Davy Grey

HEX: #555555 | Modern Palette

On White
7.46:1
PASS
On Black
2.82:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#555555
RGB
85, 85, 85
HSL
0°, 0% ,33%
CMYK
0, 0, 0, 66.67

About Davy Grey

Davy Grey (#555555) is a color with RGB(85, 85, 85) and HSL(0°, 0%, 33.33%). It is commonly associated with Minimal moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Muted styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is Davy Grey (#555555), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Davy Grey (#555555) and Davy Grey (#555555). The name comes from Davy Grey (English).

  • HEX: #555555
  • RGB: 85, 85, 85
  • HSL: 0°, 0%, 33.33%
  • Mood: Minimal
  • Style: Monochrome, Muted
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: Davy Grey (#555555)
  • Triadic colors: Davy Grey (#555555), Davy Grey (#555555)
  • The name comes from Davy Grey (English).

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 #555555 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Minimal
Style
Monochrome Muted
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #555555
Protanopia #555555
Tritanopia #555555
Achromatopsia #555555

Frequently Asked Questions

Davy Grey (#555555) is a color with RGB(85, 85, 85) and HSL(0°, 0%, 33.33%).

#555555 pairs strongly with Davy Grey (#555555) as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#555555 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Monochrome, Muted styles.

#555555 is commonly associated with Minimal.

The name Davy Grey is linked to Davy Grey from English, meaning A shade of grey, specifically #555555.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Davy Grey
Meaning A shade of grey, specifically #555555
Language English
First Recorded Use 19th Century

History

The term 'Davy Grey' is believed to be named after Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829), a prominent British chemist and inventor. While Davy himself did not invent a specific pigment called 'Davy Grey,' his name became associated with certain industrial and chemical processes, and later, with a particular shade of grey that might have been common in industrial settings or derived from chemical processes of the era. It's a relatively dark, neutral grey. The specific hex code #555555 is a modern digital representation of this traditional color name.

First Recorded Use

Circa 1880s

Cultural Associations

Davy Grey, like many traditional color names, evokes a sense of history and industry. It's often associated with utilitarian objects, machinery, and a more subdued, classic aesthetic. It's a versatile neutral that can be found in various design contexts, from fashion to interior design, where a sophisticated and understated grey is desired.

Similar Named Colors
Liver #534B4F ΔE 6.19
Outer Space #414A4C ΔE 6.43
Dim Gray #696969 ΔE 7.30
Quartz #51484F ΔE 7.89

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #555555;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #555555;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #555555;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #555555,
        #555555
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #555555,
        #555555
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$davy-grey: #555555;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$davy-grey-r: 85;
$davy-grey-g: 85;
$davy-grey-b: 85;

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