Emerald
A bright, light green with a hint of blue, named after the emerald gemstone
Emerald is a light, vivid green with a slight blue tint, named for the colour of emerald gemstones. First recorded in English in 1598, it is linked to lush landscapes such as Ireland and has appeared in culture, literature, and even as a once-popular but toxic pigment in 19th-century Europe.
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- Emerald is a light, bright green with a faint blue cast.
- The name comes from the emerald gemstone.
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1598.
- Ireland is often called the Emerald Isle.
- A toxic emerald pigment was invented in Germany in 1814.
What colour is Emerald?
Emerald is a shade of green that stands out for being both light and bright, with a faint bluish tone. Its name comes from the gemstone emerald, known for its clear, vivid green colour. Emerald is lighter and more luminous than many other greens, and the slight blue cast gives it a fresh, cool appearance.
Where does Emerald come from?
The term 'emerald' as a colour comes from the gemstone of the same name, prized for its intense green hue. The first known use of 'emerald' to describe a colour in English dates to 1598. Over time, the colour has become associated with lush, green landscapes, most notably Ireland, which is sometimes called the Emerald Isle.
How Emerald is defined
A pigment matching the emerald shade was developed in Germany in 1814. This was created by boiling acetic acid with vinegar and adding arsenic, resulting in a bright blue-green compound. The pigment, known as Paris green, was widely used in England in the 19th century for dresses and artificial flowers, but it was highly toxic and caused many deaths, especially when used in wallpaper.
Where Emerald is used
Emerald green has been used in textiles, such as Victorian-era dresses, and for colouring artificial flowers. Its bright, appealing tone made it popular for decorative purposes, but the original pigment's toxicity led to its decline. The colour is also linked to architecture and city nicknames, such as Seattle's 'Emerald City', due to lush vegetation.
What Emerald means
While emerald green is not tied to a specific meaning in all cultures, it is closely linked with Ireland, often called the Emerald Isle for its rich greenery. The colour also appears in literature and legend, such as the Emerald City in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', though in the story, the city's green appearance is due to tinted glasses.
Green around the world
What the green family means from country to country.
Green is the colour of Alliance 90/The Greens, one of the first environmental parties to enter a national parliament, in 1983.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Alliance 90/The GreensGreen stands for Ireland itself, the Emerald Isle, and for Saint Patrick's shamrock. On 17 March people wear green and a sprig of shamrock.
Nature and renewalPolitics and protestPrideSource: Saint Patrick's DayThe green stripe of the flag stands for the older Gaelic and Catholic tradition. Green was the colour of the United Irishmen, whose 1798 rising is recalled in the song The Wearing of the Green.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of IrelandPaper money is nicknamed the greenback, after the green ink on the backs of notes first issued during the Civil War. Green has stood for money ever since.
Luck and prosperitySource: Greenback (1860s money)On Saint Patrick's Day, Chicago dyes its river bright green, a custom begun in 1962, and people who wear no green risk a playful pinch.
Festival and celebrationJoySource: Saint Patrick's Day in the United StatesA green kerchief is the sign of the campaign for legal abortion. Huge crowds wore it in 2018, and the movement was called the green wave.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Green scarfShades and relatives of Emerald
Emerald is one of many shades of green, set apart by its lightness and bluish cast. It is sometimes confused with Paris green, the name of the pigment that matched its colour. Other greens may be darker, more yellow, or lack the blue tint that defines emerald.
Colours that go with Emerald
Harmonies are worked out from the value #50C878. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Emerald
What colour is emerald?
Emerald is a light and bright green with a slight bluish tint, named after the emerald gemstone.
Where does the name 'emerald' come from?
The name comes from the gemstone emerald, which is known for its vivid green colour.
When was emerald first used as a colour name?
The first recorded use of emerald as a colour name in English was in 1598.
Was emerald ever used as a pigment?
Yes, a pigment matching emerald green was invented in Germany in 1814, but it was highly toxic.
Why is Ireland called the Emerald Isle?
Ireland is called the Emerald Isle because of its lush, green landscape, which is reminiscent of the colour emerald.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shades of green" (the section "Emerald"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. 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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