Colors That Start With U: 25 Shades & Hex Codes

If you’ve ever called a color ultra-bright, ultra-deep, or just plain unusual, you know the letter U. It is a rare one for color names. Here are the colors that start with U, and each one is real.

This guide lists 25 of them. You will meet umber and ube. You will also find UFO Green and a few school colors.

Each entry has a name, a Hex code, RGB values, and CMYK values. Copy any code and use it in your next project. The list is short, so each color gets extra detail.

Image caption: Hero swatch grid of colors that start with U, from Unbleached Silk and Ube to Ultramarine and Umber.

Quick Tip: Pick Hex or RGB for anything on a screen. Pick CMYK for anything you print. The CMYK values are approximate screen-to-print conversions. Always check a printed proof.

Quick Jump Guide: Color Families Covered

Not sure where to start? Here is what you will find among these color names that start with U:

Reds: UA Red, USC Cardinal, Utah Crimson
Blues: Ultramarine, UA Blue, United Nations Blue
Greens: UFO Green, UP Forest Green
Browns: Umber, UPS Brown
Neutrals: Ultimate Gray
Pinks and purples: Ube, Ultra Pink, Ultra Violet
Yellows and oranges: USC Gold, UCLA Gold, Unmellow Yellow

Want to browse by hue? Skip to the family table after the list. If not, let’s dive in.

The Full List of Colors That Start With U

Below are all 25 shades starting with the letter U. They run in alphabetical order. Take your time. Many names come from schools, so a few look alike. We point those out as we go.

Image caption: Swatch grid of U colors including UA Blue, Ube, UFO Green, and Ultra Pink.

UA Blue

Deep, strong royal blue with a cool, clear tone. It is a school color of the University of Arizona. Hex: #0033AA | RGB: 0, 51, 170 | CMYK: 100, 70, 0, 33

UA Red

Vivid crimson with a pink lean. It is another Arizona school color. It sits very close to Utah Crimson. Hex: #D9004C | RGB: 217, 0, 76 | CMYK: 0, 100, 65, 15

Ube

Soft, medium purple with a blue lean. It is named for the purple yam from the Philippines. Hex: #8878C3 | RGB: 136, 120, 195 | CMYK: 30, 38, 0, 24

UCLA Blue

Muted, medium blue with a soft gray tint. It looks calm and a bit dusty. The name comes from a California school. Hex: #536895 | RGB: 83, 104, 149 | CMYK: 44, 30, 0, 42

UCLA Gold

Bright amber with a warm, sunny glow. It pairs with UCLA Blue. It is a shade deeper than USC Gold. Hex: #FFB300 | RGB: 255, 179, 0 | CMYK: 0, 30, 100, 0

UFO Green

Fresh, bright green with a cool lean. The playful name hints at glowing lights in the night sky. Hex: #3CD070 | RGB: 60, 208, 112 | CMYK: 71, 0, 46, 18

Ultimate Gray

Neutral mid-gray with a faint cool tone. It is calm and steady. It goes with most things. Hex: #939597 | RGB: 147, 149, 151 | CMYK: 3, 1, 0, 41

Ultra Pink

Bright, glowing pink with a purple lean. It is loud and playful. It is far lighter than Ultra Violet. Hex: #FF6FFF | RGB: 255, 111, 255 | CMYK: 0, 56, 0, 0

Image caption: Swatch grid of U colors including Ultra Red, Ultramarine, Unbleached Silk, and University of California Gold.

Ultra Red

Soft coral-pink with a warm, bright glow. Despite its name, it looks more pink than red. Hex: #FC6C85 | RGB: 252, 108, 133 | CMYK: 0, 57, 47, 1

Ultra Violet

Deep, muted purple with a blue tint. It looks rich and calm. It is calmer than Ultramarine. Hex: #5F4B8B | RGB: 95, 75, 139 | CMYK: 32, 46, 0, 45

Ultramarine

Strong blue with a violet lean. It is named for a deep blue pigment once made from lapis lazuli. The name means beyond the sea. Hex: #3F00FF | RGB: 63, 0, 255 | CMYK: 75, 100, 0, 0

Ultramarine Blue

Bright, medium blue with a slight violet touch. It is lighter and softer than plain Ultramarine. Hex: #4166F5 | RGB: 65, 102, 245 | CMYK: 73, 58, 0, 4

Umber

Dark, earthy brown with a gray tint. It is named for an earth dye. It feels calm and grounded. Hex: #635147 | RGB: 99, 81, 71 | CMYK: 0, 18, 28, 61

Unbleached Silk

Pale peach-cream with a warm, soft glow. It looks like raw silk before it is dyed. Hex: #FFDDCA | RGB: 255, 221, 202 | CMYK: 0, 13, 21, 0

United Nations Blue

Clear, medium sky blue with a gentle cool tone. It is named for the blue on the UN flag. Hex: #5B92E5 | RGB: 91, 146, 229 | CMYK: 60, 36, 0, 10

University of California Gold

Muted, deep gold with a brown tint. It looks like old brass. It is darker than UCLA Gold. Hex: #B78727 | RGB: 183, 135, 39 | CMYK: 0, 26, 79, 28

Image caption: Swatch grid of U colors including Unmellow Yellow, UP Maroon, Urobilin, and USC Gold.

Unmellow Yellow

Bright lemon yellow with a sharp, electric feel. The name is far from mellow. Hex: #FFFF66 | RGB: 255, 255, 102 | CMYK: 0, 0, 60, 0

UP Forest Green

Very deep green with a cool, blue hint. It is a school color of the University of the Philippines. It looks close to black in low light. Hex: #014421 | RGB: 1, 68, 33 | CMYK: 99, 0, 51, 73

UP Maroon

Dark, rich red with a brown tint. It is the second school color of the University of the Philippines. Hex: #7B1113 | RGB: 123, 17, 19 | CMYK: 0, 86, 85, 52

UPS Brown

Warm, medium-dark brown with a golden glow. It brings to mind delivery trucks. It is richer than Umber. Hex: #644117 | RGB: 100, 65, 23 | CMYK: 0, 35, 77, 61

Upsdell Red

Deep, strong red with a slight cool lean. It looks bold and a bit classic. Hex: #AE2029 | RGB: 174, 32, 41 | CMYK: 0, 82, 76, 32

Urobilin

Golden amber with a warm, rich glow. It is named for a yellow dye found in the body. Hex: #E1AD21 | RGB: 225, 173, 33 | CMYK: 0, 23, 85, 12

USC Cardinal

Deep, pure red with no blue or orange lean. It is named for a school in Southern California. It feels bold and formal. Hex: #990000 | RGB: 153, 0, 0 | CMYK: 0, 100, 100, 40

USC Gold

Bright, warm yellow with a golden pop. It is the partner of USC Cardinal. It is lighter than UCLA Gold. Hex: #FFCC00 | RGB: 255, 204, 0 | CMYK: 0, 20, 100, 0

Image caption: Swatch grid of U colors including Utah Crimson, Utah Crimson, Utah Crimson, and Utah Crimson.

Utah Crimson

Bright, vivid crimson with a pink hint. It is a school color of the University of Utah. It is almost the same as UA Red. Hex: #D3003F | RGB: 211, 0, 63 | CMYK: 0, 100, 70, 17

That wraps up the list. Now let’s sort them by hue.

Colors Grouped by Family

This table groups every color above by its main hue. Use it to find reds, blues, or yellows fast.

Image caption: Color wheel showing how these U shades spread across red, blue, green, brown, pink, yellow, and neutral families.

Family	Color Names
Reds (6)	UA Red, Ultra Red, UP Maroon, Upsdell Red, USC Cardinal, Utah Crimson
Blues (5)	UA Blue, UCLA Blue, Ultramarine, Ultramarine Blue, United Nations Blue
Greens (2)	UFO Green, UP Forest Green
Browns (2)	Umber, UPS Brown
Neutrals (1)	Ultimate Gray
Pinks and Purples (3)	Ube, Ultra Pink, Ultra Violet
Yellows and Oranges (6)	UCLA Gold, Unbleached Silk, University of California Gold, Unmellow Yellow, Urobilin, USC Gold

A few colors look alike. UA Red and Utah Crimson are close cousins. USC Gold and UCLA Gold are both warm yellows, but UCLA Gold leans more orange. Pick the one whose name fits your story best.

How to Read Hex, RGB, and CMYK Codes

You have seen three codes under every color. Here is what each one means. We will use Ube as the example.

Hex is a six-digit code that starts with #. The first two digits set red. The next two set green. The last two set blue. Ube is #8878C3. Use Hex for websites, apps, and slides.

RGB uses three numbers from 0 to 255. They show how much red, green, and blue light to mix. Ube is 136, 120, 195. Use RGB for anything shown on a screen.

CMYK uses four numbers from 0 to 100. They show the share of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. Ube is 30, 38, 0, 24. Use CMYK for print jobs like flyers and packaging.

Image caption: Side-by-side diagram of one color shown as Hex, RGB, and CMYK, with labels for screen use and print use.

One more point. Screens glow, but ink does not. So bright colors, like Unmellow Yellow, may look duller in print. Now let’s put these codes to work.

How to Use These Colors

Colors work best when you use them with a plan. Here are simple tips for four fields.

Graphic Design

Pick one strong color and two quiet ones. Try UA Blue (#0033AA) as the base. Add a pop of USC Gold (#FFCC00). Keep the rest light. Clean space makes bold colors shine.

Web Design

Choose a calm color for large areas. Use a bright one for buttons and links. UA Blue (#0033AA) works well for buttons. Ultimate Gray (#939597) suits borders and icons. Umber (#635147) is dark enough for text. Always check text contrast before you publish.

Interior Design

Soft, earthy colors make a room feel warm. Unbleached Silk (#FFDDCA) is great for walls. Umber (#635147) suits wood pieces. Add UP Forest Green (#014421) for plants and accents.

Fashion

Deep tones feel rich. Light tones feel fresh. UP Maroon (#7B1113) looks sharp on a coat. Ube (#8878C3) lifts a simple top. Ultimate Gray (#939597) works well for accessories.

Four Easy Pairings

Bold and bright: Ultramarine Blue (#4166F5) + USC Gold (#FFCC00) + Unbleached Silk (#FFDDCA)
Calm and natural: UP Forest Green (#014421) + Umber (#635147) + Unbleached Silk (#FFDDCA)
Crisp and modern: United Nations Blue (#5B92E5) + Ultimate Gray (#939597) + UA Blue (#0033AA)
Warm and cozy: UPS Brown (#644117) + University of California Gold (#B78727) + Unbleached Silk (#FFDDCA)

Image caption: Four palette strips showing the pairings above, each with its Hex codes labeled under the swatches.

Conclusion

The letter U is small, but it is not dull. You can find deep greens, rich browns, soft purples, and electric yellows. All 25 colors that start with U come with codes you can use now.

Save your favorites. Test them on screen and in print. Then build a palette that feels like you.

Ready for more? [Try our color tool] or [explore related colors].

FAQs

What are some colors that start with U?

Popular picks include Umber, Ube, UFO Green, and Urobilin. You will also find some bold blues and reds. This guide lists 25 in all.

What is the darkest color that starts with U?

UP Forest Green (#014421) is the darkest. It is a very deep green that looks near black. UP Maroon (#7B1113) is a close second.

What is the lightest color that starts with U?

Unmellow Yellow (#FFFF66) is the brightest and lightest. It is a sharp, electric lemon. Unbleached Silk (#FFDDCA) is the lightest soft shade.

What are some blue colors that start with U?

Try Ultramarine (#3F00FF), Ultramarine Blue (#4166F5), and UA Blue (#0033AA). United Nations Blue (#5B92E5) is a clear sky tone. UCLA Blue (#536895) is softer and more muted.

What are some purple colors that start with U?

Ube (#8878C3) is soft and blue-leaning. Ultra Violet (#5F4B8B) is deep and muted. Ultra Pink (#FF6FFF) is a bright pink-purple.

Which U colors are best for earthy designs?

Umber (#635147) and UPS Brown (#644117) feel warm and natural. Urobilin (#E1AD21) adds a golden glow. UP Forest Green (#014421) adds a leafy touch. Together, they suit homes, crafts, and cozy brands. Which U colors work well for websites?

UA Blue (#0033AA) is great for buttons and links. Ultimate Gray (#939597) suits borders and icons. Umber (#635147) works for body text on light pages.