Since 1903, when Binney & Smith introduced the first Crayola crayons, people have been fascinated with the history of our colour names. Read on for a list of our 120 core crayon colours and the years when they were first introduced, along with discontinued colours and names that have changed over the years.
Click here for a listing of current Crayola colours.
Colours Available Beginning 1903
Number of Colours: 8
Black
Brown
Orange
Violet
Blue
Green
Red
Yellow
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 1949 - 1957
Number of Colours: 48
Apricot
Gold
Orange
Silver
Bittersweet
Gray
Orange Red
Spring Green
Black
Green
Orange Yellow
Tan
Blue
Green Blue
Orchid
Thistle
Blue Green
Green Yellow
Periwinkle
Turquoise Blue
Blue Violet
Lemon Yellow
Pine Green
Violet (Purple)
Brick Red
Magenta
Prussian Blue*
Violet Blue
Brown
Mahogany
Red
Violet Red
Burnt Sienna
Maize
Red Orange
White
Carnation Pink
Maroon
Red Violet
Yellow
Cornflower
Melon
Salmon
Yellow Green
Flesh**
Olive Green
Sea Green
Yellow Orange
*Name changed to "midnight blue" in 1958 in response to teachers’ requests.
**Name voluntarily changed to "peach" in 1962.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 1958-1971
Number of Colours: 64
All colours previously listed plus the following colours added in 1958.
Aquamarine
Copper
Lavender
Raw Sienna
Blue Gray
Forest Green
Mulberry
Raw Umber
Burnt Orange
Goldenrod
Navy blue
Sepia
Cadet Blue
Indian Red***
Plum
Sky Blue
***Indian Red is renamed Chestnut in 1999 in response to educators who felt some children wrongly perceived the crayon colour was intended to represent the skin colour of Native Canadian. The name originated from a reddish-brown pigment found near India commonly used in fine artist oil paint.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 1972-1989
Number of Colours: 72
All colours previously listed plus the following fluorescent colours added in 1972.
Chartreuse
Ultra Blue
Ultra Orange
Ultra Red
Hot Magenta
Ultra Green
Ultra Pink
Ultra Yellow
Fluorescent colours name change in 1990.
Atomic Tangerine
Hot Magenta
Outrageous Orange
Shocking Pink
Blizzard Blue
Laser Lemon
Screamin’ Green
Wild Watermelon
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 1990-1992
Number of Colours: 80
All Colours previously listed plus the following fluorescent colours added in 1990.
Electric Lime
Purple Pizzazz
Razzle Dazzle Rose
Unmellow Yellow
Magic Mint
Radical Red
Sunglow
Neon Carrot
In 1990, eight colours were retired and replaced by eight new shades.
Retired Colours
Green Blue
Orange Red
Orange Yellow
Violet Blue
Maize
Lemon Yellow
Blue Gray
Raw Umber
Replacement Colours
Cerulean
Vivid Tangerine
Jungle Green
Fuchsia
Dandelion
Teal Blue
Royal Purple
Wild Strawberry
Retired colours were enshrined in the Crayola Hall of Fame on August 7, 1990.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 1993
16 new colours added in 1993, named by consumers
Number of Colours: 96
Asparagus
Macaroni and Cheese
Razzmatazz
Timber Wolf
Cerise
Mauvelous
Robin's Egg Blue
Tropical Rain Forest
Denim
Pacific Blue
Shamrock
Tumbleweed
Granny Smith Apple
Purple Mountain's Majesty
Tickle Me Pink
Wisteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 1998
24 new colours added
Number of Colours: 120
Almond
Canary
Fern
Pink Flamingo
Antique Brass
Caribbean Green
Fuzzy Wuzzy Brown
Purple Heart
Banana Mania
Cotton Candy
Manatee
Shadow
Beaver
Blush
Mountain Meadow
Sunset Orange
Blue Bell
Desert Sand
Outer Space
Torch Red
Pink Sherbet
Eggplant
Piggy Pink
Vivid Violet
In addition, Binney & Smith produces several assortments of specialty crayons.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 2000
All colours previously listed with the following exceptions. Thistle was removed from the 120-count assortment to make room for indigo; torch red was renamed scarlet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colours Available 2003
4 new colours added, 4 retired
Number of Colours: 120
New Colours
Inch worm
Jazzberry jam
Mango tango
Wild blue yonder
Retired Colours
Blizzard blue
Magic mint
Mulberry
Teal blue
To mark Crayola 100th birthday, consumers name new colours and vote four out of the box.
Note: Crayola Crayon Chronology is based on information compiled from company records and internal sources.