Crayola® Crayon FactsSince 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 Crayola crayon colors and the years when they were first introduced, along with discontinued colors and names that have changed over the years. Americans’ favorite Crayola crayon color is blue. Six other shades of blue finished in the Top 10 including cerulean, midnight blue, aquamarine, periwinkle, denim and blizzard blue. Other colors rounding out the Top 10 list included purple heart, Caribbean green and cerise.
Crayola Crayon Colors Available Beginning 1903Number of Colors: 8
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| 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.
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.
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 |
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.
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Retired Colors
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Replacement Colors
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| Green Blue | Cerulean |
| Orange Red | Vivid Tangerine |
| Orange Yellow | Jungle Green |
| Violet Blue | Fuchsia |
| Maize | Dandelion |
| Lemon Yellow | Teal Blue |
| Blue Gray | Royal Purple |
| Raw Umber | Wild Strawberry |
Retired colors were enshrined in the Crayola Hall of Fame on August 7,
1990.
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 |
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 | Cranberry | Mountain Meadow | Sunset Orange |
| Blue Bell | Desert Sand | Outer Space | Torch Red |
| Brink Pink | Eggplant | Pig Pink | Vivid Violet |
In addition, Binney & Smith produces several assortments of specialty crayons.
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.
Crayola Crayon 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 Crayon 100th birthday, consumers name new colors and vote four out of the box. |
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Note: Crayola Crayon Chronology is based on information compiled from company records and internal sources.
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