Bleu celeste
A pale blue used as a rare heraldic colour, lighter than traditional azure
No single value: Bleu celeste is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, blue.
Bleu celeste is a light blue hue found occasionally in heraldry, where it stands apart from the standard blue, known as azure, by its paler appearance. Not counted among the main heraldic colours, it has appeared in some European coats of arms and is sometimes used by heraldic authorities, including in the arms of Israel and Peru.
- Bleu celeste is lighter than the standard heraldic blue, azure
- It is not one of the main heraldic colours
- Rarely used, but appears in the arms of Israel and Peru
- Sometimes called 'ciel' or 'celeste'
- Used in some modern British coats of arms
What colour is Bleu celeste?
Bleu celeste is a pale blue colour that appears in heraldry, the art of designing and describing coats of arms. It is lighter than the usual blue, called azure, that is most often seen in heraldic designs. This shade is not part of the main group of heraldic colours and is considered unusual, with only a handful of examples in official coats of arms.
Where does Bleu celeste come from?
The name 'bleu celeste' comes from French, meaning 'sky blue'. It has also been called 'ciel' or 'celeste'. The colour is mainly linked to European heraldry and was not commonly used in English or Scottish coats of arms. After the First World War, it began to appear in England, especially in badges and arms connected to the Royal Air Force.
Where Bleu celeste is used
Although bleu celeste is not a standard heraldic colour, it has been used by some heraldic authorities, including the College of Arms in London. It can be found in the arms of Israel, Peru, and in some modern British grants, such as the arms of Jacob Flamberg. The shade has also appeared in university and municipal arms, sometimes described as 'sky blue'.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
Lapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsTo be true blue is to be honestly and loyally Australian. The phrase is older than the country, but Australians have made it their own.
Politics and protestTrustSource: True Blue (John Williamson song)Shades and relatives of Bleu celeste
Bleu celeste sits apart from azure, the usual blue in heraldry, by being noticeably lighter. In some periods, it was shown as very pale, while after the First World War it was sometimes drawn darker. Other similar shades mentioned in heraldry include 'light blue', as seen in the arms of the former Borough of Barnes.
Questions people ask about Bleu celeste
What colour is bleu celeste?
Bleu celeste is a pale blue shade, lighter than the standard blue (azure) used in heraldry.
Where does the name bleu celeste come from?
The name is French for 'sky blue', and it is sometimes also called 'ciel' or 'celeste'.
Is bleu celeste a common heraldic colour?
No, it is considered rare and is not one of the main colours or metals in heraldry.
Where has bleu celeste been used?
It appears in some European coats of arms, including those of Israel, Peru, and in a few modern British grants.
Good reading and sources
- Bleu celeste on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bleu celeste", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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