Kelly Green

HEX: #4CBB17 | Modern Palette

On White
2.49:1
FAIL
On Black
8.43:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#4CBB17
RGB
76, 187, 23
HSL
100°, 87% ,73%
CMYK
59.36, 0, 87.7, 26.67

About Kelly Green

Kelly Green (#4CBB17) is a color with RGB(76, 187, 23) and HSL(100.61°, 87.7%, 73.33%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Playful moods. In design, it fits Neon, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #8617BB, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #174CBB and #BB174C. The name comes from Kelly (English).

  • HEX: #4CBB17
  • RGB: 76, 187, 23
  • HSL: 100.61°, 87.7%, 73.33%
  • Mood: Bold, Playful
  • Style: Neon, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #8617BB
  • Triadic colors: #174CBB, #BB174C
  • The name comes from Kelly (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Kelly Green #4CBB17 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

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

Color Harmonies

Kelly Green #4CBB17 pairs with #8617BB as its complementary color, and #174CBB and #BB174C in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

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

KELLY GREEN
Analogous

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

KELLY GREEN
Triadic

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

KELLY GREEN
Split-Complementary

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

KELLY GREEN
Tetradic (Square)

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

KELLY GREEN
Monochromatic

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

KELLY GREEN

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Kelly Green #4CBB17 moves from dark #091703 tones through the base color to lighter #EFFCE8 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

KELLY GREEN

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Playful
Style
Neon Cool
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #A4A424
Protanopia #B3B313
Tritanopia #68B0B0
Achromatopsia #A4A4A4

Frequently Asked Questions

Kelly Green (#4CBB17) is a color with RGB(76, 187, 23) and HSL(100.61°, 87.7%, 73.33%).

#4CBB17 pairs strongly with #8617BB as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#4CBB17 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Neon, Cool styles.

#4CBB17 is commonly associated with Bold, Playful.

The name Kelly Green is linked to Kelly from English, meaning Irish surname, often associated with 'ceallach' meaning 'bright-haired' or 'warlike'.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Kelly
Meaning Irish surname, often associated with 'ceallach' meaning 'bright-haired' or 'warlike'
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The color 'Kelly Green' is a vibrant, medium shade of green that became strongly associated with Ireland. The 'Kelly' in its name likely refers to the common Irish surname, symbolizing the widespread presence of Irish people and their cultural identity. It's a shade often seen in depictions of the Irish landscape, shamrocks, and leprechauns. Its popularity grew as a way to represent Irish heritage, especially among Irish diaspora communities. While green has long been a color of Ireland (dating back to the 17th century with the Irish Catholic Confederation), the specific 'Kelly Green' nomenclature solidified its place as a distinct and recognizable shade.

First Recorded Use

The exact first use of 'Kelly Green' as a color name is difficult to pinpoint to a single date, but it gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in association with Irish culture and St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Cultural Associations

Kelly Green is perhaps most famously and widely recognized as the color of St. Patrick's Day. It is a staple in Irish parades, decorations, and attire during the holiday. Beyond St. Patrick's Day, it is frequently used by sports teams (e.g., Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets in certain eras) and brands to evoke a sense of freshness, nature, or Irish heritage. It's a cheerful and energetic color that often symbolizes luck, growth, and vitality.

Similar Named Colors
Harlequin Green #46CB18 ΔE 4.16
Green (RYB) #66B032 ΔE 4.29
Lime Green #32CD32 ΔE 5.20
Dark Pastel Green #03C03C ΔE 5.20

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #4CBB17;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #4CBB17;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #4CBB17;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #4CBB17,
        #D07FF7
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #4CBB17,
        #D07FF7
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$kelly-green: #4CBB17;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$kelly-green-r: 76;
$kelly-green-g: 187;
$kelly-green-b: 23;

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