I Made Money Just By Naming Random Colors 🎨💸 — The Strangest Yet Fun Side Hustle

Imagine being paid to look at colors and come up with names for them. Not just “red” or “blue,” but creative, catchy, sometimes bizarre names that make people smile, think, or even buy products. It sounds absurd, almost like a prank, but it’s real. Over the past few weeks, I discovered a quirky micro-task gig: naming random colors for money.

At first, I thought it was a joke. How could anyone pay someone for naming colors? But as I explored the platforms and tried my hand at this strange job, I realized it was not only fun and oddly satisfying, but also surprisingly profitable.

How I Found This Unique Gig

Late one night, scrolling through freelance task boards, I stumbled upon a post:

“Earn money naming colors — $2–$5 per color.”

Curious, I clicked. The assignment seemed ridiculously simple: a company wanted creative names for colors for branding purposes, app designs, or product lines. My job? Look at a color swatch, type a name, submit it, and get paid. No product design, no marketing strategy — just pure creativity.

I signed up, expecting a novelty experiment. Little did I know this would become one of the most entertaining side hustles I had ever tried.

My First Color Naming Task

The first color was a shade of deep green. I stared at the swatch and thought: Okay, what is this feeling? What does it remind me of?

I typed:

“Forest Whisper”

Hit submit. Just like that, I earned $3. I laughed, thinking: I just got paid for describing a color! This is absurd… and amazing.

The next one was a muted purple. My mind raced: Is it lavender, grape, or something else entirely? I typed:

“Mystic Plum”

Another $3. It felt like collecting coins in a video game for a task that was equal parts art and imagination.

The Psychology Behind Color Naming

Naming colors isn’t as trivial as it seems. There’s actually a subtle psychology of perception and emotion behind it:

1. Emotional Association: Colors evoke feelings — red can mean passion, blue can mean calm.
2. Memorability: Unique names stick in the mind better than generic ones.
3. Cultural Context: Certain names resonate differently depending on culture or audience.
4. Marketing Appeal: A product with a unique color name can be more desirable.

I started studying color psychology to improve my submissions. Soon, naming a color felt like crafting a mini story.

Funniest and Weirdest Names I Created

Not every name was serious. Some of my favorites:

• “Banana Peel Surprise” — a pale yellow shade.
• “Mermaid’s Secret” — a shimmering aqua.
• “Grandma’s Sweater” — dusty pink.
• “Alien Slime” — neon green.

Clients loved it. Some even left hilarious feedback: “We never thought a color could make us giggle. Approved!”

How Much Money I Really Made

At first, I thought the payouts were small. But after a few weeks:

• Average per color: $2–$5
• Colors per day: 10–15
• Weekly earnings: $70–$100

By the end of the first month, I had earned over $350. For something so playful and creative, it was surprisingly lucrative.

Tools I Used for Maximum Efficiency

To increase my output and quality, I relied on a few tools:

• Color Pickers & Swatches: To explore exact shades.
• Notepad or Spreadsheet: For brainstorming multiple names quickly.
• Thesaurus & Creativity Apps: To find unique descriptors.

These tools helped me work faster and produce more original names per session.

Challenges I Faced

Despite being fun, the gig had challenges:

• Creative Block: Sometimes a color wouldn’t inspire any ideas.
• Overthinking: Some clients expected names that were clever but marketable.
• Repetition Fatigue: Naming 50–100 colors a week could be mentally draining.

I learned to take breaks, walk around, and let inspiration strike naturally.

The Broader Perspective: Why Companies Pay

Why would companies pay people to name random colors? The reasons are practical:

1. Product Branding: Colors need unique names for packaging and marketing.
2. App Design & UX: Custom color names improve user experience in apps and games.
3. Market Testing: Creative names help gauge consumer reactions.

Even seemingly random names can impact purchasing decisions and brand perception.

The Unexpected Benefits

Beyond earning money, this gig offered additional perks:

1. Enhanced Creativity: Daily practice in naming colors sharpened my imagination.
2. Improved Observation Skills: I started noticing subtle color differences in daily life.
3. Fun & Stress Relief: It was oddly satisfying to play with colors and words.

Some days, I’d spend an hour just looking at random objects around me, thinking: How would I name that shade?

Tips for Aspiring Color Name Creators

If you want to try this bizarre yet rewarding side hustle:

• Be Playful: Humor and whimsy often make names memorable.
• Think Emotionally: How does the color feel? What does it remind you of?
• Mix Words: Combine adjectives, nouns, and unexpected concepts.
• Quantity + Quality: The more names you submit, the more you earn.
• Keep a Notebook: Inspiration can strike anywhere — write it down!

With these strategies, even a casual creative person can make real money.

Funny Stories from My Color Naming Journey

One session required naming a set of muted pastels. I submitted:

• “Old Library Dust” — pale brown
• “Sunset Blush” — peachy pink
• “Ghostly Mint” — light green

The client approved all, leaving comments like: “We laughed, we cried, we approved.”

Another session involved naming neon shades for a new app theme. I submitted:

• “Radioactive Lemon”
• “Electric Unicorn”
• “Laser Orchid”

These assignments were weird, fun, and reminded me how limitless creativity can be — and that some of the most random tasks pay surprisingly well.

The Science of Color Perception

Naming colors also taught me some interesting scientific facts:

• Humans can distinguish over 10 million colors.
• Different cultures perceive and categorize colors differently.
• Color names can influence mood and behavior — for example, “Sunset Coral” feels warmer and more inviting than “Light Orange #F88379.”

These insights made my work feel both fun and intellectually stimulating.

✅ Sources

1. Psychology of Color, Verywell Mind – https://www.verywellmind.com/the-psychology-of-color-2795824
2. Color Naming in Marketing, Forbes – https://www.forbes.com
3. UX Collective – How Colors Affect User Experience, Medium – https://uxdesign.cc
4. Creative Microtasks & Gig Economy Insights, Entrepreneur – https://www.entrepreneur.com

Written by the author, Fatima Al-Hajri 👩🏻‍💻