Navy blue
A deep blue shade named for the uniforms of the Royal Navy
Navy blue is a very dark blue, first worn by officers in the British Royal Navy in the 18th century. Its name comes from these naval uniforms, and the colour has since become common in military dress, business suits, and school uniforms. Navy blue is also one of the original standard colours for computer displays.
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- Named for the British Royal Navy's dark blue uniforms
- First uniform regulations for navy blue issued in 1748
- Originally dyed with indigo
- A standard colour for web and computer displays
- Used in business, school, and naval dress worldwide
What colour is Navy blue?
Navy blue is a very dark shade of blue, almost black in some lights. It stands apart from lighter blues by its depth and is most often seen in uniforms and formal clothing. The colour is closely tied to naval tradition, and its strong, muted tone is chosen for both practical and symbolic reasons.
Where does Navy blue come from?
The name navy blue comes from the uniforms of the British Royal Navy, which adopted dark blue coats for officers in 1748. Originally called marine blue, the term navy blue appeared in British newspapers by 1780. The colour was chosen because it hid dirt and wear during long sea voyages. Other navies and military forces later adopted the same shade, making it a symbol of naval service and authority.
How Navy blue is defined
Historically, navy blue uniforms were dyed with indigo, a natural dye that produces deep blue shades. In the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, nearly all navy uniforms were coloured this way. Today, navy blue is defined for screens and print by standard values, such as the hex code #000080 in web colours.
Where Navy blue is used
Navy blue is most famous for its use in naval and military uniforms, but it is also common in business suits, school uniforms, and formal wear. The colour appears in flags, especially those of navies, and is a staple in nautical fashion, often paired with white and gold. It is one of the original standard colours for computer displays and web design.
What Navy blue means
Navy blue is associated with authority and discipline, especially in the context of naval and military uniforms. Its use in formal and business clothing also links it to professionalism and reliability. In fashion, navy blue and white evoke a nautical style and a sense of oceanic tradition.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
To 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)The Torres Strait Islander flag has a blue band for the sea between green bands for the land. A white dhari, a dancer's headdress, sits at the centre.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Torres Strait Islander flagThe flag's colours have no official meaning. For the Great Seal of 1782, though, blue was said to stand for vigilance, perseverance and justice, white for purity and red for hardiness and valour.
Politics and protestTrustSource: Flag of the United StatesLapis 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 ArmeniaShades and relatives of Navy blue
Related shades include indigo dye, which was the original source of navy blue, and Persian indigo, once called regimental. The Crayola version of navy blue is lighter than the traditional shade. Some navies now use uniforms so dark they appear black, though they are still called navy blue.
Colours that go with Navy blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #000080. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Navy blue
What colour is navy blue?
Navy blue is a very dark shade of blue, almost black in appearance. It is deeper than most other blues and is known for its use in uniforms and formal wear.
Where does the name navy blue come from?
The name comes from the uniforms worn by officers in the British Royal Navy, who began wearing dark blue coats in the 18th century.
How was navy blue originally made?
Navy blue uniforms were originally dyed with indigo, a natural dye that produces deep blue shades.
Where is navy blue commonly used?
It is widely used in naval and military uniforms, business suits, school uniforms, flags, and as a standard colour in web design.
Is navy blue the same as black in naval uniforms?
Some modern navy uniforms are so dark they appear black, but they are still referred to as navy blue by tradition.
Good reading and sources
- Navy blue on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Navy blue", 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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