What creates the meaning of blue? Do we find it in the pale, icy sparkle of aquamarine? Is blue the deep, brooding symbol of deep, unexplored waters? Can we interpret the cheerful hue of turquoise or the more rare brilliance of sapphire? Does blue take meaning from the uniforms of the men and women dedicated to preserving our safety? Whether calm, serene, or daunting, we are surrounded by blue in all its shades.

Meaning Of Blue: Explained

What in the blue blazes???

I’ve been feeling kind of blue.

He’s a true blue friend.

Blue represents the healing nature of water and the power of stormy seas. It’s what separates bodies of land from one another, and it’s a marker of loyalty and fidelity. Like many colors, our response to the color blue is complex and sometimes even contradictory.

Let’s dig in and get to know a little more about the most common favorite color – blue.

Physical Effects of Blue

There’s a reason we think of blue as relaxing; it actually tends to lower our heart rates, blood pressure, and even our body temperature. Blue can have an effect on the pituitary gland, affecting our sleep patterns, and it can slow our breathing as well. Studies of memory have demonstrated that memory is enhanced by blue light, and blue light can even kill some bacteria!

Symbolism And Meaning Of Blue

While blue conjures images of sky and sea, it’s also the color of bravery and dedication. Blue represents introspective journeys and symbolizes wisdom and depth of understanding. But blue is also a symbol of depression and the depths of the human psyche. Blue stands for serenity, rather than passion, and it’s the color of all that’s constant and unchanging.

Positive Associations

The aqua and turquoise found in Caribbean waters typically engender positive feelings, and the blue of police officers’ uniforms call to mind protection, bravery, and loyalty. Blue is associated with peaceful rest, profound insight, and spiritual realization. Professional uses of blue carry connotations of stability, wisdom, and serenity.

Negative Associations

The deep indigo of stormy seas can carry more threatening or frightening associations, and can make us feel unsettled or afraid of secrets deeply held. Overuse of blue can feel cold and impersonal, and even unfriendly. Blue’s association with depression and sadness are also pervasive, and deep blue is a harbinger of night and darkness.

Blue And Indigo Chakra Colors

Blue: The color of the Throat chakra, also known as Visuddha. This chakra is located in the throat. It is linked to the throat, neck, hands, and arms. The Throat Chakra is connected with speech and hearing, and encourages spiritual communication.Opening the Throat chakra improves clairaudience. Gemstones that will aid the Throat chakra include turquoise, aquamarine, lapis, sodalite, quartz, angelite, aqua aura.

Indigo: The color of the Brow or Third-Eye chakra, also known as Ajna. This chakra is located between the eyebrows. This chakra is our link to the universal unconsciousness. Opening this chakra can aid in clear sight, intuition, integrity, and lessens feelings of despair. Gemstones amethyst, moonstone and augilite.

Blue Birthstone Colors

Color Morsels

One in six Americans has blue eyes, and that number has declined over time. At the beginning of the 20th Century, nearly half of the population was blue-eyed. Why are there fewer blue-eyed folks? The gene for blue eyes is recessive. Blue-eyed people are more sun-sensitive–showing higher rates of melanoma–and are also more likely to be alcoholics than people of other eye colors.

In paintings, the Virgin Mary has long been portrayed wearing the color blue, partly because blue symbolizes fidelity and tranquility, but also because ultramarine blue was historically very expensive, so it made sense to clothe the Virgin Mother in costly colors.

The odds of a lobster being blue are slim indeed—one in two million according to National Geographic magazine—but thanks to a rare genetic mutation, the normally grayish-green American lobster does occasionally come in a beautiful blue too.

Mosquitoes are highly visual and their primary method of searching for human targets is through vision. Research shows that mosquitoes most easily see dark colors, especially blue.

Blue Moon ice cream is the name of a bright blue-colored flavor of ice cream, available almost exclusively in the mid-west United States.

If you were around in the 1980's chances are you owned, played or watched the tiny blue gnomes knowns as The Smurfs. The world’s first “Smurf Village” was painted the color blue as part of the publicity campaign for the Sony film “The Smurfs in 3D,” which opened in July 2011. Sony promised to paint the village back to traditional white following the promotional blitz; however, the 221 citizens who call Juzcar home voted overwhelming (141, said yes!) to keep the town blue.

Blue is the most common favorite color.

Blue is the least commonly occurring color in food. Other than blueberries, blue corn, and some blue-purple potatoes, blue is a color seldom found in natural food. In fact, blue is an appetite suppressant! Think about it – as delicious as blue cheese may be, you know those veins of color come from mold.

Blue laws were enacted to prohibit certain "morally objectionable" behaviors on Sundays. These laws have been used to ban sales of alcohol, gambling, and various retail and commercial activity.

Read About the Color Blue

Blue Words, Phrases And Idioms

Examples of how the meaning of blue colors our language:

Out of the blue: unexpected

True blue: to be loyal or faithful

Once in a blue moon: an event that occurs infrequently [See The Meaning of Once in a Blue Moon]

Blue ribbon: first place; to describe something as being of the highest quality

Blue blood: an aristocrat [The Colorful Connection Between Blue Blood and Silver Spoon]

Blue law: laws about morality issues

Blue comedy: jokes about socially taboo subjects

Blueprint: a detailed design of an object or idea

Blue plate special: a special priced meal at a restaurant

Bluestocking: a woman with strong scholarly interests

Feeling blue: to feel sad or unhappy

Quotes About Color Blue

More Intriguing Facts About Blue

Blue As A Signature Color

A signature color is different than a favorite color although for some people they many be one and the same. It is all in how you express yourself with a color and how consistently you wear it or surround yourself with the color that makes it your signature shade.

• Barbara Bush - from her Scaasi inaugural ball gown in a shade of sapphire blue that became known as "Barbara Bush Blue" to the many blues - cobalt, navy, royal and baby blue -- she has worn since, the former first lady is a true-blue fan of this hue.
• Blue Man Group - Homer Simpson once called the Blue Man Group a rip-off of “The Smurfs.” On “Arrested Development,” hapless actor Tobias Funke, played by David Cross, dreamed of becoming a Blue Man and painted himself their signature shade.
• Giorgio Armani - Fashion's patriarch uniform is a navy blue silk T-shirt, cashmere sweater, navy blue drawstring pants and white sneakers, all by Armani, naturally.
• Klaus Biesenbach - the MoMA PS1 director and art world Zelig chooses snug-fitting blue suits and shirts by Zara for his on-the-go Germanic minimalistic style.
• Valeria “ValBlu” McCulloch - this shoe designer living in New York City doesn't just wear blue but a very specific shade called Yves Klein Blue. She told New Yorker magazine, "Wearing blue for me is being in a dream all day."
• The State of South Carolina - officially adopted Indigo Blue as their state color in 2008.

Companies & Brands Identified by Blue

The Color Blue in the Garden

• Blue is one of the cooler colors in landscape design and it brings a soothing element to the garden.
• Blue plants visually recede, helping to make a small space appear larger.
• Combine blues with silver foliage plants to intensify the color. Blue adds depth and can be livened up with white, yellow, or orange. Don't place blue in a dark-green setting, it will disappear. Different shades of blue can be a challenge to combine--bright blues may make deep purple-blues look washed out. - New York Botanical Garden

Discover More About The Meaning Of Colors

Talk With Us About the Color Blue

We'd enjoy knowing what you love about the color blue or what you most enjoyed about this article. We love hearing from you and read every comment.

Is there something that you know about blue that should be included here? Great! We’d love to hear from you. Share what you know about the color blue by leaving a comment below. We may just add it to the information shared on this page.