              

Tropical Rain Forest

Denim

Pacific Blue

Shamrock           

Tumbleweed

Granny Smith Apple

Purple Mountain's Majesty

Tickle Me Pink   Wisteria

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Colors Available 1998

24 new colors added

Number of Colors: 120

 

Almond

Canary

Fern

Pink Flamingo

Antique Brass

Caribbean Green

Fuzzy Wuzzy Brown

Purple Heart

Banana Mania

Cotton Candy

Manatee

Shadow

Beaver

Blush

Mountain Meadow

Sunset Orange

Blue Bell

Desert Sand

Outer Space

Torch Red

Pink Sherbet

Eggplant

Piggy Pink

Vivid Violet

In addition, Binney & Smith produces several assortments of specialty crayons.

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Colors Available 2000

All colors previously listed with the following exceptions. Thistle was removed from the 120-count assortment to make room for indigo; torch red was renamed scarlet.

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Colors Available 2003

4 new colors added, 4 retired

Number of Colors: 120

 

New Colors

Inch worm

Jazzberry jam

Mango tango

Wild blue yonder

 

Retired Colors

Blizzard blue

Magic mint

Mulberry

Teal blue

 

To mark Crayola 100th birthday, consumers name new colors and vote four out of the box.

Note: Crayola Crayon Chronology is based on information compiled from company records and internal sources.