Color Symbolism for Shades of Red on the Web

What is the meaning of red? While red generally signifies everything from love to anger, from power to danger, there are subtle differences in some of the varying shades of red. Do these red colors say what you intend? Explore the color symbolism of various shades of red.

Red

The official CSS/SVG color keyword red refers to this pure shade of red, a warm color. As a pure red, this shade carries strong symbolism for both power and danger.

Use this shade of red to grab attention. A strong color, small doses can often be more effective than large amounts of this red.

Hex #FF0000
RGB 255,0,0
Browser safe color: Yes

Blood Red

Blood red may or may not be the actual color of blood, but it's a color we associate with blood. It's close to dark red and maroon. Depending on how it is used, blood red can carry some of the darker or more sinister symbolism of red including anger, aggression, sin, Satan, death, or a sense of the macabre. Blood red can also symbolize loyalty (a blood oath) and even life and love (blood being associated with the heart).

Hex #660000
RGB 102,0,0

Maroon

The official CSS/SVG color keyword maroon refers to this dark shade of blood red. Maroon is a warm color.

As a dark red near the purple color range, maroon carries a mix of symbolism for both red (attention/take action) and purple (riches/mystery), so you might call it a slightly mysterious shade of red.

Hex #800000
RGB 128,0,0
Browser safe color: No, closest match is #990000 / 153,0,0

Dark Red

The SVG named color dark red creates this dark, blood red color. Dark red is a warm color.

As a dark red near the purple color range, this shade carries a mix of symbolism for both red (attention/take action) and purple (riches/mystery) so, like maroon, you might call it a slightly mysterious shade of red.

Hex #8B0000
RGB 139,0,0
Browser safe color: No, closest match is #990000 / 153,0,0

Fire Brick

The SVG named color firebrick refers to this darker shade of red. As a dark red near the purple color range, this shade carries a mix of symbolism for both red (attention/take action) and purple (riches/mystery) but a little bit lighter than maroon or dark red.

Hex #B22222
RGB 178,34,34
Browser safe color: No, closest match is #cc0000 / 204,0,0

Scarlet

Scarlet is a shade of red with hints of orange. It's the color of flames. Scarlet carries the symbolism of red as a power color. It is closely associated with academics and theology and the military, especially formal occasions and tradition. The shade of scarlet shown here is:

Hex #FF2400
RGB 255,36,0

Crimson

The SVG named color crimson refers to this fairly bright pinkish shade of red. Not quite a pure red, this shade carries strong symbolism for both power and danger but also happiness and celebration. It's often considered the color of fresh blood. Crimson is also associated with the Church and the Bible and in the Elizabethan era, crimson was associated with royalty, nobility, and others of high social standing.

Hex #DC143C
RGB 220,20,60
Browser safe color: No, closest match is #ff0000 / 255,0,0 (the named color red)

Indian Red

The SVG named color Indian red refers to this medium-light red. This light shade of red carries more of the symbolism of pink although not so much sweetness or girlishness but rather an alert playfulness.

The cool blue and purple undertones in this shade of red give it a certain amount of sophisticated charm.

Hex #CD5C5C
RGB 205,92,92
Browser safe color: No, closest match is #cc6666 / 204,102,102

Tomato

The SVG named color tomato refers to this medium shade of red. Like Indian Red, this light shade of red carries some of the symbolism of pink but stronger and less delicate that brighter pinks. It also has some of the warmth and energy of orange.

Use this shade of red to gain attention and infuse a page with energy without being overly stimulating.

Hex #FF6347
RGB 255,99,71
Browser safe color: No, closest match is maybe #ff9966 / 255,153,102 (slightly pinker) or #ff6633 / 255,102,51 (slightly more orange)

Salmon

The SVG color keyword salmon produces this dark pink or light red color. It's the softer side of red without being an all-out girly pink.

Hex #FA8072
RGB 250,128,114

Blood Orange

A bit of blood red and orange, Blood orange is a dark but bright shade of red that's less aggressive than pure red. It has energy and warmth and it grabs attention like red and orange. The specs for this blood orange color are: