Olive

HEX: #808000 | Modern Palette

On White
4.20:1
FAIL
On Black
5.01:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#808000
RGB
128, 128, 0
HSL
60°, 100% ,50%
CMYK
0, 0, 100, 49.8

About Olive

Olive (#808000) is a color with RGB(128, 128, 0) and HSL(60°, 100%, 50.2%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is Navy Blue (#000080), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Teal (#008080) and Purple (#800080). The name comes from oliva (Latin).

  • HEX: #808000
  • RGB: 128, 128, 0
  • HSL: 60°, 100%, 50.2%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: Navy Blue (#000080)
  • Triadic colors: Teal (#008080), Purple (#800080)
  • The name comes from oliva (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 #808000 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #808000
Protanopia #808000
Tritanopia #887878
Achromatopsia #7C7C7C

Frequently Asked Questions

Olive (#808000) is a color with RGB(128, 128, 0) and HSL(60°, 100%, 50.2%).

#808000 pairs strongly with Navy Blue (#000080) as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#808000 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#808000 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Olive is linked to oliva from Latin, meaning olive tree, olive fruit.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word oliva
Meaning olive tree, olive fruit
Language Latin
First Recorded Use Ancient

History

The word 'olive' comes from the Latin 'oliva', which itself is derived from the Ancient Greek 'elaia'. The olive tree and its fruit have been significant throughout Mediterranean history, providing food, oil, and symbolism. As a given name, 'Olive' became popular in English-speaking countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, possibly as a revival of older nature-inspired names or influenced by the symbolism of peace.

First Recorded Use

Before 12th century (as a given name, likely much earlier for the fruit/tree)

Cultural Associations

The olive branch is an ancient symbol of peace, famously used in the story of Noah's Ark where a dove returns with an olive leaf. In ancient Greece, the olive tree was sacred to the goddess Athena. Olive oil has been used for millennia in cooking, religious ceremonies, and as fuel. The color 'olive' (a dull yellowish-green) is named after the unripe olive fruit.

Similar Named Colors
Old Moss Green #867E36 ΔE 5.90
Bronze Yellow #737000 ΔE 6.16
Dark Yellow #9B870C ΔE 7.19
Spanish Bistre #807532 ΔE 7.65

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #808000;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #808000;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #808000;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #808000,
        #0101FF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #808000,
        #0101FF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$olive: #808000;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$olive-r: 128;
$olive-g: 128;
$olive-b: 0;

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