Gray is a neutral color that falls between black and white on the color spectrum. It comes in different shades, tints, and tones, ranging from dark charcoal grays to light silvery grays. While the most common term for these neutral grays is simply “gray,” there are many other names used to describe the various shades of this versatile color. In this article, we will explore some of the other common names for gray and look at how they are used.
Cool grays
Cool grays are shades of gray that have hints of blue or green added to the base gray color. They are considered “cool” because they give off a calm, soothing impression. Some other names for these cool-toned grays include:
- Ash gray
- Blue-gray
- Cadet gray
- Cold gray
- Dove gray
- Ice gray
- Light blue-gray
- Pearl gray
- Powder blue gray
- Silver gray
- Smoke gray
- Steel gray
These shades of gray work well in rooms where you want to create a relaxing, Zen-like atmosphere. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and spas often utilize these tranquil, cool-toned grays in their color schemes. Cool grays also pair nicely with other cool colors like blues, greens, purples, and pastels.
Warm grays
On the other side of the spectrum, warm grays have subtle undertones of red, yellow, pink, or brown mixed with the base gray. This makes them appear more welcoming and cozy than cool grays. Some alternate names for warm gray shades include:
- Beige gray
- Charcoal gray
- Dove gray
- Greige (a mix of gray and beige)
- Khaki gray
- Mauve gray
- Mushroom gray
- Pewter gray
- Sand gray
- Shadow gray
- Slate gray
- Stone gray
- Taupe gray
These warm, inviting grays work well in living spaces where you want to create a cozy feeling. Living rooms, bedrooms, and dining spaces often utilize warm grays in their decor. They also pair nicely with other warm tones like reds, oranges, yellows, and browns.
Neutral grays
Neutral grays sit right in the middle of the spectrum between warm and cool shades. They have no strong undertones and appear more balanced and subtle. Some alternate names for true neutral grays include:
- Classic gray
- Cloud gray
- Dim gray
- Dusty gray
- Granite gray
- Heather gray
- Hickory gray
- Lead gray
- Nickel gray
- Smoke gray
- Storm gray
- Weathered gray
These versatile grays work well as base colors in any room. They are easy to decorate with since they go with any color scheme or palette. Neutral grays are popular choices for walls, furniture, carpeting, and accessories throughout the entire home.
Light grays
On the lighter end of the spectrum, light grays add a delicate, airy feeling to a space. Some common names for soft, pale gray shades include:
- Cloud gray
- Dove gray
- Fog gray
- Galaxy gray
- Ghost gray
- Graphite gray
- Horizon gray
- Lavender gray
- Lilac gray
- Mist gray
- Moon gray
- Platinum gray
- Smoke gray
- Snow gray
- Stardust gray
These pale grays work beautifully in airy, tranquil spaces like spas, bedrooms, and bathrooms. They create a soft, dreamy atmosphere when used on walls or soft furnishings. Light grays also pair gorgeously with pastels and deeper jewel tone shades.
Dark grays
On the flip side, dark grays create moody, dramatic spaces. Some alternate names for these deep, saturated gray shades include:
- Black gray
- Carbon gray
- Charcoal gray
- Flint gray
- Fog gray
- Graphite gray
- Iron gray
- Lead gray
- Mercury gray
- Metal gray
- Night gray
- Onyx gray
- Space gray
- Storm gray
- Thunder gray
- Tungsten gray
- Urban gray
These moody grays work wonderfully as accent colors in modern, industrial spaces. They create an edgy, sophisticated look when used strategically on walls, furniture, or accessories. Dark grays also pair strikingly with bright whites and pops of colors.
Greys with undertones
Some gray shades have very specific color undertones that are reflected in their descriptive names. Here are some examples:
- Purple gray – Grays with hints of purple or lilac
- Green gray – Grays mixed with subtle green undertones
- Brown gray – Grays that take on earthy, brownish tones
- Pink gray – Grays with a subtle rosy or pinkish tone
- Blue gray – Grays with a blue, icy undertone
Naming grays after their color undertones helps paint a more specific picture of the exact shade. For example, saying a wall is painted “green gray” conveys a different color than simply calling it “gray.”
Creative gray names
In fashion, interior design, and paint colors, you’ll often see creative poetic names used to describe specific gray shades. Here are some examples of those types of evocative gray names:
- Asteroid gray
- Battleship gray
- Clay gray
- Confidential gray
- Driftwood gray
- Dry fog gray
- Gentleman’s gray
- Granite gray
- Gray suit
- Gray flannel
- Lunar rock gray
- Morning fog gray
- Raincloud gray
- Rolling storm gray
- Shark gray
- Smokey Heather gray
- Spun sugar gray
- Stormy sea gray
- Taupe gray
- Tree bark gray
- Winter sky gray
These imaginative names help convey the emotion, texture, and personality of specific gray tones. They make the colors feel more vivid and tangible.
Animal inspired gray names
Gray shades are sometimes named after animals that feature gray tones in their fur, feathers, or skin. Here are some examples of animal-inspired gray color names:
- Dolphin gray
- Dove gray
- Elephant gray
- Falcon gray
- Koala gray
- Mouse gray
- Owl gray
- Panda gray
- Pelican gray
- Penguin gray
- Pigeon gray
- Rabbit gray
- Seagull gray
- Shark gray
- Silver fox gray
- Whale gray
- Wolf gray
Tying gray shades to animals gives them a more organic, natural feeling even though they are still synthetic human-made colors. These types of names are widely used for paints and textile colors.
Numeric gray names
On the technical side, grays are sometimes named using a numeric system that identifies them by number codes. Some examples include:
- Gray 10
- Gray 18
- Gray 30
- Gray 40
- Gray 50
- Gray 60
- Gray 70
- Gray 80
- Gray 90
The numbers used in these codes correlate to where the specific gray shade falls on a color spectrum. Lower numbers like 10 are very light grays while higher numbers like 90 are very dark, near black.
This numeric naming system is used for industrial and commercial grays where a technical, objective color identification is needed, especially for mixing consistent colors.
Gray vs. grey
Both “gray” and “grey” are accepted spellings for the neutral color between black and white. Gray is more commonly used in American English, while grey is more widely used in British English. The spellings can be used interchangeably without changing the meaning.
Conclusion
While most people default to simply using “gray” for neutral grays, there are actually countless poetic, vivid names for the many shades that exist. Cool grays, warm grays, light grays, and dark grays can take on imaginative names that convey texture and feeling. Specific color undertones like purple gray and animal names like dolphin gray paint a more nuanced picture. Technical names using codes and numbers also identify grays in an objective, precise system. So next time you encounter a beautiful gray shade, think about using one of these alternate gray names to describe it in a more evocative way. The possibilities are vast!
