Coral
A vivid orange-pink named after the colour of precious coral from the sea
Coral is a bright shade that blends orange, red, and pink, inspired by the colour of precious corals found in the sea. The name was first recorded in English in 1513, and today it is widely used in web design and digital media as a standard colour.
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- Named after the colour of precious sea coral
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1513
- Web coral is defined as hex #FF7F50
- Standard in HTML, CSS, and X11 colour lists
What colour is Coral?
Coral is a lively colour that sits between orange, red, and pink. It takes its name from the appearance of precious corals, which are marine animals with hard, often colourful skeletons. The web colour coral is defined as a shade of orange, but other schemes may show it as more red or pink. Its vividness and warmth set it apart from softer pinks and deeper reds.
Where does Coral come from?
The name 'coral' comes from the resemblance to the hues of precious coral found in the sea. It was first used as a colour name in English in 1513. The colour is not made from the coral animal itself, but rather named for its striking appearance. Over time, coral has become a standard term in digital and design contexts.
How Coral is defined
As a web colour, coral is defined by its digital value: hex #FF7F50. It is part of the HTML/CSS and X11 colour lists, which are used for screens and digital design. There is no physical pigment or dye called coral; it is a colour value created by mixing red and orange light on electronic displays.
Where Coral is used
Coral is most often seen in web and digital design, where it is a standard colour choice in HTML, CSS, and X11 systems. It appears in user interfaces, graphics, and branding. The colour is valued for its brightness and ability to stand out on screens.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
The lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusThe orange stripe of the flag stands for Protestants, the followers of William of Orange. In Northern Ireland the Orange Order still marches each 12 July in orange sashes.
Politics and protestSource: Orange OrderShades and relatives of Coral
Coral comes in several related shades. Coral red is a more reddish version, while coral pink is pinker and lighter. Light coral is a paler, pinkish-orange. Some confusion exists between coral pink and coral red, as naming conventions have shifted over time. Coral pink and Congo pink share the same digital coordinates.
Colours that go with Coral
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FF7F50. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Coral
What colour is coral?
Coral is a bright shade that blends orange, red, and pink, inspired by the colour of precious corals from the sea. The web version is a vivid orange.
Where does the name 'coral' come from?
The name comes from the resemblance to the colours of precious coral, a marine animal with a hard, colourful skeleton.
When was coral first used as a colour name?
Coral was first recorded as a colour name in English in 1513.
Is coral a standard colour for screens?
Yes, coral is a standard colour in HTML, CSS, and X11 systems, with the hex value #FF7F50.
Are there different shades of coral?
Yes, related shades include coral red, coral pink, and light coral, each varying in how much red or pink they contain.
Good reading and sources
- Coral (color) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Coral (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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