Shades of purple: Discover the most amazing purple shades

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect shades of purple for your next project, you’re in luck. Located conveniently in the space between red and blue, purple is a rich and vibrant color with various undertones, tints, and variations.

While purple can seem complex to pair with other shades for an artistic project, it’s surprisingly versatile. Thanks to the vast range of unique purple shades, you can find something to match virtually any other hue.

Notably, the type of purple you choose can also have an impact on the vibe created by your project.

Dark and deep shades of purple are commonly associated with luxury, indulgence, and mystery, while brighter shades are seen as fun and energetic. Pastel and light shades of purple can appear romantic and compassionate, while warm shades are engaging.

Here’s your guide to some of the most popular shades of purple.

Different shades of purple: An introduction

We should first note that there are countless shades of purple to choose from. Simply mixing a tiny amount of white, blue, red, or black into any purple color will create an entirely new hue. Purple is also one of the most diverse options on the spectrum, as it’s a “complex” color. 

Rather than producing a single wavelength like violet, purple combines the light of blue and red to create something new. This means it’s neither inherently a cool color nor warm color. You can adjust your shade to suit the specific temperature you’re looking for. 

In the world of color psychology, purple can also take on a host of different meanings. 

Purple can be a way to showcase indulgence and royalty, as it was commonly associated with the aristocracy in the early years. It’s also considered unique and mysterious due to the lack of purple things which occur organically in nature. 

Companies use purple to showcase their compassion, creativity, and sophistication in equal measure. Designers and artists experiment with purple to create an accent in their projects and draw attention to certain parts of an image.

Other words for purple: The types of purple

In our list of purple shades, we will look at a wide range of other names for purple. Some of which are commonly known among the artistic community. For instance, Plum, Lavender, Lilac, and Amethyst are all common names for purple.

Alternatively, other titles, such as Heliotrope, Magenta, or Amaranthine, might be lesser known. Each purple name has its own unique way of describing the kind of atmosphere you can create with your color swatch.

For instance, Amethyst is often considered a more luxurious purple, while Periwinkle is more natural and floral.

Notably, while many people use the name “violet” for purple, it’s worth mentioning this color is actually a different shade on the color spectrum. Violet is a spectral color, which means it only requires a single wave of light.

This sets it apart from purple in terms of physical structure, but the two colors have much in common.

Light purple shades

Let’s start by looking at some of the most popular light purple shades available today. A light purple color palette can be a fantastic way to convey elegance and compassion. Many artists use pale purple and shades of light purple to contrast other, darker colors.

Lavender

Lavender is one of the better-known names for purple, referring to a soft pastel shade similar to the color of the Lavender plant. This hue often has a slightly pinkish aura to it. However, there are different temperatures of Lavender to play with, including Lavender gray and Lavender pink.

Hex: #E6E6FA
RGB: 86.3, 81.6, 100
CMYK: 14, 18, 0, 0

Lilac

Lilac is a popular soft purple color, composed of more red than blue. The shade is soft and subdued, making it an excellent color for brands that want to show concepts of compassion and community. This color works well with green shades.

Hex: #C8A2C8
RGB: 78.4, 63.5, 78.4
CMYK: 0, 19, 0, 22

Lavender Blush

Combining a light purple color like Lavender with an extra element of pink or red creates a soft “blush” color. This shade is commonly defined as a pale pink. However, if we look at the RGB values, this hue has almost equal parts of blue and red.

Hex #FFF0F5
RGB: 255, 240, 245
CMYK: 0, 6, 4, 0

Pale Purple

This might be the shade for you if you’re looking for a pale purple color. The hue has a significant amount of white, which reduces the saturation of the blue and red tones. This shade is also quite pink in nature.

Hex #FAE6FA
RGB 250, 230, 250
CMYK 0, 8, 0, 2

Mauve

Depending on the circumstances, Mauve is sometimes described as both a bright purple and a light purple. It’s quite a muted color, thanks to a large amount of added white. However, there’s still quite a lot of depth to the shade.

Hex: #E0B0FF
RGB: 224, 176, 255
CMYK: 12, 31, 0, 0

Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale is a light purple shade emphasizing the red hues. The pinkish color is often considered feminine and compassionate, making it great for decorating a young girl’s room. It’s also a perfect color for female-focused brands.

Hex: #F2C1D1
RGB: 242, 193, 209
CMYK: 0, 20, 14, 5

African Violet

Though a little darker than some of the shades in this list, African Violet still stands as a light purple in the eyes of most artists. The name is chosen for the color of wild African violets. It’s a natural-looking tone with fantastic depth.

Hex: #B284BE
RGB: 178, 132, 190
CMYK: 6, 31, 0, 25

Amethyst

One of the most well-known shades of purple in the world today, Amethyst is a light color with significant vibrance and richness. It’s named for the color of Amethyst crystals when held to the light. There are also various shades of Amethyst for creatives to explore.

Hex: #9966CC
RGB: 153, 102, 204
CMYK: 25, 50, 0, 20

Strong Purple

Despite its name, Strong Purple isn’t quite what most people would imagine. It’s not dark enough to be considered a “deep purple,” and it doesn’t have the brightness associated with other hues. The color stands somewhere in the middle of the purple spectrum.

Hex: #875692
RGB: 135, 86, 146
CMYK: 8, 41, 0, 43

Brilliant Purple

Once again, Brilliant Purple has a somewhat deceptive name, as we would be more likely to associate the term “brilliant” with brightness or deeper shades. However, this light color is closer in style to Amethyst, with an excellent pink tone.

Hex #D399E6
RGB 211, 153, 230
CMYK 8, 33, 0, 10

Early Bird

Early Bird is a soothing shade of pale purple with a slightly brighter element than some of the other options on this list. There’s somewhat more blue to this hue than other colors, and it’s often associated with floral concepts, like Periwinkle flowers.

Hex #CEA2FD
RGB 206, 162, 253
CMYK 19, 36, 0, 1

Good Tax

This purple shade has quite an unusual name, as it doesn’t provide much insight into the hue itself. However, the pale, pastel-like purple is fantastic for various artistic projects. There’s a significant amount of Cyan in this shade.

Hex #C9A0FF
RGB 201, 160, 255
CMYK 21, 37, 0, 0

Periwinkle Purple

Periwinkle is a color commonly associated with blue. However, in this case, the name comes from one of the many colors of the Periwinkle flower. Periwinkle Purple is a pale shade with a pinkish hue. It’s dreamy and romantic, making it an excellent color for various interior design projects.

Hex #BE93E4
RGB 190, 147, 228
CMYK 17, 36, 0, 11

Plum

Most people associate the “Plum” color with the darker shades they’d typically see on the Plum fruit. However, there’s also quite a light version of purple with the same name. This pale color is quite vivid and eye-catching, with plenty of red and blue mix.

Hex #DDA0DD
RGB 221, 160, 221
CMYK 0, 28, 0, 13

Deep Lilac

Although Lilac isn’t the palest shade of purple around, it still falls into the light purple category. The relatively high level of white means it’s excellent for mixing with a range of different colors. This shade also has a good level of brightness and vibrancy.

Hex #B65FCF
RGB 182, 95, 207
CMYK 12, 54, 0, 19

Sunset Purple

Though a little bolder than some of the other light purple colors we’ve covered so far, Sunset Purple is still soft enough to work well in various environments. The color is an excellent alternative to most pale purples like Lavender or Lilac.

Hex #A865B5
RGB 168, 101, 181
CMYK 7, 44, 0, 29

Bright purple shades

Bright purple shades often have much more depth than their light purple alternatives. However, they shouldn’t be drowned out by the addition of too much black. A vibrant purple needs a high saturation level and often works well when paired with more subdued colors.

Magenta Purple

Magenta is a bright shade of pink often associated with femininity and passion. The shade Magenta Purple adds a touch more purple hue to the mix to give it a deeper, richer finish. The high-energy color is often best used as an accent to other shades.

Hex #A32CC4
RGB 163, 44, 196
CMYK 17, 78, 0, 23

Purple Heart

Named by the Crayola company, Purple Heart is a little paler than the color you’d typically see on the traditional Purple Heart medals. The highly saturated shade is brimming with depth and beauty, and it’s neither too warm nor too cold.

Hex #7442C8
RGB 116, 66, 200
CMYK 42, 67, 0, 22

Lovely Purple

This color matches its name quite well. Lovely purple is a bright and vibrant shade with a lot of added blue, giving it a slightly cooler finish. This color is dark enough to work well in backdrops for rooms, artistic creations, and branding elements.

Hex #7F38EC
RGB 127, 56, 236
CMYK 46, 76, 0, 7

True Purple

Since bright and vibrant purple colors need a lot of saturation, it makes sense something called “True Purple” would also be wonderfully bright. This hue aims to create the perfect mixture of blue and red to give an intense purple shade.

Hex #6A0DAD
RGB 106, 13, 173
CMYK 39, 92, 0, 32

Violet

As mentioned above, Violet is actually a unique color on its own, but it can also be mixed using a high number of blue colors, like Cyan, with rich shades of Magenta. The color looks like a more saturated version of Amethyst.

Hex #8F00FF
RGB 143, 0, 255
CMYK 44, 100, 0, 0

Orchid

The Orchid is one of the more vibrant flowers in nature and often comes in a stunning shade of purple. This color has a significant amount of red, making it a pretty warm hue, ideal for making a space seem more romantic or welcoming.

Hex #DA70D6
RGB 218, 112, 214
CMYK 0, 49, 2, 15

Fuchsia

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking Fuchsia was actually just pink. This is because the shade incorporates a significant amount of red compared to other purples. However, there’s still a decent level of blue included in this color.

Hex #FF00FF
RGB 255, 0, 255
CMYK 0, 100, 0, 0

Veronica

Despite common belief, Veronica isn’t named after a person but a flower known as the Veronica Prostrata. This is quite a deep shade of purple with a lot of blue added to the mix. However, it’s still quite vibrant for those searching for a brighter shade.

Hex #A020F0
RGB 160, 32, 240
CMYK 33, 87, 0, 6

Heliotrope

Heliotrope is a well-known shade of purple among artists and creatives. The color is named after a pink-purple tone found in the Heliotrope flower. Artists describe it as being a light and flirtatious shade with a more feminine edge.

Hex #DF73FF
RGB 223, 115, 255
CMYK 13, 55, 0, 0

Phlox

Similar to Magenta, Phlox looks just like pink at a glance. However, it’s actually a deep purple color with a small amount of Cyan and a large degree of Magenta. This is a color taken straight from the 60s and 70s, with an almost neon tone.

Hex #DF00FF
RGB 223, 0, 255
CMYK 13, 100, 0, 0

Artist’s Purple

Both warm and bright simultaneously, Artist’s Purple is a bolder version of Magenta with a higher weight than the standard pink color. This could be the perfect choice if you’re looking for a loud and confident shade.

Hex #C71585
RGB 199, 21, 133
CMYK 0, 89, 33, 22

FedEx Purple

Bright purples can be quite dark and deep too. This is definitely the case with the FedEx Purple, commonly associated with the well-known postal company. The shade is much deeper than some of the vibrant purples we’ve mentioned here, but it’s still bright enough to stand out.

Hex #660099 
RGB 102, 0, 153
CMYK 33, 100, 0, 40

Rebecca Purple

Rebecca Purple is a unique shade with a tragic backstory. It was named after the daughter of CSS leader Eric Meyer, who sadly passed away on her sixth birthday. According to the story, purple was the favorite color of Rebecca, hence the homage.

Hex #663399
RGB 102, 51, 153
CMYK 33, 67, 0, 40

Mauveine

Rich and vibrant, Mauveine was one of the first colors to be developed as a synthetic dye for the clothing industry. It was created by a scientist who accidentally stumbled across the hue while looking for a malaria cure.

Hex #8D029B
RGB 141, 2, 155
CMYK 9, 99, 0, 39

Aztec Purple

This is a cool shade of vibrant purple, thanks to deep blue undertones. However, the hue is still bright and vivid enough to capture attention in virtually any environment. Aztec Purple has an almost neon quality, which is excellent for people who want to stand out.

Hex #893BFF
RGB 137, 59, 255
CMYK 46, 77, 0, 0

Dark purple shades

Dark purple is often a color associated with luxury and mystery. A deep purple color can grab attention and engage your audience in branding assets in the proper temperatures and hues. It’s also fantastic for adding compelling accents to rooms, outfits, and art pieces.

Here are some of the most popular shades of dark purple you may be familiar with…

Grape

The color grape is less a direct representation of the fruit you might know and more the kind of color artists choose when creating drawings and paintings. This shade is a deep and rich option, ideal for various decorative schemes and artistic projects.

It has a strong balance of both blue and red elements.

Hex #6F2DA8
RGB 111, 45, 168
CMYK 34, 73, 0, 34

Wine

A phenomenal deep purple color with warm undertones, the “Wine Shade” is closer to red than blue, which makes sense when you compare it to the popular alcoholic beverage. Though this shade might be too dark for the walls of a bedroom, it’s great for clothes, branding, and dramatic accents.

Hex #2C041C
RGB 44, 4, 28
CMYK 0, 91, 36, 83

Sangria

Another dark purple color with warm undertones, Sangria falls heavily towards the red side of the purple spectrum. It looks similar in color to wine in some areas but has a brighter, more vibrant edge thanks to a high portion of Magenta.

Hex #4D0F28
RGB 77, 15, 40
CMYK 0, 81, 48, 70

Séance

The ominous name of this deep purple shade matches the color perfectly. Large portions of black and blue mixed into the color prevent it from being too warm, but there are some excellent reddish undertones. This is a bold and confident color with a mysterious edge.

Hex #61346B
RGB 97, 52, 107
CMYK 9, 51, 0, 58

Embassy Purple

At a distance, you’d be forgiven for confusing this purple shade with a color of grey or black. However, we can see a slight amount of purple hidden beneath the tones. This could be an excellent option for someone seeking an alternative to black with greater depth.

Hex #3B343C
RGB 59, 52, 60
CMYK 2, 13, 0, 76

Lakers Purple

You might already know this color relatively well if you’re familiar with sports. Lakers Purple is a specific shade of grape-style purple used for the Lakers team. The color looks fantastic when paired with complementary shades like yellow and orange.

Hex #552582
RGB 85, 37, 130
CMYK 35, 72, 0, 49

Eggplant

One of the most popular colors in fashion and interior décor, Eggplant is a versatile color that works well with brighter shades of yellow and gold. This is a confident and sophisticated choice for many brands, with a high portion of black.

Hex #311432
RGB 49, 20, 50
CMYK 2, 60, 0, 80

Rustic Purple

Slightly murkier than some of the more common deep purples, Rustic Purple has a darker, earthier appearance than most purple hues. This color looks particularly attractive when paired with greys, whites, and contrasting cool blues.

Hex #593163
RGB 89, 49, 99
CMYK 10, 51, 0, 61

Aesthetic Purple

Intended to be pleasing to the eye, with a fantastic blend of blue and purple shades, aesthetic purple is likely to be one of the colors most people visualize when they hear “purple.” As you might expect, this deep purple color matches well with metallics and bright yellow hues.

Hex #502380
RGB 80, 35, 128
CMYK 38, 73, 0, 50

Blackish Purple

Similar to Embassy Purple, Blackish Purple looks almost grey or black from a distance. This color has a good blend of red and blue, but high portions of black make it challenging to pick out the undertones. This could be a good option if you’re looking for a neutral backdrop shade.

Hex #291E29
RGB 41, 30, 41
CMYK 0, 27, 0, 84

Imperial Purple

If you’re looking for a warm shade of deep purple, Imperial purple might be the ideal option. This phenomenal shade is rich in blue, and has a fantastic ability to blend well with deep blue-green colors like teal and turquoise.

Hex #602F6B
RGB 96, 47, 107
CMYK 10, 56, 0, 58

Black Currant

A popular deep purple color among fashion lovers and interior designers, Black Currant is a warm and appealing shade with a decent balance of reds and blacks. This color looks fantastic in cosmetics and when used as an accent in rooms.

Hex #540E32
RGB 84, 14, 50
CMYK 0, 83, 40, 67

Regalia Purple

This deep purple shade is almost regal in nature, great for grabbing attention and conveying a sense of luxury. This shade would work well with contrasting, pale colors like light blue or grey. It could also make a significant impact when paired with metallics like gold and silver.

Hex #522D80
RGB 82, 45, 128
CMYK 36, 65, 0, 50

Warm purple shades

As mentioned previously, shades of purple are often quite diverse because they can have a range of temperatures. Adding more red into a purple shade will naturally make it warmer. These hues are often common among artists and creatives who want to create a warm atmosphere, without red.

Lipstick Stain

Intended to refer to the reddish-purple colors that often appear in the cosmetics industry, Lipstick Stain contains a decent blend of Magenta and black. The shade sits in the middle of the red to blue equation, but it generally feels like warm purple.

Hex #8E4785
RGB 142, 71, 133
CMYK 0, 50, 6, 44

Pompadour

Pompadour purple is a deep color of reddish purple with a blue tint. The color is named after a popular hairstyle where the hair is swept upwards, away from the scalp. It’s a confident and bold color, similar to the hairdo.

Hex: #720058
RGB: 114, 0, 88
CMYK: 0, 100, 23, 55

Tyrian Purple

Rich and sensuous, Tyrian Purple is named after a particular species of sea snail. This color is excellent on warmer color palettes when you’re looking for shades to mix with reds and oranges. The deep hue has a superior level of vibrancy to it as well.

Hex #66023C
RGB 102, 2, 60
CMYK 0, 98, 41, 60

Twilight Lavender Purple

Quite a deep and dusky color overall, Twilight Lavender Purple is intended to represent the color of Lavender plants resting in the field when night begins to fall. The hue fits neutral colors like greys and can work with shades of blue.

Hex #8A496B
RGB 138, 73, 107
CMYK 0, 47, 22, 46

Traditional Purple

Traditional purple is a good representation of what many people think of when they imagine the color purple. In many respects, this hue has an exceptional level of balance, with almost equal levels of red and blue. However, it does edge towards the warmer side of the color palette.

Hex #8E4585
RGB 142, 69, 133
CMYK 0, 51, 6, 44

Deep Ruby Purple

This is one of the many popular purple shades almost on the red spectrum. There’s a lot more red in the mixture than blue. The deep and slightly earthy color makes it a good choice for pairing with brighter, more vibrant shades.

Hex #843F5B
RGB 132, 63, 91
CMYK 0, 52, 31, 48

Jam

Named after the color of freshly-made jam (or jelly, depending on where you are in the world), this deep and warm shade of purple is decadent and rich. The bold and confident color makes it a good pick for apparel and clothing design.

Hex #67032F
RGB 103, 3, 47
CMYK 0, 97, 54, 60

Dark Magenta

Just dark enough that we wouldn’t feel right including it in a list of bright purple colors, Dark Magenta deepens the shade of Magenta most people are familiar with. This hue has a red edge, though the blue and red elements are well mixed.

Hex #8B008B
RGB 139, 0, 139
CMYK 0, 100, 0, 45

Vivid Reddish Purple

Vivid Reddish Purple is exactly what you would expect from a color with such a name. The hue is bright and warm simultaneously, with a lot of extra red, designed to make the shade appear more confident and bolder. This color works best alongside a neutral palette.

Hex #870074
RGB 135, 0, 116
CMYK 0, 100, 14, 47

Liseran Purple

This bright pink shade almost looks pink at first glance. According to experts, the color was named in the early 1900s, although it’s uncertain what the title’s meaning might be. This color features a significant amount of white and red.

Hex #DE6FA1
RGB 222, 111, 161
CMYK 0, 50, 27, 13

Autumn Purple

Autumn Purple is a unique purple shade with pink and red undertones. Ideal for autumnal color palettes, this shade works well with brighter colors of yellow and orange. It can even be paired alongside bright reds in some cases.

Hex #834468
RGB 131, 68, 104
CMYK 0, 48, 21, 49

Traffic Purple

Warmer than most purple shades, traffic purple is a reddish-pink color of purple with a fantastic Magenta undertone. This shade appears in the European RAL color matching system, making it popular with European artists and designers.

Hex #913073
RGB 145, 48, 115
CMYK 0, 67, 21, 43

Smyrna Purple

This color could easily fit into our list of light purples or warm purple shades. The color contains a decent amount of black, which helps to contribute to its deep and dusky tone. This is a great color to match pinks and soft, neutral colors.

Hex #A2627A 
RGB 162, 98, 122
CMYK 0, 40, 25, 36

Insolent Purple

Insolent Purple has an unusual name and a deep red undertone, making it great for fashion designers and cosmetic companies. In fact, Estee Lauder has a shade of lipstick named explicitly for this hue. It’s great for those searching for a deep shade that isn’t too dark.

Hex #682E3C
RGB 104, 46, 60
CMYK 0, 56, 42, 59

Cool purple shades

Cool purple shades often fall closer to the blue side of the spectrum, with limited portions of red. Depending on the added tones to the purple color, such as white or black, these colors can be deep and mysterious or light and reassuring.

Ultra Violet

Though the name Ultra Violet might make you think of bright or neon colors, the shade isn’t particularly loud. It’s actually relatively subdued, with a solid blue tone and limited amounts of red. This attractive color looks great when paired with silvers, greys, and soft greens.

Hex #645394
RGB 100, 83, 148
CMYK 32, 44, 0, 42

Studio

This purple color is a little brighter than some of the options on this list, but it’s still relatively cool and casual. It’s a deep version of Lilac with some extra blue tones. This could be a great shade to choose if you’re looking for an inspiring, confident tone.

Hex #7851A9
RGB 120, 81, 169
CMYK 29, 52, 0, 34

Vulgar Purple

Don’t be put off by the name of this purple color. The shade is simple and attractive, with a fantastic blue undertone. In some cases, the exact shade is also referred to as “Grape Jelly,” which most people find suits the hue much better.

Hex #3E2F84
RGB 62, 47, 132
CMYK 53, 64, 0, 48

Purple Navy

Many of the cooler shades of purple could look almost blue from a distance. This is the case with Purple Navy, which perfectly blurs the lines between blue and purple. The deep color is excellent for backgrounds and statement walls.

Hex #4E5180
RGB 78, 81, 128
CMYK 39, 37, 0, 50

Mythical Purple

The color purple has a relatively strong connection with concepts like mystery and magic. Mythical Purple demonstrates just how effective the shade can be in this environment. The cool and engaging color looks fantastic when paired with greens and yellows.

Hex #53277E
RGB 83, 39, 126
CMYK 34, 69, 0, 51

Mountain’s Majesty

Mountain’s Majesty is an interesting hex color that falls into the category of more “blueish” purples. The hue is darker than others on this list, but it’s not quite dark enough to be considered a deep purple. This hue would work well in a range of rooms and designs.

Hex #9078C0
RGB 144, 120, 192
CMYK 25, 38, 0, 25

Kingfisher Daisy

One of the many shades of purple with a name based on an actual plant, the Kingfisher Daisy shade is deep and vibrant. The color looks fantastic when paired with cooler shades of blue and even white.

Hex #653780
RGB 101, 55, 128
CMYK 21, 57, 0, 50

Northwestern Purple

Much cooler than some of the other purple shades we’ve looked at in this list, the Northwestern Purple color is the official shade of Northwestern University. The color is both regal and sophisticated at the same time, excellent for an institute of learning.

Hex #4E2A84
RGB 78, 42, 132
CMYK 41, 68, 0, 48

Spanish Violet Purple

Various versions of the color “violet” have been introduced into the art world throughout the years. Spanish violet is named after a particular variety of the violet flower, and it’s a fantastic, deep color with many vibrant elements.

Hex #4C2882
RGB 76, 40, 130
CMYK 42, 69, 0, 49

Deep Purple

Sometimes referred to as Pageant Purple, this deep blueish purple color is an engaging and neutral shade, great for pairing with a range of brighter colors like red. The shade is simple enough to work well on the walls of various rooms like bathrooms and kitchens.

Hex #524F81
RGB 82, 79, 129
CMYK 36, 39, 0, 49

Baltimore Ravens Purple

Baltimore Ravens Purple is the exact shade used by the famous football team, the Baltimore Ravens. Aside from a high portion of blue, this color also features a lot of black, which helps to create a deeper, more mysterious hue.

Hex #280353
RGB 40, 3, 83
CMYK 52, 96, 0, 67

Blue Lilac

Blue Lilac is a soft and attractive shade of purple, which mixes well with other blue colors. This color has significantly more blue than red, but it still maintains its slightly warmer elements. This could be a good choice for painting a small room or office.

Hex #7B679A
RGB 123, 103, 154
CMYK 20, 33, 0, 40

Prince Charming

Prince Charming is a deep and somewhat darker shade of purple than the other colors we’ve covered so far. The blueish tones give the shade a more regal finish and ensure it pairs well with colors that look good next to grey.

Hex #493F5E
RGB 73, 63, 94
CMYK 22, 33, 0, 63

Russian Violet

Russian Violet is a shade of violet usually used to make a confident impact in clothing, interior design, and branding initiatives. There are large amounts of black in this shade, which helps to deepen the hue and make it appear more mysterious.

Hex #32174D
RGB 50, 23, 77
CMYK 35, 70, 0, 70

Heather

Another purple shade with a name taken from nature, this soft purple matches the color of the heather blossom. The heather plant is well-known throughout Scotland, and its hue is often considered calming and serene. It looks great in a color palette with deeper shades of purple.

Hex #9E7BB5
RGB 158, 123, 181
CMYK 13, 32, 0, 29

Earthy and neutral shades of purple

Various shades of purple use desaturation via tones of black, white, and grey to minimize the impact of the red and blue hues. These colors can be both warm and cool, depending on the mixture of colors.

Pale Purple

Somewhat subdued and muted compared to other shades of purple, Pale Purple is a versatile choice when looking for a shade that works well with anything. This shade has an almost grey hue, making it ideal for simple designs.

Hex #AA98A9
RGB 170, 152, 169
CMYK 0, 11, 1, 33

Thistle

Named after the national plant of Scotland, Thistle is a light purple color with an earthy tone. It’s equal parts blue and red, so it has an extraordinary balance for various color schemes. It also has quite a neutral tone, making it match well with different hues.

Hex #D8BFD8
RGB 216, 191, 216
CMYK 0, 12, 0, 15

Raisin

Raisin is an extremely dark purple shade with an almost brownish tinge. The solution is fantastic for backgrounds and backdrops because it contrasts nicely with a wide range of brighter colors. The earthy tones of this color also allow it to pair well with greens.

Hex #290916
RGB 41, 9, 22
CMYK 0, 78, 46, 84

Purple Taupe

An earthy tone with a significant amount of black and grey, purple taupe is a relatively dull color due to a lack of saturation. However, this shade is fantastic for those searching for a more neutral color scheme to work alongside brighter hues.

Hex #50404D
RGB 80, 64, 77
CMYK 0, 20, 4, 69

Carolina Plum

A more subdued version of the Plum color compared to other alternatives, Carolina Plum is a pale and dusty-looking shade with many grey elements. This could be a good choice for a room with a more simplistic and minimalist color palette.

Hex #9B84A1
RGB 155, 132, 161
CMYK 4, 18, 0, 37

Old Lavender

This color is intended to look similar to old, dried-out Lavender plants. It looks fantastic when matched with earthy shades of green and contrasting yellow or golden colors. The shade is particularly well-suited to accent pieces for interior décor.

Hex #796878
RGB 121, 104, 120
CMYK 0, 14, 1, 53

Faded Purple

This desaturated purple shade is great if you’re looking for something more simplistic than the typical shade of purple. The color comes quite close to a neutral tone, making it ideal for clothing, interior décor, and various branding assets.

Hex #795F80
RGB 121, 95, 128
CMYK 5, 26, 0, 50

Murasaki Purple

The word “Murasaki” actually means “purple” in Japanese and is commonly used when describing various vegetables. Japan has a special kind of pepper that shares the same color as this hue. The deep, rich, and warm purple is great for dramatic accents.

Hex #4F284B
RGB 79, 40, 75
CMYK 0, 49, 5, 69

Japanese Violet Purple

Like Spanish Violet, Japanese Spanish purple is a color specific to a select group of people. Japan officially names this color “violet,” which could lead to confusion among artists learning how to paint in different parts of the world.

Hex #5B3256
RGB 91, 50, 86
CMYK 0, 45, 5, 64

Dark Byzantium

Another dark purple with an earthy element to it, Dark Byzantium was named after the Greek city, which eventually became Constantinople. Lighter versions of this shade are available, but this is a good pick if you’re looking for something subtle and sophisticated.

Hex #5D3954
RGB 93, 57, 84
CMYK 0, 39, 10, 64

How many shades of purple are there?

Hopefully, this list covering some of the various shades of purple has given you an insight into just how diverse the color can really be. However, it’s worth noting we’ve only covered a handful of unique options here.

There are countless purple shades to choose from, all with their own unique appeal and pairing options to consider.

The exact number of purple shades available today is still being determined, as new colors are discovered all the time, and displayed in different environments.

The good news is the versatile nature of the color purple means you’ll always be able to find something that matches your design.

Fabrik: A branding agency for our times.

Now read these:
—What does purple mean in marketing? 
—Should you use purple in packaging design? 
—Is purple a good color for logo design? 
—Understanding the psychology of purple 
—What does purple signify in branding? 
—Why is purple associated with royalty? 
—A guide to colors that complement purple 
—Popular companies with purple logos
—Your guide to which colors make purple
—Exploring the colors of the rainbow