Purple is a color that has long captivated human imagination. It conjures feelings of luxury, creativity, and magic. Throughout history, shades of purple have been associated with royalty, spirituality, and mystery. Today, purple remains an intriguing color that continues to be explored and celebrated in art, fashion, and culture.
So what exactly is the name of the purple color that has a reddish tone? This color lives somewhere between classic purple and bold magenta. It combines the cool tranquility of blue and the fierce passion of red. There are a few different names used to refer to this rich, vibrant purple hue.
The Color Violet
One of the most common names for the reddish purple color is simply “violet.” Violet is considered one of the seven colors of the visible light spectrum. It sits at the end of the spectrum near ultraviolet radiation and has a dominant wavelength between 380-450 nm.
The first recorded use of the word “violet” as a color name in English was in the early 15th century. It comes from the Middle English and Old French word violette, a diminutive form of the Latin viola, which referred to the purplish-blue color of the violets flower.
Violet has become the standard name for shades of purple tinged with red or blue. It covers purplish colors ranging from the deep purple of blueberries to the pale lilac of lavender flowers. When a purple has more red pigment than blue, we call it violet.
Violet in Art and Fashion
Violet has been an important pigment color throughout history, symbolizing spirituality, mourning, humility, and temperance. In 14th century Spain, violet robes were worn by government officials and nobility. The Impressionist painters used violet to create shadows and depth in their work. Designers use light violet shades in fashion to evoke a sense of femininity, delicacy, and charm. Darker violets suggest luxury and decadence.
Violet also plays an important role on the color wheel. It is one of the three secondary colors, created by mixing the primary colors red and blue. Without violet, artists would miss out on a range of hues from orchid to plum.
Purple with Red Undertones
When a purple contains distinctly noticeable red undertones, there are a couple other color names that may be used.
Magenta is a vivid reddish purple that was originally formulated as a dye in the 1860s. It was named after the Italian town of Magenta and specifically described the color of their military uniforms. Today, magenta sits opposite green on the color wheel and is commonly used in printing and web design.
Purple Pizzazz is the name of a Crayola crayon first formulated in 1990. It describes a brilliant purple with a strong red undertone.
Byzantium is a more historic term dating back to the 4th century. It describes a rich, tyrian purple shade with red-violet undertones. The Byzantine Empire adopted this hue as a royal color.
So in summary, when a purple contains noticeable red undertones, some common color names are violet, magenta, purple pizzazz, and Byzantium. The dominance of the red versus blue pigment impacts the exact shade.
Scientific Explanations
From a scientific perspective, this reddish purple color can be defined based on its hex code or RGB values.
For example, RGB(150,50,150) produces a medium purple with red undertone. Adjusting the red value impacts the purple’s blueness or redness.
Likewise, the hex code #9400D3 generates a vivid purple color. This code specifies strong red and blue values balanced by lower green.
Digital artists use hex and RGB codes to precisely recreate colors. So a reddish purple may also be referred to by its unique hex or RGB values.
Purple Color Meanings and Symbolism
Why does the name matter for this captivating purple shade? Names inform the meanings and symbolism attached to colors.
The word “violet” evokes fragility and delicacy based on the flower. “Magenta” feels bold and lively. “Byzantium” conjures up images of ancient royalty and luxury.
So names carry certain connotations that influence how we respond to colors. When designing, branding, or decorating, color names can help convey certain moods and emotions.
Purple with red undertones suggests magic, passion, creativity, and imagination. It feels mystical, energetic, wealthy, and extravagant. Different purple names also carry cultural significance. Violet is associated with LGBT pride, while purple is traditionally symbolic of royalty.
In tarot, purple represents power, ambition, independence, and magic. Purple chakras relate to imagination, psychic energy, and spirituality. So this multifaceted color carries many rich meanings.
Conclusion
The reddish purple color has fascinated humans for millennia. Today, we have many diverse names for shades of purple tinged with red, spanning the spectrum from lilac to fuchsia. While “violet” is the most common term, most people visualize a slightly different shade. Precise hex codes and RGB values define an exact purple hue.
Ultimately, the name carries meaning, symbolism, and cultural associations that deepen the color’s impact. So what’s in a name for this alluring purple? A sense of history, emotion, and mystique. Reddish purple tones will continue to intrigue and inspire us with their beauty, versatility, and symbolic power.
| Purple Color Name | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Violet | #8A2BE2 |
| Magenta | #FF00FF |
| Purple Pizzazz | #FE4EDA |
| Byzantium | #702963 |
