Color Naming Rule



The Color Naming Rule is a set of guidelines that define how characters in the world of RWBY are named. The rules were first set down by series creator Monty Oum as a guide for naming fan-created original characters. Virtually all canon characters follow the rule.

The rules state that names of characters in RWBY must be one of the following:
 * 1) A color
 * 2) Sound like a color
 * 3) Mean a color
 * 4) Otherwise evocative of a color

Characters usually have a distinguishing feature (clothing or hair/eye color) that matches their namesake, but this is not always the case.

In addition, all team names must be a four letter acronym that spells a word that also abides by the above criteria.

Background
An in-universe justification for the rule is given by Professor Ozpin in the episode "Field Trip".

During the Great War, one side destroyed art as part of their goal of suppressing all forms of self-expression. In defiance, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after a fundamental aspect of art - color. This symbolic gesture demonstrated that neither they nor the generations to come would tolerate such oppression. The latter group eventually prevailed, and the tradition of naming children after colors continues into the present day.

Characters
Barring some exceptions, all characters follow the color naming rule. However, exactly how the names of certain characters allude to colors is not always clear. This list attempts to extrapolate the intended connection in cases where it is not immediately apparent.
 * Ruby Rose - Ruby is a gemstone known for its red coloration. Roses are a flower known to come in red varieties, as referenced by her music theme, "Red Like Roses". Ruby also alludes heavily to the fairytale character Little Red Riding Hood. She also first appeared in the "Red" Trailer.
 * Weiss Schnee - Weiss or weiß is a German word meaning "white." Schnee means "snow" in the same language. Weiss also alludes to the fairytale character Snow White, and first appeared in the "White" Trailer.
 * Blake Belladonna - Blake is an Old English word meaning "black." Belladonna, or Atropa belladonna, is a plant known for its incredibly toxic berries which also have a dark purple to black coloration. Blake also first appeared in the "Black" Trailer.
 * Yang Xiao Long - Yang (阳) means "sun" in Chinese, which is evocative of the color yellow. Yang first appeared in the "Yellow" Trailer. Her fairytale allusion is Goldilocks, who is distinguished by her hair color.
 * Jaune Arc - Jaune is French for "yellow".
 * Nora Valkyrie - Nora is possibly named after the Nora Barlow columbine, a flower with a vibrant pink coloration.
 * Pyrrha Nikos - "Pyrrha" is derived from the Greek adjective pyrrhos (πυρρός), which means "flame-colored." Monty has also stated that she was named for her hair.
 * Lie Ren - Ren is Japanese for "lotus," a plant which is known for its bright pink flowers and green leaves. Ren's outfit is patterned after this color scheme.
 * Ozpin - Interestingly, Ozpin is explicitly stated as not following the Color Naming Rule by Monty, the only character officially confirmed as such. Monty enigmatically attributes this to "reasons." What this means, as well as its significance, is entirely unknown. Regardless of this claim, Ozpin alludes to the character the Wizard of Oz, who is associated with the color green, a color which is prominently represented in Ozpin's wardrobe.
 * Glynda Goodwitch - "Glynda" is based from the name "Glenda," the name is originally coined in Welsh's glân (“holy, fair”) and da (“good”). The concepts derived from Glynda's name, namely "holy" and "good" are often associated with the color white.
 * Peter Port - Port may refer to port wine, which is typically a red.
 * Bartholomew Oobleck - In Dr. Seuss' children's book Bartholomew and the Oobleck, oobleck is a green sticky substance.
 * Roman Torchwick - Roman's name and weapon could relate to the famous Roman candle firework which is normally associated with the color of fire (though it can be any number of common firework colors). Torch also brings to mind the colors of flame.
 * Cinder Fall - Fall is a season usually associated with the colors red, orange and yellow. Cinders are the product of the combustion, also evoking flame-like imagery.
 * Emerald Sustrai - Emeralds are a green gemstone.
 * Mercury Black - Obviously, black is a color. Mercury is also an element with a metallic silvery-grey appearance, which is expressed by the character's grey outfit.
 * Hei "Junior" Xiong - Hei (黑) is Chinese for "black."
 * Melanie Malachite - Melanie is a Greek name derived from melania (μελανία) which means "blackness." Malachite is a mineral name derived from molochitis lithos (Μολοχίτης λίθος) which means "mallow-green stone." Appropriately, she has green eyes.
 * Miltiades Malachite - Miltiades (Μιλτιάδης) is a Greek name which means "red earth." Like her sister, she also has the green eyes appropriate to her surname.
 * Neopolitan - Neapolitan is a flavor of ice cream that combines strawberry (pink), chocolate (brown) and vanilla (white). Neo's eyes are capable of switching between these three colors, and her outfit also follows this color scheme.
 * Cardin Winchester - Cardinal is a shade of red. It is also the common name of a species of bird with a rich red coat of feathers.
 * Russel Thrush - Russel is a name meaning red.
 * Dove Bronzewing - Obviously, bronze is a color. Doves are also known for their pure white color.
 * Sky Lark - The sky is blue.
 * Coco Adel - Possibly named after the cocoa plant, which comes in a variety of colors, but is mostly associated with its brown color when roasted.
 * Fox Alistair - Foxes are known for their reddish-brown colored fur.
 * Velvet Scarlatina - Scarlatina is derived from scarlet, a shade of red. Red velvet is also a type of cake.
 * Yatsuhashi Daichi - Yatsuhashi are a Japanese treat, often colored a warm brown tone and possibly a nod towards the mocha colors of the team.
 * Sun Wukong - The Sun is usually associated with its yellow color.
 * Scarlet - A shade of red.
 * Sage - A brown-green color also associated with the dried leaves of the sage plant.
 * Neptune Vasilias - Neptune is a gas giant planet in the solar system with a deep blue color. Neptune is also the Roman God of the Sea, which is evocative of the blue color of the ocean.
 * Penny - Penny's name can bring to mind the color of copper, which pennies are coated in. It can also bring to mind the green color that copper takes on when it is oxidized.
 * James Ironwood - Iron is a chemical element with a silvery-grey lustre.
 * Qrow Branwen - Crows are birds with black feathers.
 * Summer Rose - Roses are a type of flower that are usually a red color. White roses are also infrequently be referred to as "summer roses."
 * Taiyang Xiao Long - Like his daughter Yang, his name Tai Yang (太阳) refers to Sun, which is yellow.
 * Raven Branwen - When referring to color, Raven refers to a deep color of black. Branwen is Welsh, meaning "blessed white raven/crow," which corresponds to her first name.
 * Winter Schnee - Winter is a season known for snow, which is white.
 * Arslan Altan - Arslan is Turkish for "Lion". Lions are feline animals, with light yellow fur. Altan means "red dawn" in Turkish and "golden" in Mongolian.
 * Reese Chloris - Chloris is derived from the Greek word chloros (χλωρός) meaning "green," especially in relation to youth and vigor.
 * Bolin Hori - The word hori roughly translates to "yellow" in Basque.
 * Nadir Shiko - When said together, Nadir Shiko's first and last names sound like Nadeshiko, the Japanese name for a family of pink flowers commonly known as carnations.
 * Tukson - His name is likely derived of the Spanish given name "Tucson" which means "black base."
 * Cyril Ian - His name sounds like "cerulean," a deep blue.
 * Lisa Lavender - Her last name "Lavender" is the name of a light tone of purple.

Teams
All team names are four letter acronyms that spell a word that is a color, sounds like a color, means a color or is evocative of a color.
 * Team RWBY (pronounced "Ruby") - Ruby is a red-colored gemstone. The first four trailers released for RWBY, "Red," "White," "Black" and "Yellow," all shared a color theme that corresponded to one member of the eponymous Team RWBY. The lyrics of the song "Red Like Roses" refers to each of the four team members of Team RWBY by their color.
 * Team JNPR (pronounced "Juniper") - The Juniper plant bears blue berries.
 * Team CRDL (pronounced "Cardinal") - A shade of red.
 * Team SSSN (pronounced "Sun") - Evocative of the sun, which is a yellow star.
 * Team CFVY (pronounced "Coffee") - Coffee is a beverage with a characteristic brown coloration.
 * Team ABRN (pronounced "Auburn") - Auburn refers to a reddish-brown color, especially with reference to hair.