Carnelian
A deep reddish-brown named after the semi-precious carnelian stone
Carnelian is a rich reddish-brown colour named after the carnelian variety of chalcedony, a semi-precious gemstone. First recorded as a colour name in English in 1899, it is known for its use by Cornell University and in other cultural settings.
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- Named after the carnelian gemstone, a variety of chalcedony
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1899
- Official colour of Cornell University
- Used in the uniforms of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team
- Inspired the red in Campbell's soup branding
What colour is Carnelian?
Carnelian is a deep reddish-brown colour, taking its name from the carnelian gemstone, a type of chalcedony. The colour stands out for its warmth and richness, sitting between red and brown. It is often described as vivid and is easily recognised for its association with the polished stone, which has been valued for its beauty.
Where does Carnelian come from?
The name 'Carnelian' comes from the carnelian stone, a semi-precious mineral known for its distinct reddish-brown hue. The colour was first noted in English in 1899. An alternate spelling, 'Cornelian', has also been used, including in references to Cornell University in the late 19th century.
Where Carnelian is used
Carnelian is used in textiles, notably as a school colour for Cornell University and in the uniforms of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. In architecture, the colour appears in building materials such as the granite cladding of 555 California Street in San Francisco. The colour scheme has also been adopted in business branding, such as Campbell's soup labels.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaRed ochre is used in Aboriginal rock art and ceremony, and is traded over long distances. In the Aboriginal flag the red half stands for the earth and for that ochre.
Sacred and holyNature and renewalAweSource: Australian Aboriginal flagShades and relatives of Carnelian
Carnelian is closely related to other shades of reddish-brown and can be confused with similar gemstone-inspired colours. The spelling 'Cornelian' is an accepted variant, especially in older references.
Colours that go with Carnelian
Harmonies are worked out from the value #B31B1B. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Carnelian
What colour is carnelian?
Carnelian is a rich reddish-brown colour, named after the carnelian gemstone. It is vivid and sits between red and brown.
Where does the name carnelian come from?
The name comes from the carnelian stone, a semi-precious mineral known for its reddish-brown shade.
When was carnelian first used as a colour name?
The first recorded use of carnelian as a colour name in English was in 1899.
Where is carnelian used?
Carnelian is used in textiles for school and sports uniforms, in building materials, and in business branding.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Carnelian (color)", 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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