Brown is a color that is ubiquitous in nature and very commonly used in design, fashion, and decor. While the word “brown” is the most common name for this color, it also has many other names that describe the various shades and tints of brown. In this article, we will explore some of the other names used for the color brown, looking at how they describe the different hues, tints, and shades within the broad brown color spectrum. We’ll also touch on some interesting facts about brown throughout history and culture.
Common Color Names for Shades of Brown
Here are some of the most common alternate names for colors within the brown color family:
| Beige | A pale sandy shade of brown, similar to a tan color. |
| Taupe | A grayish shade of brown, sometimes with a purplish tint. |
| Khaki | A light yellowish-brown, similar to the color of khaki fabric. |
| Umber | A deep reddish-brown inspired by the natural clay pigment. |
| Auburn | A reddish-brown shade with dark orange undertones. |
| Russet | A reddish-brown color, sometimes leaning more red or more brown. |
| Chestnut | A medium reddish-brown reminiscent of chestnuts. |
| Mahogany | A reddish-brown with a deep red tone. |
| Chocolate | A reddish-brown shade that resembles the color of chocolate. |
| Coffee | A medium-dark brown with gray undertones. |
| Toffee | A light brown color resembling the candy toffee. |
| Caramel | A medium-light brown with golden yellow undertones. |
| Hazel | A light brown with a slightly greenish-yellow tint. |
| Mocha | A medium brown with a slight gray tone. |
| Tan | A pale brown with yellowish undertone. |
| Fawn | A light brownish-gray, like the color of a fawn’s fur. |
As you can see, many shades of brown are named after food, animals, plants, and natural earth pigments that resemble those hues. The specific undertones present differentiate the shades from plain “brown.”
Creative and Descriptive Brown Color Names
In addition to common brown shades, creative descriptive names are often used to convey a more nuanced brown color:
Camel – A light sandy shade of brown like the animal’s fur.
Sienna – An earthy reddish-brown inspired by the natural clay from Siena, Italy.
Sepia – A yellowish-brown named after the pigment derived from cuttlefish ink.
Driftwood – A grayish weathered brown that evokes driftwood on the beach.
Rust – A reddish-brown reminiscent of iron rust.
Bronze – A shimmery brown with a slightly metallic sheen.
Cinnamon – A warm reddish-brown that calls to mind the spice cinnamon.
Nutmeg – A richer reddish-brown like the interior of a nutmeg seed.
Cocoa – A very dark brown with a slightly reddish tone like natural cocoa powder.
Tawny – A light yellowish-brown, often used to describe animal fur.
Raw Umber – A very deep, dark brown with a slightly greenish undertone.
Burnt Umber – A dark brown with a slightly red undertone, as if burnt.
Dusky Brown – A dark grayish-brown, like the colors of dusk.
Mink – A rich medium-dark brown, like the lustrous fur of minks.
Tobacco – A medium reddish-brown hue reminiscent of tobacco leaves.
Sepia – A yellowish-brown named after the pigment derived from cuttlefish ink.
These more poetic names for shades of brown help convey the complexity and depth within the broad brown color spectrum.
Brown Color Names from Different Cultures
Different cultures throughout history have come up with their own descriptive names for the color brown:
Pulla – This rich reddish-brown with purple undertones was worn by Ancient Roman priests.
Fulvous – From Latin for “tawny” or “dull yellow-brown.”
Loki – A dark blackish-brown in Aztec culture, named after the god of trickery.
Xocolātl – The Nahuatl Aztec word for “chocolate,” referring to the rich brown color.
Hematite – From Ancient Greek for “blood-like,” referring to a reddish-brown iron oxide pigment.
Kobicha – The Japanese word for a dark, reddish-brown “brown rice tea.”
Yeon – A Korean word for a yellowish-brown color.
Café noir – French for “coffee with no milk,” meaning a very dark blackish-brown.
Marrón – The Spanish word for “brown” or “chestnut colored.”
Marrom – The Portuguese word for different shades of brown.
Kahve – The Turkish word for “coffee” is used to mean brown.
Ficus – A Latin name for the brown “fig” fruit that came to mean a reddish-brown.
These names from around the world reflect how brown is described in different cultures, often relating to foods, drinks, and natural pigments unique to each region.
Brown in Design and Fashion
Different shades of brown are widely used in interior design, fashion, and visual arts. Brown adds warmth and richness as a neutral. Some brown hues used in design include:
– Camel – A pale warm neutral popular for coats and accessories.
– Latte – A warm muted neutral seen in paints, furniture, and decor.
– Milk Chocolate – A darker warm brown sometimes used for accent walls.
– Cocoa Bean – A rich, deep brown seen in hardwood flooring and leather.
– Khaki – A versatile light tan brown used in uniforms and casual wear.
– Umber – A natural reddish-brown prevalent in fine art pigments.
– Sepia – A vintage-inspired yellowish-brown dominant in old photographs.
– Chestnut – A luxurious reddish-brown used for high-end leather goods.
Browns pair well neutrally with other natural colors like cream, taupe, gray, and black. The versatility and coziness of brown makes it universally appealing in home and fashion aesthetics.
Meanings and Symbolism of Brown
Brown has accumulated many symbolic associations throughout history:
– Reliability – Brown evokes durability and ruggedness with its connection to the earth.
– Simplicity – As a neutral, brown has a simple, down-to-earth character.
– Naturalism – Brown’s earthy qualities reflect the natural world around us.
– Wholesomeness – As brown is the color of grains, it connotes wholesomeness.
– Warmth – Rich browns are associated with warmth, comfort and security.
– History – Sepia-toned antique photos link brown to the passage of time.
– Melancholy – In some contexts, brown can take on a melancholy, wistful tone.
– Poverty – In the past, brown’s ubiquity made it associated with poverty.
– Frivolity – In the 1960s/’70s, brown took on a kitschy, retro feel.
– Sophistication – But brown can also feel sleek, elegant and refined.
So despite its reputation as a “boring” default color, brown has a surprisingly complex cultural legacy with both positive and negative undertones.
Fun Facts About the Color Brown
To round out our exploration of brown, here are some fun miscellaneous facts:
– Brown is the most common color for packaging as it conveys reliability and wholesale vibes.
– There is no exact wavelength of light that corresponds to pure brown – it is a composite color perceived through mixing.
– In Medieval art, brown robes were used to represent the humble simplicity of Franciscan monks.
– During the 1970s, everything from cars to appliances came in earthy, kitschy shades of brown.
– Brown M&M’s were eliminated from 1976 to 1987 to simplify production but brought back due to demand.
– Brown became fashionable again in the 2000s, seen as an earthy, wholesome neutral in modern minimalist style.
– Brown is thought to stimulate the appetite, making it popular in the decor of cafes and restaurants.
– There is a Brown University in Rhode Island, though the name actually comes from a prominent local merchant family.
Conclusion
While most of us probably default to just calling any shade of brown “brown,” we’ve seen here how our complex language has myriad creative names to convey the precise hue and personality of different rich brown tones. Beyond just beige and taupe, brown encompasses a versatile spectrum like chocolate, mahogany, rust, sand, cinnamon, clay, and earth. Whether seen as boring, comforting, vintage, or elegant, there is no doubt brown is a integral neutral color in our world. So the next time you come across a brown object, feel free to describe it more poetically using one of the many nuanced names for shades of brown!