To name a color after someone, pick an exact shade, give it a name that means something to them, add an optional dedication, and register it. With the Official Color Registry that costs $9.99: the shade's HEX code is recorded once under the name you chose, and you get a certificate you can view, print or download straight after checkout. It is a symbolic, novelty gift. Nobody gains legal ownership of a color, and we are not Pantone or any official standards body.
What you are actually giving
A named color is a record plus a keepsake. The record is an entry in our registry: one exact HEX code, the name you chose, the recipient's name, an optional dedication, a registration date and a Registry ID in the format OCR-YEAR-NUMBER. The keepsake is the Certificate of Registration built from that record, with a swatch of the color on it.
That is the whole product, and it is worth being plain about it. You are not buying a paint, a trademark, or the right to stop anyone else using the color. Colors cannot be owned that way by a gift buyer (our guide on whether you can legally own a color explains why). What you are buying is a small, permanent gesture: this exact shade, in this registry, carries their name.
How to do it, step by step
- Choose the shade. Think of something specific: the color of their front door, their old car, a jersey, the sea at a place you went together. Use the picker in the claim flow to get it close, then fine-tune the HEX code.
- Check it is free. Each exact HEX code can be registered only once in this registry. If the one you want is taken, a neighboring code one step away will look identical to the eye.
- Name it. Up to 75 characters. Names do not have to be unique, so you can call it anything, including something only the two of you will understand.
- Add a dedication. Optional, and it appears on the certificate. One or two sentences usually reads better than a paragraph.
- Pay and open the certificate. After checkout you land on a confirmation with a link to the certificate page, where you can print it, save it as a PDF from your browser, or download it as an image.
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
It suits people who like meaning over stuff, anyone who is hard to buy for, long-distance gifts (there is nothing to ship), and moments where you want something small but personal on top of a bigger present. It suits less well someone who would read it as a gimmick, or who wants something they can use. Be honest with yourself about which one you are buying for.
One thing to know before you register
Registrations are listed publicly. The registry browser shows the color, its name, the recipient's name and the dedication. If the gift is a surprise, or the dedication is very private, word it with that in mind. We would rather you know now than find out later.
Gift ideas by occasion
The same registration reads very differently depending on the moment. We wrote separate pages for birthdays, anniversaries, a new baby, remembering someone, Christmas and the holidays and Valentine's Day, each with naming ideas that fit.
Color name ideas to get you started
Examples only. Check availability in the claim flow: each exact HEX code can be registered once.
Grandpa's Workshop Green
#4A6B3A
Named after a place, not just a person. Often lands harder.
Maya Blue Hour
#3B4F8C
Their first name plus a time of day they love.
Saturday Pancake Gold
#E3A63B
A family ritual turned into a shade.
Coach Rivera Red
#B3262E
Team colors work well for mentors and coaches.
Their name, your exact shade, a registry ID and a gold-seal certificate (PDF, image and a page you can share) right after checkout.
Name a color after someone
Name their color, $9.99Frequently asked questions
Can you really name a color after someone?
You can register a named color in a novelty registry like ours, which records the name against one exact HEX code and issues a certificate. It is symbolic. It does not change what the color is called anywhere else, and it gives no legal ownership.
How much does it cost to name a color?
A registration with the digital certificate is $9.99. Optional add-ons are a print-ready 300 DPI file sized for an 8x10 frame and a Gold Edition certificate design, priced on the claim page.
Is this affiliated with Pantone?
No. The Official Color Registry is an independent novelty registry. It is not affiliated with Pantone or any color standard, and it is not a standards body.
Can two people name the same color?
Not the same exact HEX code in this registry. Each code is registered once. Names, however, can repeat, and visually similar codes one step apart are separate registrations.
How quickly do I get the certificate?
The certificate page is available as soon as the payment is confirmed, usually within seconds of checkout. You can also find it later on the Lookup page with the Registry ID.
Will the recipient's name be public?
Yes. Registrations, including the recipient's name and dedication, are listed in the public registry. Keep that in mind when wording a dedication.
The Official Color Registry is an independent novelty registry. It is not a standards body and is not affiliated with Pantone or any color system. A registration is symbolic and grants no legal ownership, trademark or exclusive rights to a color. Registrations, including the recipient name and dedication, appear in the public registry. How the registry works.