Pink is a light red color that got its name from a flower of the same hue. The color pink is evocative, often associated with romance, femininity, and self-care. But did you know that pink has had many other names throughout history?
The Origins of the Word “Pink”
The word “pink” first came into use in the late 17th century to describe the pink flower Dianthus, which has petals ranging from white to pink to red. The name derives from the frilled edges of the flowers which look as if they have been “pinked” with pinking shears.
As the name caught on for the color of the flowers as well, “pink” became shorthand for anything light red. The first recorded use of “pink” to describe a color was in 1695.
Pink By Other Names
Before pink got its modern name, light red shades went by several other monikers. Here are some of the other names pink has had through various eras and cultures:
| Name | Culture/Era |
|---|---|
| Rose | Renaissance Europe |
| Incarnet | Medieval Europe |
| Rosé | Victorian England |
| Shrimp | 1920s America |
| Baby girl | 1950s America |
In Renaissance Europe, pinkish reds were often called “rose” after the flowers. “Incarnet” was also used in medieval times to describe light reds and was sometimes used interchangeably with rose.
During the Victorian era, pink was sometimes called “rosé” which was adapted from the French word for pink rose. In the 1920s, the terms “shrimp” and “baby girl” became slang words for pink in America.
Pink in Ancient Cultures
But pink has existed as a color for thousands of years, long before we gave it a name. Here are some of the earliest uses of pink pigments by ancient cultures:
- In the Neolithic period, pink ochre was used in cave paintings.
- The ancient Egyptians used a pink pigment made from coral for art and cosmetics.
- Pink fabrics have been dyed using the roots of the rubia plant since at least 2500 BC in China.
- The ancient Greeks used pink figs and beets to dye fabric.
- In Aztec paintings, pink dye was made from the cochineal insect.
While pink wasn’t called by its modern name, these cultures still identified this uniquely beautiful and useful color and worked to recreate it. The earliest synthetic pink dye was made in India in the 18th century from Tinctorius hortensis, known as the pink safflower.
Pink in Nature
Pink can also be found in many flowers and animals in nature. Here are some of the most prominent pink species:
- Cherry blossom trees
- Pink roses
- Pink peonies
- Pink lotus flowers
- Pink flamingos
- Alpine spindle trees
- Pink star coral
- Pink dolphins
- The pink fairy armadillo
No matter what it’s called, pink has an enduring place in our world. The soft, romantic quality of pink makes it perfect for expressing affection, relaxation, and love.
Why We Say “Pink” Today
So why did “pink” become the standard name for light red shades in English? A few key reasons:
- Brevity – “Pink” is simple and easy to say.
- Association with flowers – Pink flowers like Dianthus helped popularize the name.
- Distinction from red – Using “pink” differentiates it as a unique color.
- Gender neutrality – Unlike other terms like “baby girl,” pink is not gendered.
“Pink” emerged as the perfect one-syllable, gender-neutral name that evoked the soft hues found in nature. Though light red has gone by many monikers through the ages, pink remains the quintessential name for delicate reds today.
Pink By Any Other Name
Pink has charmed cultures for thousands of years, whether known as rose, shrimp, pink, or any other colorful term. This soft pastel shade conveys comfort, affection, and beauty. Pink’s many names tell an interesting story of how we have perceived and described colors in different eras.
So feel free to call pink by any name—its loveliness and charm will continue inspiring artists, designers, and romantics well into the future. Any term for pink captures its essence of joy, optimism, and dreams.
Conclusion
Though pink was not named as such until the late 1600s, the soft red pigment we know as pink today has been prized for millennia. Ancient cultures used natural pink dyes and pigments to color fabric, paint works of art, and create cosmetics. Pink appears in nature in flowers, coral, and animals as a uniquely romantic hue. As English developed “pink” emerged as the ideal short, gender-neutral name for light reds, evoking the colors of flowers from the Dianthus pink to the pink rose. So feel free to call pink’s delicate hues by any name—its beauty and symbolism will continue inspiring us wherever it is found.
