Onyx

HEX: #353839 | Modern Palette

On White
11.82:1
PASS
On Black
1.78:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#353839
RGB
53, 56, 57
HSL
195°, 7% ,22%
CMYK
7.02, 1.75, 0, 77.65

About Onyx

Onyx (#353839) is a color with RGB(53, 56, 57) and HSL(195°, 7.02%, 22.35%). It is commonly associated with Minimal moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is #393635, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #393538 and #383935. The name comes from ὄνυξ (ónux) (Greek).

  • HEX: #353839
  • RGB: 53, 56, 57
  • HSL: 195°, 7.02%, 22.35%
  • Mood: Minimal
  • Style: Monochrome, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: #393635
  • Triadic colors: #393538, #383935
  • The name comes from ὄνυξ (ónux) (Greek).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Onyx #353839 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.
 
ONYX
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
ONYX
 
 
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

Onyx #353839 pairs with #393635 as its complementary color, and #393538 and #383935 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.

ONYX
Analogous

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

ONYX
Triadic

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

ONYX
Split-Complementary

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

ONYX
Tetradic (Square)

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

ONYX
Monochromatic

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

ONYX

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Onyx #353839 moves from dark #0C0D0D tones through the base color to lighter #F2F2F3 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

ONYX

Color Characteristics

Mood
Minimal
Style
Monochrome Cool
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #373739
Protanopia #383839
Tritanopia #353838
Achromatopsia #373737

Frequently Asked Questions

Onyx (#353839) is a color with RGB(53, 56, 57) and HSL(195°, 7.02%, 22.35%).

#353839 pairs strongly with #393635 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#353839 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Monochrome, Cool styles.

#353839 is commonly associated with Minimal.

The name Onyx is linked to ὄνυξ (ónux) from Greek, meaning fingernail, claw, hoof.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word ὄνυξ (ónux)
Meaning fingernail, claw, hoof
Language Greek
First Recorded Use Ancient

History

The name 'onyx' comes from the Greek word for 'fingernail' or 'claw', likely due to its translucent, flesh-colored appearance when polished, or perhaps because of its sharp edges when freshly broken. Ancient Romans and Greeks used onyx extensively for carvings, seals, and jewelry. Pliny the Elder, in his 'Natural History', describes various types of onyx. Historically, onyx was often used for intaglio carvings, where the different colored layers of the stone could be exploited to create contrasting images. The stone has been found in archaeological sites across the Mediterranean and Middle East, indicating its widespread use and trade in ancient civilizations.

First Recorded Use

The term 'onyx' has been used since antiquity to refer to the gemstone. Its use in English dates back to at least the 14th century.

Cultural Associations

In various cultures, onyx has held different symbolic meanings. In ancient Egypt, it was used to make bowls and other pottery. In some traditions, black onyx is associated with protection and grounding, believed to absorb negative energy. It has also been used in religious contexts, appearing in biblical texts (e.g., Exodus 28:20, as one of the stones in the high priest's breastplate). In the Victorian era, black onyx became popular for mourning jewelry. Its layered structure, particularly in sardonyx (a variety of onyx with reddish-brown and white bands), made it ideal for cameos.

Similar Named Colors
Jet #343434 ΔE 2.13
Black Olive #3B3C36 ΔE 4.60
Arsenic #3B444B ΔE 5.39
Charleston Green #232B2B ΔE 5.50

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #353839;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #353839;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #353839;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #353839,
        #3D3735
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #353839,
        #3D3735
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$onyx: #353839;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$onyx-r: 53;
$onyx-g: 56;
$onyx-b: 57;

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