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Originally published: 2005 | Last updated: June 2025 - This was one of the first articles I wrote when I started blogging. I first updated it in 2013. Now, I have made additional updates to the Crayola crayon history, including several significant developments that have occurred since then
The second half of the twentieth century ignited an explosive revolution in color that transformed every corner of our visual world. Post-World War II optimism burst forth in full-color printing, revolutionary synthetic dyes painting our fabrics in vibrant new hues, and the mesmerizing magic of color photography and motion pictures that awakened an insatiable hunger for chromatic expression.
This increased exposure to color began reshaping how we perceive and respond to our world, with fashion, sports, economic trends, and cultural movements all weaving together to influence the colors that define our times. Crayola Crayons stand as the perfect microcosm of this colorful evolution—universally cherished by children and adults alike. These iconic waxy sticks tell the captivating story of how color consciousness blossomed throughout the modern era.
Graphic credit: Crayola
The Foundation Years: Simplicity in Eight
Binney & Smith launched Crayola Crayons in 1903 with refreshing simplicity: eight essential colors housed in a modest box—Black, Brown, Orange, Violet, Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow. For the next 45 years, this palette remained beautifully unchanged, a testament to the timeless appeal of these fundamental hues.
The Creative Explosion: 1949 Forward
In 1949, imagination exploded as choices increased sixfold to 48 colors, introducing names that sang with poetic flair: thistle, periwinkle, carnation pink, bittersweet, cornflower, melon, salmon, and spring green. These weren't just colors—they were invitations to dream.
Social Consciousness Takes Color
The first color name change occurred in 1958 when Crayola changed the name "Prussian Blue" to "Midnight Blue" in response to requests from teachers. That same year brought expansion to 64 colors, adding copper, plum, lavender, mulberry, burnt orange, and aquamarine—each designed to spark young creativity.
Color names began reflecting social awareness. In 1962, partially in response to the U.S. Civil Rights movement, Binney & Smith changed the name of Flesh to Peach. Later, in 1999, the name Indian Red, inspired by a name commonly used in fine-artist oil paint, was changed to Chestnut because educators believed that children would think the name represented the skin color of American Indians rather than the reddish-brown pigment found near India.
The Psychedelic Seventies: Fluorescence Arrives
The groovy fluorescent revolution of the 1970s found its way into Crayola boxes in 1972 with eight electrifying neon-bright additions: Chartreuse, Ultra Blue, Ultra Orange, Ultra Red, Hot Magenta, Ultra Green, Ultra Pink, and Ultra Yellow.
By 1990, only Hot Magenta kept its original name while seven others transformed into color descriptors that practically screamed their vibrancy: Atomic Tangerine, Outrageous Orange, Shocking Pink, Blizzard Blue, Laser Lemon, Screamin' Green, and Wild Watermelon. Eight additional fluorescents joined the party: Electric Lime, Purple Pizzazz, Razzle Dazzle Rose, Unmellow Yellow, Magic Mint, Radical Red, Sunglow, and Neon Carrot.
The Great Color Retirement of 1990
For the first time, Crayola made the bold decision to retire colors. Eight beloved shades entered the Hall of Fame: Green Blue, Orange Red, Orange Yellow, Violet Blue, Maize, Lemon Yellow, Blue Gray, and Raw Umber. In their place stepped Cerulean, Vivid Tangerine, Jungle Green, Fuchsia, Dandelion, Teal Blue, Royal Purple, and Wild Strawberry.
Consumer Power: The 1990s and Beyond
In 1993, consumer voices shaped history as fans named 16 new colors, expanding the palette to 96 imagination-inspiring hues. The public demanded—and received—wonderfully whimsical names like Asparagus, Macaroni and Cheese, Razzmatazz, Timber Wolf, Granny Smith Apple, Purple Mountain's Majesty, and Tickle Me Pink.
The millennium approach introduced 24 additional colors in 1998, bringing the total to 120, with delightfully quirky additions like Pink Flamingo, Fuzzy Wuzzy Brown, Banana Mania, Cotton Candy, Manatee, and Outer Space.
Ed Welter [CC BY-SA 3.0]
The 21st Century: Controversy and Innovation
The Dandelion Drama of 2017
On March 31 — National Crayon Day — Crayola announced the retirement of one of its 24 basic crayon colors, "dandelion," to make room for a new shade of blue. This decision sparked unprecedented emotional reactions from fans who had grown attached to the cheerful yellow hue introduced in 1990.
Bluetiful emerged as the winner after an online vote. It is a hue of blue inspired by a new pigment, YinMn, that scientists at Oregon State University discovered. However, critics say the name will teach children a nonword, sparking debates about linguistic responsibility in color naming.
Colors of the World: A Revolutionary Step Forward
In 2020, on UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, Crayola launched Colors of the World crayons – 24 new, specially formulated crayons – designed to mirror and represent over 40 global skin tones across the world.
Crayola partnered with Victor Casale, CEO and co-founder of cosmetics maker MOB Beauty and former Chief Chemist and Managing Director of R&D of MAC cosmetics, who possesses over 30 years of experience in creating foundation colors for global skin tones. Each crayon has a gradient skin tone with the color name displayed in English, Spanish, and French. The color names include "Light Golden," "Deep Almond," and "Medium-Deep Rose," which help kids identify which feels closest to their skin tone.
Historic Return: 2025's Unprecedented Revival
In 2025, Crayola made history by bringing back a collection of eight nostalgic fan-favorite retired crayon colors for the first time in its 122-year history. The crayon colors making their return for a limited time are Dandelion, retired in 2017; Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint, and Mulberry, retired in 2003; and Orange Red, Violet Blue, Lemon Yellow, and Raw Umber, retired in 1990.
For the first time, Crayola intentionally matched the crayon, colored pencil, and marker colors across all product lines—something that has never happened before. This limited-edition collection created such excitement that Crayola held special events in NYC, where all the crayons had personalities and stories of things they had been doing during their retirement.
The Color Census Legacy
The 2000 Crayola Color Census revealed America's color preferences when over 25,000 participants voted for their favorites. The top 10 ranking showed:
- Blue
- Cerulean
- Purple Heart
- Midnight Blue
- Aquamarine
- Caribbean Green
- Periwinkle
- Denim
- Cerise
- Blizzard Blue
Reflecting on Our Colorful Future
As we journey deeper into the 21st century, Crayola continues evolving alongside our increasingly diverse and conscious world. From addressing social awareness through inclusive color naming to celebrating global diversity with skin-tone authentic crayons and even reviving beloved retired colors due to passionate fan demand, these iconic creative tools remain a mirror reflecting our cultural values and artistic dreams.
What colors will fill future Crayola boxes remains beautifully uncertain. Still, one thing is clear: they will undoubtedly continue reflecting the vibrant, ever-changing tapestry of human expression and the endless creative spirit that color inspires in us all.
America's Top 50 Crayola Colors
Based on historical popularity and year of introduction:
Blue (1903), Cerulean (1990), Purple Heart (1997), Midnight Blue (1958), Aquamarine (1958), Caribbean Green (1998), Periwinkle (1949), Denim (1993), Cerise (1993), Blizzard Blue (1972), Cornflower (1949), Red (1903), Blue Green (1934), Hot Magenta (1972), Blue Violet (1934), Pacific Blue (1993), Purple Mountain Majesty (1993), Tropical Rain Forest (1993), Brick Red (1949), Indigo (1999), Green (1903), Wisteria (1993), Forest Green (1957), Royal Purple (1990), Fuchsia (1990), Asparagus (1993), Purple Pizzazz (1991), Vivid Violet (1998), Sky Blue (1957), Plum (1957), Electric Lime (1991), Navy Blue (1957), Robin Egg Blue (1993), Black (1903), Teal Blue (1990), Scarlet (1998), Cotton Candy (1998), Magenta (1903), Blue Bell (1998), Bittersweet (1949), Carnation Pink (1949), Razzmatazz (1993), Silver (1949), Burnt Sienna (1903), Jungle Green (1990), Atomic Tangerine (1972), Brink Pink (1997), Pine Green (1949), Screamin Green (1972), Laser Lemon (1972)
The colorful journey of Crayola continues to unfold, reminding us that in a world of endless possibilities, creativity begins with that first bold stroke of color.
Which Crayola Crayone Color is Your Favorite?
Did you have a favorite Crayola color as a kid. Is it still your favorite now?
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