kleurnaam

Kleurnaam is a Dutch term used to denote the official name assigned to a color within a color catalog, brand guide, or design standard. The word is a compound of kleur (color) and naam (name), and it functions as a label that communicates a specific color reference without requiring numeric values.

In practice, a kleurnaam may be a simple descriptive label such as hemelsblauw (sky blue) or a proprietary identifier issued by a color-standards system or a company’s branding framework. Color names are commonly used alongside or instead of numeric color specifications in catalogs, product sheets, marketing materials, and design briefs to facilitate quick, human-friendly communication about color choices.

Kleurnamen often arise from standardized color systems such as Pantone, RAL, or the Natural Color System (NCS), but they are not restricted to these schemes. Many brands develop internal naming conventions to ensure consistency across products, packaging, and digital assets. The use of kleurnamen supports cross-disciplinary collaboration among designers, printers, manufacturers, and retailers, and helps ensure that a chosen color is interpretable across stages of production and marketing.

However, color names can be subjective and culturally influenced; perception of a name may vary by language, region, or context. Additionally, color rendering differs between devices, prints, and materials, meaning a kleurnaam is a reference rather than a guaranteed exact hue.

See also: color naming, Pantone, RAL, NCS.