23 Colors That Start With I: Names, Hex Codes & RGB Values
If you’ve ever described a color as icy, inky, or imperial, you already know how striking the I section of the palette can be. This guide covers colors that start with I, and there are 23 of them here. Each entry includes the name, Hex code, RGB values, and CMYK values. That means you can copy a code straight into a design file, a website, or a print order.
The list runs from pale Iceberg to deep Indigo Dye. It includes bright shades like Inchworm, rich purples like Imperial, and soft neutrals like Ivory. Every color has a short note on its tone and undertone. You will see which ones lean warm, which lean cool, and which look alike.
Quick Jump Guide: Color Families Covered
Not sure where to begin? Here are the color families in this collection of color names beginning with I. Pick the one you need. Note that no true browns begin with I in this list, so the letter leans toward blues and purples.
- Reds: 4 colors
- Blues: 6 colors
- Greens: 3 colors
- Neutrals: 2 colors
- Pinks and Purples: 5 colors
- Yellows and Oranges: 3 colors
The full list below runs in strict A to Z order. To browse by hue instead, skip ahead to the family table.
Quick Tip: Check each color on the screen or paper where it will be used. Intense blues like International Klein Blue can look duller in print, because ink cannot glow the way a screen does.
Full List of Colors That Start With I (A to Z)
Every entry below follows the same format. You get a short description, then the codes. The CMYK numbers are approximate screen-to-print conversions, so a print shop may adjust them a little.
Iceberg
Soft and clear, a sky blue with a faint cool gray. It looks like the pale glow on a floating ice wall. Hex: #71A6D2 | RGB: 113, 166, 210 | CMYK: 46, 21, 0, 18
Icterine
Bright and clean, a lemon yellow with a sharp glow. Nothing brown or gray dulls it. Hex: #FCF75E | RGB: 252, 247, 94 | CMYK: 0, 2, 63, 1
Illuminating Emerald
Jewel-like and cool, a mid-tone green with a teal lean. It feels rich without turning dark. Hex: #319177 | RGB: 49, 145, 119 | CMYK: 66, 0, 18, 43
Imperial
Deep and regal, a plum purple with a quiet red undertone. It feels formal and a little theatrical. Hex: #602F6B | RGB: 96, 47, 107 | CMYK: 10, 56, 0, 58
Imperial Blue
Strong and saturated, a deep royal blue with no gray in it. It looks bolder than Indigo Dye. Hex: #002395 | RGB: 0, 35, 149 | CMYK: 100, 77, 0, 42
Imperial Purple
Very dark and wine-toned, a magenta-purple with a velvet feel. It reads almost like deep burgundy. Hex: #66023C | RGB: 102, 2, 60 | CMYK: 0, 98, 41, 60
Imperial Red
Bright and confident, a clean red with a slightly cool edge. It looks livelier than Indian Red. Hex: #ED2939 | RGB: 237, 41, 57 | CMYK: 0, 83, 76, 7
Inchworm
Fresh and zesty, a lime green with a yellow glow. It is named after the small green caterpillar. Hex: #B2EC5D | RGB: 178, 236, 93 | CMYK: 25, 0, 61, 7
Independence
Muted and slate-like, a blue-gray with a violet whisper. It feels calm and a bit stormy. Hex: #4C516D | RGB: 76, 81, 109 | CMYK: 30, 26, 0, 57
India Green
Rich and leafy, a true green with a warm, sunny edge. It echoes the green stripe in the flag of India. Hex: #138808 | RGB: 19, 136, 8 | CMYK: 86, 0, 94, 47
Indian Red
Earthy and muted, a rosy red with a dusty finish. It is named after a traditional red-earth pigment. Hex: #CD5C5C | RGB: 205, 92, 92 | CMYK: 0, 55, 55, 20
Indian Yellow
Warm and golden, with a soft orange glow. It is named after a traditional pigment. Hex: #E3A857 | RGB: 227, 168, 87 | CMYK: 0, 26, 62, 11
Indigo
Deep and dramatic, a violet that leans toward midnight. The name comes from the indigo dye plant. Hex: #4B0082 | RGB: 75, 0, 130 | CMYK: 42, 100, 0, 49
Indigo Dye
Dark and inky, a deep blue with a cool teal shadow. It looks like denim before it fades. Hex: #00416A | RGB: 0, 65, 106 | CMYK: 100, 39, 0, 58
International Klein Blue
Intense and deep, a blue with a strong violet pulse that seems to glow. It is named after the artist Yves Klein. Hex: #130A8F | RGB: 19, 10, 143 | CMYK: 87, 93, 0, 44
International Orange (Aerospace)
Vivid and hot, a red-orange built for high visibility. It is much brighter than the bridge version. Hex: #FF4F00 | RGB: 255, 79, 0 | CMYK: 0, 69, 100, 0
International Orange (Engineering)
Despite the orange in its name, this reads as a deep, strong red. It is deeper and redder than the bridge version. Hex: #BA160C | RGB: 186, 22, 12 | CMYK: 0, 88, 94, 27
International Orange (Golden Gate Bridge)
Warm and brick-toned, a red with an orange lean. It is the paint color of the famous San Francisco bridge. Hex: #C0362C | RGB: 192, 54, 44 | CMYK: 0, 72, 77, 25
Iris
Blue-violet and bright, with a soft, floral feel. It is named after the iris flower. Hex: #5A4FCF | RGB: 90, 79, 207 | CMYK: 57, 62, 0, 19
Irresistible
Rich and raspberry-toned, a rosy pink–purple with real depth. It feels warm and a little dramatic. Hex: #B3446C | RGB: 179, 68, 108 | CMYK: 0, 62, 40, 30
Isabelline
Barely there, a warm off-white with a gentle gray softness. It looks like old paper in soft light. Hex: #F4F0EC | RGB: 244, 240, 236 | CMYK: 0, 2, 3, 4
Italian Sky Blue
Pale and bright, a cyan-leaning blue with an airy glow. It feels like a clear day in the Mediterranean. Hex: #B2FFFF | RGB: 178, 255, 255 | CMYK: 30, 0, 0, 0
Ivory
Creamy and almost white, with a faint yellow warmth. It is named after the pale material of elephant tusks. Hex: #FFFFF0 | RGB: 255, 255, 240 | CMYK: 0, 0, 6, 0
Color Names Beginning With I by Family
Browsing by hue is often faster. The table below groups every color in this list into its main family. Use it to compare shades that sit close together.
| Family | Colors |
| Reds | Imperial Red, Indian Red, International Orange (Engineering), International Orange (Golden Gate Bridge) |
| Blues | Iceberg, Imperial Blue, Independence, Indigo Dye, International Klein Blue, Italian Sky Blue |
| Greens | Illuminating Emerald, Inchworm, India Green |
| Neutrals | Isabelline, Ivory |
| Pinks and Purples | Imperial, Imperial Purple, Indigo, Iris, Irresistible |
| Yellows and Oranges | Icterine, Indian Yellow, International Orange (Aerospace) |
Some shades sit between families. Independence is a muted blue-gray with a violet whisper, so it appears under blues. International Orange (Aerospace) is a red-orange, so it appears under oranges, while the other two versions read as reds.
How to Read Hex, RGB, and CMYK Codes
Every color here comes with three kinds of codes. Each one has a job. Here is a simple way to think about them.
Hex is a six-character code that starts with a hash sign. It is the standard choice for websites and apps. The first two characters set red, the next two set green, and the last two set blue. For example, Indigo is #4B0082.
RGB shows the same color as three numbers from 0 to 255. Indigo in RGB is 75, 0, 130. Use RGB for screens, slides, and video. It matches Hex exactly, just written differently.
CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Printers use this system. The values here come from the standard conversion formula, rounded to whole numbers. They are approximate, because printed ink never matches a glowing screen perfectly.
A simple rule works well. Use Hex or RGB for anything on a screen. Use CMYK for anything on paper.
How to Use Shades Starting With the Letter I
Good color use is mostly about pairing. These shades work in many fields. Here are four pairings from the list, with codes you can copy.
| Use | Pairing | Hex Codes | Why It Works |
| Graphic design | Independence and Icterine | #4C516D and #FCF75E | A muted slate with bright lemon makes the yellow pop. |
| Web design | Indigo Dye and Isabelline | #00416A and #F4F0EC | Dark text on a soft off-white page reads clearly (contrast about 9.4 to 1). |
| Interior design | Isabelline and Illuminating Emerald | #F4F0EC and #319177 | A warm, pale wall with a jewel-green accent feels fresh and rich. |
| Fashion | Imperial Purple and Ivory | #66023C and #FFFFF0 | Deep wine against creamy white looks elegant and bold. |
For graphic design, pick one bold shade and one calm one. Let the bold shade lead. Use Imperial Red for a button, for example, and Ivory for the background.
For web design, always test contrast. Light text on a pale shade like Italian Sky Blue is hard to read. Pair it with Indigo Dye instead.
For interiors, test a small paint sample first. Daylight changes everything. A shade like Iceberg looks cooler in the morning and softer at dusk.
For fashion, think in groups of three. A deep shade, a mid shade, and a light shade make an easy outfit. Indigo Dye, Iceberg, and Isabelline are a calm trio.
Conclusion
You now have a full toolkit of colors that start with I. The range is wide, from icy Italian Sky Blue to dark Imperial Purple. There are bold shades like Imperial Red and quiet ones like Isabelline and Ivory. Each comes with Hex, RGB, and CMYK codes you can use right away.
Ready to put them to work? [Try our color tool] to build a palette, or [explore related colors] to keep going.
FAQs About Colors That Start With I
What are some colors that start with I?
Popular picks include Indigo (#4B0082), Ivory (#FFFFF0), Indian Red (#CD5C5C), Iris (#5A4FCF), and Iceberg (#71A6D2). They cover purples, neutrals, reds, and blues.
What is the darkest color that starts with I?
By measured brightness, the darkest shade in this list is International Klein Blue (#130A8F). Indigo and Imperial Purple are close behind. All three look very deep, almost black in low light.
What is the lightest color that starts with I?
The lightest shade here is Ivory (#FFFFF0). Italian Sky Blue and Icterine are close behind, though Icterine is a bright lemon yellow.
What are some blue shades that start with I?
Iceberg, Imperial Blue, Indigo Dye, International Klein Blue, and Italian Sky Blue are the main blues. Italian Sky Blue is the palest, and Indigo Dye is one of the deepest.
Which red shades begin with I?
Imperial Red (#ED2939), Indian Red (#CD5C5C), and the Golden Gate Bridge version of International Orange (#C0362C) are the main reds. International Orange (Engineering) is deeper and darker.
Which purple shades start with I?
Indigo, Iris, Imperial, and Imperial Purple are the main purples. Irresistible adds a warmer, raspberry-toned option.
How many color names begin with I in this list?
This list includes 23 named colors, all in A-to-Z order. Each one has a Hex code, RGB values, and CMYK values.
