Cerulean Blue

HEX: #2A52BE | Modern Palette

On White
6.89:1
PASS
On Black
3.05:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#2A52BE
RGB
42, 82, 190
HSL
223°, 77% ,74%
CMYK
77.89, 56.84, 0, 25.49

About Cerulean Blue

Cerulean Blue (#2A52BE) is a color with RGB(42, 82, 190) and HSL(223.78°, 77.89%, 74.51%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #BE962A, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #BE2A52 and #52BE2A. The name comes from caeruleus (Latin).

  • HEX: #2A52BE
  • RGB: 42, 82, 190
  • HSL: 223.78°, 77.89%, 74.51%
  • Mood: Playful
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #BE962A
  • Triadic colors: #BE2A52, #52BE2A
  • The name comes from caeruleus (Latin).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #2A52BE from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Playful
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #4949BE
Protanopia #4F4FBE
Tritanopia #006868
Achromatopsia #5A5A5A

Frequently Asked Questions

Cerulean Blue (#2A52BE) is a color with RGB(42, 82, 190) and HSL(223.78°, 77.89%, 74.51%).

#2A52BE pairs strongly with #BE962A as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#2A52BE is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Cool styles.

#2A52BE is commonly associated with Playful.

The name Cerulean Blue is linked to caeruleus from Latin, meaning dark blue, blue, or blue-green.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word caeruleus
Meaning dark blue, blue, or blue-green
Language Latin
First Recorded Use 17th Century (as 'cerulean')

History

The Latin 'caeruleus' was used to describe various shades of blue, often associated with the sky or sea. The specific pigment 'Cerulean Blue' (cobalt(II) stannate) was first synthesized in 1805 by Andreas Höpfner in Switzerland, but it wasn't widely available to artists until 1860 when George Rowney introduced it in England. It quickly became popular for its pure, bright blue hue and excellent permanence, especially for skies and water, as it doesn't green with age like some other blues.

First Recorded Use

The word 'cerulean' itself appeared in English in the early 17th century. The pigment 'cerulean blue' was developed much later.

Cultural Associations

Cerulean blue is often associated with clear skies, deep oceans, and a sense of calm or serenity. It gained significant recognition in art, particularly among Impressionist painters for its ability to capture the vibrancy of natural light. It also famously entered popular culture through the film 'The Devil Wears Prada,' where a monologue explains its historical journey from high fashion to mass market, highlighting its pervasive influence.

Similar Named Colors
New Car #214FC6 ΔE 1.41
Sapphire #0F52BA ΔE 2.22
Violet Blue #324AB2 ΔE 3.18
Medium Teal Blue #0054B4 ΔE 3.78

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #2A52BE;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #2A52BE;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #2A52BE;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #2A52BE,
        #F1D58B
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #2A52BE,
        #F1D58B
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$cerulean-blue: #2A52BE;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cerulean-blue-r: 42;
$cerulean-blue-g: 82;
$cerulean-blue-b: 190;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $cerulean-blue;
    color: rgba($cerulean-blue-r, $cerulean-blue-g, $cerulean-blue-b, 0.8);
}