Persian blue
A vivid blue inspired by Persian tiles and lapis lazuli
Persian blue is a strong, medium blue that takes its name from the colours found on Persian pottery and the tiles of mosques and palaces in Iran. The shade reflects the appearance of lapis lazuli, a gemstone sourced from Persia and Afghanistan, and has been known in English since the 1600s.
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- Named after the blue of Persian tiles and pottery
- Reflects the colour of lapis lazuli from Iran and Afghanistan
- Used for mosque tiles, carpets, and navy uniforms
- Known in English since 1669
- Persian indigo is a darker, related shade
What colour is Persian blue?
Persian blue is a clear, medium blue that stands out for its brightness and depth. It is closely linked to the colours seen on Persian ceramics and the glazed tiles that cover many mosques and palaces in Iran. The shade is meant to echo the look of lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone from the region. Persian blue is distinct from lighter blues like azure and from darker, more indigo-leaning shades.
Where does Persian blue come from?
The name comes from the blue found on pottery and architectural tiles in Persia, now Iran. These tiles have decorated important buildings for centuries. The colour also reflects lapis lazuli, a blue mineral long mined in Persia and Afghanistan. The term 'Persian blue' has been used in English since the seventeenth century.
Where Persian blue is used
Persian blue features strongly in Iranian architecture, especially on the interiors and exteriors of mosques such as the Shah Mosque in Isfahan. The colour is also common in Persian carpets, where medium Persian blue is a frequent choice. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a darker version called Persian indigo, or regimental, was used for navy uniforms in several countries. The colour appears in digital design as well.
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 Persian blue
There are several recognised tones: Persian blue proper is a bright, medium blue; medium Persian blue is a slightly greyer, indigo-tinged version; and Persian indigo (also called regimental) is a much darker blue, close to indigo. Persian blue is related to other Persian-named colours, such as Persian pink and Persian green.
Colours that go with Persian blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #1C39BB. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Persian blue
What colour is Persian blue?
Persian blue is a vivid, medium blue inspired by the tiles and pottery of Iran. It is bright and clear, not as dark as indigo but deeper than azure.
Where does the name Persian blue come from?
The name comes from the blue seen on Persian ceramics and the tiles of mosques and palaces in Iran. It also refers to the colour of lapis lazuli, a blue stone from Persia and Afghanistan.
What is Persian blue used for?
Persian blue is widely used in Iranian architecture, especially for mosque tiles. It is also found in Persian carpets and was once used for navy uniforms in several countries.
Are there different types of Persian blue?
Yes, there are several tones, including a bright medium blue, a greyer medium Persian blue, and a darker shade called Persian indigo or regimental.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Persian 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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