Grey

The color name "Grey" has been approved in accordance with the internal procedures of The Official Register of Color Names.

Record Validation Evidence: Wikipedia/Grey

Also known as: Gray (source)

The word "grey" has its origins in the Old English word "grǣg." The Old English language was a Germanic language spoken in parts of what are now England and southern Scotland between the 5th and 12th centuries. The term has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as the Middle Dutch "grē," the Old High German "grāo," and the Old Norse "grár," all of which also mean grey.

In American English, "grey" is commonly spelled "gray," which is thought to derive from the same Old English root but has been influenced by the spelling of the related French word "gris," which also means grey.

The color itself is an intermediate between black and white, representing a neutral or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is a color "without color." It is typically associated with dull, cool, cloudy, and subdued tones.

#808080, known as "Grey", falls into the Red Color Family — Desaturated, Light brightness. Its exact recipe is rgb(128, 128, 128) — 50.2% red, 50.2% green, 50.2% blue — and for print it converts to CMYK 0 / 0 / 0 / 50. Curious how these numbers work? Read our RGB color codes guide.

The color #808080 reads as a softly muted neutral grey and feels open and friendly. Expect to see shades like this in versatile mid-ground roles, from cards to secondary buttons. In The Official Register of Color Names it is a hair away from Silver Lining (#7F7F7D). Its next-closest registered neighbors are Teravenumar (#838181) and Sword (#808284).

Technically, #808080 is a perfectly balanced RGB mix — red, green and blue all sit at 128, which is what makes it a true neutral. Accessibility-wise, black text works best on #808080: 5.3:1 contrast (passing WCAG AA) versus 3.9:1 for white. This precise shade carries the officially registered name "Grey" in the Register.