Blue-gray
A cool-toned mix of blue and grey seen in nature, art, and uniforms
Blue-gray is a medium shade that blends blue and grey, leaning towards the cooler side of the colour wheel. The term 'livid' was once used for this colour, which has appeared in medical language, art, and even military uniforms. Blue-gray has many related shades and is found both in the natural world and in cultural traditions.
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- Blue-gray is a cool blend of blue and grey.
- The colour was once called 'livid' in English.
- Crayola made a blue-gray crayon from 1958 to 1990.
- It appears in military uniforms and natural species.
- Related shades include steel blue and Payne's gray.
What colour is Blue-gray?
Blue-gray sits between blue and grey, giving a subdued, cool impression. It is neither as bright as pure blue nor as neutral as plain grey. This colour appears in a range of shades, from lighter tones like lavender gray to darker ones such as Payne's gray. Blue-gray is seen in both natural forms, like certain birds and animals, and in objects made by people.
Where does Blue-gray come from?
The word 'livid' was once used for this colour, coming into English in the fifteenth century. It was first used in medicine to describe the bluish-grey look of bruised skin. Over time, the meaning of 'livid' shifted to describe anger, as a person's face can turn pale or ashen when furious. The name 'blue-gray' was later used for a Crayola crayon shade from 1958 to 1990.
How Blue-gray is defined
Blue-gray is not tied to a single pigment or dye. It is a colour that can be mixed by combining blue and grey paints or inks. In digital terms, it is often represented by the hex code #6699CC.
Where Blue-gray is used
This colour has been used in painting, textiles, and uniforms, especially in military dress. Blue-gray also appears in architecture and on flags. Crayola produced a blue-gray crayon for several decades. In nature, blue-gray shades are seen in some birds, insects, and mammals.
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 Blue-gray
There are many shades related to blue-gray, such as steel blue, glaucous, cadet grey, and Payne's gray. Some lighter or darker versions include lavender gray, iceberg, slate blue, and Roman silver. These variations may be known by different names in colour lists or used for specific purposes, such as in military or art contexts.
Colours that go with Blue-gray
Harmonies are worked out from the value #6699CC. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Blue-gray
What colour is blue-gray?
Blue-gray is a medium shade that combines blue and grey, giving a cool, muted look. It is less bright than pure blue and softer than standard grey.
Where does the name 'blue-gray' come from?
The name 'blue-gray' describes its mix of blue and grey. An older term for this colour is 'livid', which entered English in the fifteenth century from medical language.
Is blue-gray found in nature?
Yes, blue-gray shades are seen in some birds, insects, and mammals. Examples include the blue-grey gnatcatcher and blue-grey tanager.
Has blue-gray been used in art or culture?
Blue-gray has been used in painting, textiles, architecture, and military uniforms. Crayola produced a crayon of this shade from 1958 to 1990.
Are there other names for blue-gray?
Yes, related names include livid, cool gray, gray-blue, and steel blue. There are also many specific shades with their own names.
Good reading and sources
- Blue-gray on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Blue-gray", 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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