Kelly green is a bright shade of green that got its name from being used as the main color of Ireland’s Kelly green uniforms worn by Irish sport teams. Determining the exact color code for Kelly green can be tricky since there are variations in shade depending on brand or manufacturer.
The Origin of Kelly Green
The origin of the name Kelly green comes from the familial surname Kelly, which was common in Ireland. It became associated with the color through its use by various Irish sports teams as their uniform color, such as the Irish national field hockey and cricket teams. The Republic of Ireland national football (soccer) team has also worn Kelly green jerseys in the past.
The use of Kelly green for Irish national sports teams likely started in the early 20th century. The earliest known example is the Sackville Street Club hockey team that wore green uniforms starting in 1909. The Ireland national field hockey team adopted green jerseys in 1920. The Ireland cricket team started using Kelly green uniforms in 1923.
The exact shade of green used would vary between teams and manufacturers, but they all referenced the surname Kelly in naming the shade. Over time, Kelly green became codified through its use in sports as a bright green associated specifically with Ireland and Irish culture.
Hex Codes for Kelly Green
In hexadecimal HTML/CSS color codes, one of the more common codes used to represent Kelly green is:
#4CBB17
This hex code produces a bright green that is consistent with the Kelly green used in sporting uniforms. Other similar hex codes for Kelly green include:
- #02C14D
- #00CC33
- #3EB370
- #6CBB3C
These all represent slightly different shades of bright medium green. #4CBB17 seems to match most closely to the classic Kelly green in terms of hue and vibrance.
RGB Values for Kelly Green
The same Kelly green color can be represented in RGB (red, green, blue) values:
R: 76
G: 187
B: 23
In RGB representation, the amount of green is by far the highest, giving the bright green color. The small amounts of red and blue modify the hue slightly.
Other similar RGB values include:
| Red | Green | Blue |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 193 | 77 |
| 0 | 204 | 51 |
| 62 | 179 | 112 |
| 108 | 187 | 60 |
Like the hex codes, these RGB values produce shades of Kelly green with small variances in hue and brightness.
CMYK Values for Kelly Green
In the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model, the CMYK values for Kelly green are:
C: 45%
M: 0%
Y: 100%
K: 0%
The lack of magenta, combined with high levels of yellow and cyan, produce the bright green color. A 45% level of cyan offsets the yellow to achieve the classic Kelly green hue rather than a pure yellow-green.
As with the other color models, other CMYK values can achieve similar shades of Kelly green:
| Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | 0% | 95% | 0% |
| 70% | 0% | 65% | 0% |
| 60% | 0% | 85% | 0% |
Pantone Matching System (PMS) Code
Within the Pantone Matching System (PMS), the closest matching code for Kelly green is:
PMS 347
This Pantone swatch provides a bright green consistent with traditional Kelly green sporting colors. PMS colors are standardized so designers and manufacturers can accurately match colors across materials and finishes.
Salute to Kelly Green Campaign
In 2010, a “Salute to Kelly Green” campaign petitioned the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team to return to their traditional Kelly green uniforms instead of the teal alternate jerseys they had been using. The campaign demonstrated the public attachment to Kelly green as an iconic aspect of Philadelphia sports culture.
Over 15,000 people signed the online petition or pledged support on Facebook. While it did not immediately lead to the Eagles changing their uniforms, it showed the nostalgic significance of Kelly green in sports tradition.
Use in Irish Culture and St. Patrick’s Day
Beyond sports, Kelly green is also used extensively in Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, honors the patron saint of Ireland and Irish heritage across the world. Kelly green symbolizes Irish pride and recognition on St. Patrick’s Day.
Common uses of Kelly green on St. Patrick’s Day include:
- Green clothing – shirts, sweaters, pants, dresses, suits
- Green accessories – ties, scarves, top hats, bowler hats
- Green face paint
- Green drinks – beer, milkshakes, cocktails
- Green food dye used in baking and cooking
- Green decorations – tablecloths, banners, balloons
From a cultural perspective, Kelly green represents the color of the Irish landscape, specifically the green hills and valleys. Calling the color Kelly green connects it to Irish ancestry and descendants.
Use as an Accent Color
Beyond Irish associations, Kelly green can also be used as a bold accent color in design and fashion:
- Web design – Used sparingly to draw attention to buttons, headlines, or important information
- Graphic design – Often paired with black text as a high contrast combination
- Home decor – Throw pillows, rugs, or wall art in Kelly green can add a punch of color
- Fashion – Handbags, shoes, jewelry, or other accessories in this shade of green can make them stand out
The brightness of Kelly green allows it to be noticed and highlight specific elements when used intentionally as an accent color. Especially when paired with neutrals like black, white, or grey, Kelly green provides a strong visual contrast.
Use in Branding
Some companies leverage Kelly green in their branding due to its energizing and attention-getting qualities:
- Spotify – The music streaming service uses Kelly green in its logo and branding
- Animal Planet – The nature TV channel brand incorporates Kelly green in its logo
- Starbucks – Past iterations of the Starbucks logo have used Kelly green accents
- Nickelodeon – The children’s TV network uses a Kelly green slime in its shows
The vibrant color helps these brands stand out and grabbed consumer attention in crowded markets. It evokes feelings of youthful energy and fun.
Gender Coding
Kelly green is sometimes associated more with masculinity due to its use in male sports uniforms and St. Patrick’s Day. However, shades of green have also grown in popularity in women’s fashion and beauty products, loosening strict gender codings of colors.
Marketers once followed traditional color-gender norms that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. But as social norms have evolved, strict color divisions are fading. Green is now marketed to people of any gender.
Calming Effects
Although Kelly green is energizing as an accent color, shades of green are often also associated with natural, peaceful, and calming feelings. Using green in interior design can help promote relaxation in a space.
Green is said to symbolize regeneration, harmony, and freshness. Research studies have found that green can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and heighten focus. The color green may even help improve vision physically.
So pairing lively Kelly green with natural wood, plants, and other organic textures and materials can strike an inspiring yet tranquil balance. This makes green versatile for many types of retail, hospitality, workplace, and healthcare design.
Limits of Kelly Green
While Kelly green provides a vivid pop of color, it can be overpowering if overused. Large expanses of Kelly green may cause eyestrain or sensations of motion. It also can appear artificial or gaudy if not used tastefully.
Designers recommend using Kelly green no more than 15-20% of any design. Accent colors work best in small doses. Text should not be printed on top of strong Kelly green, as it will be difficult to read.
Lighting conditions also impact Kelly green’s appearance. Under some types of light, it can appear washed out or change hue. Consistently evaluating colors under Natural Daylight conditions is recommended.
Accessible Color Contrast
When using Kelly green in digital interfaces or printed materials, ensure it meets minimum color contrast ratios for accessibility:
- Text over Kelly green background should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
- Large text (over 18pt normal or 14pt bold) should have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1
This allows people with visual impairments to effectively read the text. Black or darker grey text provides enough contrast over Kelly green backgrounds to meet accessibility standards.
Complimentary Colors
Certain colors pair especially well with the bright shade of Kelly green:
- Black – black type over Kelly green background is classic
- Grey
- White
- Yellow
- Blue
These cooler neutral and secondary colors contrast with and accentuate the vibrant green. Warm saturated colors like red, orange, pink, or purple tend to clash with Kelly green.
Alternate Greens
Some other green shades that offer alternate looks and feels to Kelly green include:
- Forest Green – deeper and more muted green
- Sea Green – bluish-green tone
- Mint Green – lighter green with more grey
- Lime Green – more yellowish-green
- Olive Green – duller with grey and brown tones
For many applications, Kelly green pops more effectively than darker or duller greens. But other vibrant greens can also be striking depending on the exact need.
Conclusion
Kelly green is a beloved shade of green, especially in Irish culture, due to its use in Irish sports uniforms throughout the 20th century. But it also stands on its own as a lively accent color that adds energy to any design when used judiciously. Understanding its exact color code helps ensure designers and marketers are working with the true Kelly green.
The most common color code representations for Kelly green are:
- Hex #4CBB17
- RGB 76, 187, 23
- CMYK 45, 0, 100, 0
- Pantone Matching System PMS 347
Armed with the numbers behind this iconic color, anyone can incorporate the luck o’ the Irish into designs, promotions, events, products, and more.
