Amethyst Color
Amethyst is a purple color with hex code #9966CC. This page covers its meaning, all color values, harmonies, colors that go with amethyst, shades, tints, similar colors, CSS examples, FAQs, and WCAG contrast ratios.
Amethyst Color Values
What Does Amethyst Mean?
Amethyst belongs to the purple family of colors. Purple dye once cost more than gold, and the royal association never really wore off. The family blends red's warmth with blue's calm, which is an odd, appealing combination. Brands pick purple partly because their competitors don't. Amethyst sits at a mid-lightness, which keeps it readable on both white and black without much fuss.
In the ISCC-NBS color naming system, Amethyst is classified as a gray (nearest centroid: vivid violet, #9065CA).
Color Harmonies
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Colors That Go With Amethyst
Amethyst and #99CC66 are complements, parked opposite each other on the wheel. Together they hit maximum contrast, so a rough 70/30 split keeps the pairing from shouting.
Analogous neighbors — #6666CC and #CC66CC, which sit beside amethyst on the wheel. Pairings like this feel calm and settled, which suits backgrounds and gradients.
For an energetic three-color palette, pair amethyst with triadic partners #CC9966 and #66CC99. All three sit evenly spaced around the wheel, so the scheme stays lively without clashing.
Build and test these combinations in our Color Wheel Tool or check text readability with the Contrast Checker.
Tints and Shades
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Similar Colors
- MediumPurple —
#9370DB(Delta E 6) - Lilac Bush —
#9874D3(Delta E 8) - Deep Lavender —
#8D5EB7(Delta E 8) - True V —
#8A73D6(Delta E 10) - Navy Purple —
#9C51B6(Delta E 10)
CSS Examples
.text { color: #9966CC; }
.background { background-color: #9966CC; }
.border { border: 2px solid #9966CC; }
.shadow { box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #9966CC40; }WCAG Contrast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for amethyst?
Amethyst has the hex code #9966CC. In RGB notation it is rgb(153, 102, 204), in HSL it is hsl(270, 50%, 60%), and its OKLCH value is 0.608, 0.156, 305.3.
What does the color amethyst mean?
Purple-family colors like amethyst carry distinct psychological associations. Amethyst belongs to the purple family of colors. Purple dye once cost more than gold, and the royal association never really wore off. The family blends red's warmth with blue's calm, which is an odd, appealing combination. Brands pick purple partly because their competitors don't. Amethyst sits at a mid-lightness, which keeps it readable on both white and black without much fuss.
What colors go with amethyst?
Amethyst has three easy routes: its complement #99CC66 for punch, its neighbors #6666CC and #CC66CC for something calmer, or triadic partners #CC9966 and #66CC99 when you want energy.
Is amethyst a standard web color?
No — Amethyst is not a CSS keyword. Use its hex value #9966CC or any RGB/HSL equivalent in your stylesheets.
How do I make amethyst lighter or darker?
To lighten amethyst, add white to create tints; to darken it, add black to create shades. The tints and shades table above shows five computed steps of each, from #EDE4F6 (lightest tint) to #1A0D26 (darkest shade).
About Amethyst
Amethyst is classified as a Gray in the ISCC-NBS color naming system, within the Purple hue family. It has The color is recognized by Crayola, meodai.
Use our Color Converter to convert #9966CC to any other color format, or explore the Color Wheel to find harmonious color combinations.