Colors That Start With Y: 23 Shades & Hex Codes

If you’ve ever called a color yellow, yolk-bright, or youthfully sunny, you already know the letter Y. It is a small letter with a big glow. Here are the colors that start with Y, and each one is real.

This guide lists 23 of them. Most are yellows, but not all. You will also meet three deep blues and a few fresh greens.

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.

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.

Why Are So Many Y Colors Yellow?

The answer is simple. The word yellow starts with Y. Many color systems name their yellows this way. Each system adds its own tag. That is why you will see many yellows here.

The small gaps matter. A printer and a painter may mean different yellows. A table later shows how six of them compare.

Quick Jump Guide: Color Families Covered

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

Reds: none in this list
Blues: Yale Blue, YInMn Blue, Yves Klein Blue
Greens: Yellow Green, Yellow-Green (Crayola)
Browns: Yuma, Yukon Gold, Yellow Metal
Neutrals: none in this list
Pinks and purples: none in this list
Yellows and oranges: Yellow, Yellow Sunshine, Yellow Orange

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 Y

Below are all 23 shades starting with the letter Y. They run in alphabetical order. Take your time. Many of the yellows look alike. We point those out as we go.

Yale Blue

Deep, dark navy with a cool tone. It is named for Yale University’s school color. Hex: #00356B | RGB: 0, 53, 107 | CMYK: 100, 50, 0, 58

Yellow

Pure, bright yellow with no tint. It is the brightest yellow on a screen. Hex: #FFFF00 | RGB: 255, 255, 0 | CMYK: 0, 0, 100, 0

Yellow 2

Bright yellow, just a touch deeper than pure Yellow. It is a classic X11 shade. Hex: #EEEE00 | RGB: 238, 238, 0 | CMYK: 0, 0, 100, 7

Yellow 3

Deep mustard-yellow with an olive lean. It is a darker step in the X11 yellow set. Hex: #CDCD00 | RGB: 205, 205, 0 | CMYK: 0, 0, 100, 20

Yellow 4

Dark olive-yellow with a muted, earthy tone. It is the deepest step in the X11 yellow set. Hex: #8B8B00 | RGB: 139, 139, 0 | CMYK: 0, 0, 100, 45

Yellow (Crayola)

Soft, pale yellow with a warm, creamy feel. It looks gentle, like butter in the sun. Hex: #FCE883 | RGB: 252, 232, 131 | CMYK: 0, 8, 48, 1

Yellow Green

Fresh, medium green with a yellow lean. It looks like new leaves in spring. Hex: #9ACD32 | RGB: 154, 205, 50 | CMYK: 25, 0, 76, 20

Yellow-Green (Crayola)

Soft, pale lime green. It is much lighter than Yellow Green. Hex: #C5E384 | RGB: 197, 227, 132 | CMYK: 13, 0, 42, 11

Yellow Metal

Dark olive-brown with a gold hint. It looks like old brass in low light. Hex: #716338 | RGB: 113, 99, 56 | CMYK: 0, 12, 50, 56

Yellow (Munsell)

Warm, golden yellow with a rich tone. It comes from the Munsell chart. Hex: #EFCC00 | RGB: 239, 204, 0 | CMYK: 0, 15, 100, 6

Yellow (NCS)

Bright, golden yellow with a warm glow. It comes from a Swedish color system. Hex: #FFD300 | RGB: 255, 211, 0 | CMYK: 0, 17, 100, 0

Yellow Orange

Warm, golden orange with a sunny glow. It sits between yellow and orange. Hex: #FFAE42 | RGB: 255, 174, 66 | CMYK: 0, 32, 74, 0

Yellow Orange (Crayola)

Soft, light orange-yellow. It is slightly lighter than plain Yellow Orange. Hex: #FFB653 | RGB: 255, 182, 83 | CMYK: 0, 29, 67, 0

Yellow (Pantone)

Clear, sunny yellow with a slight gold lean. It is warmer than Yellow (Process). Hex: #FEDF00 | RGB: 254, 223, 0 | CMYK: 0, 12, 100, 0

Yellow (Process)

Bright lemon yellow with a crisp edge. It is named for the yellow ink in print. Hex: #FFEF00 | RGB: 255, 239, 0 | CMYK: 0, 6, 100, 0

Yellow Rose

Bright, clear yellow with a hint of warmth. It is named for the flower. Hex: #FFF000 | RGB: 255, 240, 0 | CMYK: 0, 6, 100, 0

Yellow (RYB)

Sharp, light yellow with a faint green lean. It comes from the painter’s color wheel. Hex: #FEFE33 | RGB: 254, 254, 51 | CMYK: 0, 0, 80, 0

Yellow Sea

Deep amber-gold with a rich, warm glow. It looks like honey held to the light. Hex: #FEA904 | RGB: 254, 169, 4 | CMYK: 0, 33, 98, 0

Yellow Sunshine

Sharp, vivid lemon with a glowing feel. It is almost the same as Yellow (Process). Hex: #FFF700 | RGB: 255, 247, 0 | CMYK: 0, 3, 100, 0

YInMn Blue

Rich, deep blue with a cool glow. Its name comes from three metals: yttrium, indium, and manganese. Hex: #2E5090 | RGB: 46, 80, 144 | CMYK: 68, 44, 0, 44

Yukon Gold

Deep olive-gold with a brown undertone. It looks earthy and rich. Hex: #7B6608 | RGB: 123, 102, 8 | CMYK: 0, 17, 93, 52

Yuma

Pale, sandy khaki with a soft yellow tint. It looks dry and calm. Hex: #CEC291 | RGB: 206, 194, 145 | CMYK: 0, 6, 30, 19

Yves Klein Blue

Strong, deep blue with a violet lean. It is named for the artist Yves Klein. Hex: #002FA7 | RGB: 0, 47, 167 | CMYK: 100, 72, 0, 35

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 blues, greens, or yellows fast.

Family	Color Names
Reds (0)	None in this list
Blues (3)	Yale Blue, YInMn Blue, Yves Klein Blue
Greens (2)	Yellow Green, Yellow-Green (Crayola)
Browns (3)	Yellow Metal, Yukon Gold, Yuma
Neutrals (0)	None in this list
Pinks and Purples (0)	None in this list
Yellows and Oranges (15)	Yellow, Yellow 2, Yellow 3, Yellow 4, Yellow (Crayola), Yellow (Munsell), Yellow (NCS), Yellow Orange, Yellow Orange (Crayola), Yellow (Pantone), Yellow (Process), Yellow Rose, Yellow (RYB), Yellow Sea, Yellow Sunshine

Many yellows here look alike. Yellow Sunshine is almost the same as Yellow (Process). Yellow Orange and Yellow Orange (Crayola) are close too. Next, let’s compare the main yellow systems side by side.

Six Yellow Systems Compared

Each system has its own idea of yellow. The table shows how they differ.

Name	Hex	How It Looks
Yellow (Crayola)	#FCE883	Pale and creamy
Yellow (RYB)	#FEFE33	Light and sharp
Yellow (Process)	#FFEF00	Bright lemon
Yellow (Pantone)	#FEDF00	Clear, with a gold lean
Yellow (NCS)	#FFD300	Golden and bold
Yellow (Munsell)	#EFCC00	Deep and warm

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 YInMn Blue 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. YInMn Blue is #2E5090. 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. YInMn Blue is 46, 80, 144. 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. YInMn Blue is 68, 44, 0, 44. Use CMYK for print jobs like flyers and packaging.

One more point. Screens glow, but ink does not. So neon yellows, like Yellow Sunshine, 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 Yale Blue (#00356B) as the base. Add a pop of Yellow Sunshine (#FFF700). 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. YInMn Blue (#2E5090) works well for buttons. Yale Blue (#00356B) suits headers. Yellow (Crayola) (#FCE883) makes a soft highlight. Always check text contrast before you publish.

Interior Design

Soft, warm colors make a room feel cozy. Yuma (#CEC291) is great for walls. Yukon Gold (#7B6608) suits wood pieces. Add Yellow Green (#9ACD32) for plants and accents.

Fashion

Bold tones feel fresh. Soft tones feel calm. Yves Klein Blue (#002FA7) looks sharp on a coat. Yellow Orange (#FFAE42) lifts a simple scarf. Yuma (#CEC291) works well for trousers.

Four Easy Pairings

Bold and bright: Yale Blue (#00356B) + Yellow Sunshine (#FFF700) + Yuma (#CEC291)
Calm and natural: Yellow Green (#9ACD32) + Yuma (#CEC291) + Yukon Gold (#7B6608)
Crisp and modern: YInMn Blue (#2E5090) + Yellow (Crayola) (#FCE883) + Yuma (#CEC291)
Warm and cozy: Yukon Gold (#7B6608) + Yellow Sea (#FEA904) + Yellow (Crayola) (#FCE883)

Conclusion

The letter Y is small, but it glows. You can find soft creams, bright lemons, golden ambers, deep blues, and fresh greens. All 23 colors that start with Y 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 Y?

Popular picks include Yellow, Yellow Orange, Yale Blue, and YInMn Blue. You will also find Yuma and Yellow Green. This guide lists 23 in all.

What is the darkest color that starts with Y?

Yale Blue (#00356B) is the darkest. It is a deep navy with a cool tone. Yves Klein Blue (#002FA7) comes next.

What is the lightest color that starts with Y?

Yellow (#FFFF00) is the brightest. Yellow (Crayola) (#FCE883) is the softest and palest. Yellow-Green (Crayola) (#C5E384) is a pale lime.

What are some blue colors that start with Y?

Try Yale Blue (#00356B), YInMn Blue (#2E5090), and Yves Klein Blue (#002FA7). Yale Blue is the darkest. Yves Klein Blue is the most intense.

What are some green colors that start with Y?

Yellow Green (#9ACD32) is fresh and medium in tone. Yellow-Green (Crayola) (#C5E384) is soft and pale. Yellow 4 (#8B8B00) is a dark olive-yellow.

Why are there so many yellows in this list?

The word yellow starts with Y, so many systems name their yellows this way. Each color system has its own. Yellow (NCS) (#FFD300) and Yellow (Munsell) (#EFCC00) show how close they can be.

What Y colors work well for websites?

YInMn Blue (#2E5090) is great for buttons and links. Yale Blue (#00356B) suits headers. Yellow (Crayola) (#FCE883) makes a soft highlight.