I would think stereotypical "man colors" would be "green" "darker green" "yellower green" "dark grey" "another grey" "brown grey" etc.

To many people "barnhouse" means "red" and brick means "darker red." Being a woman doesn't mean you have some magical ability to discern that "prairie rose" means anything more than "darkish pink."

Now, if a paint color named "Deathstar" was actually a close approximation to the color of the Deathstar, then I would consider buying it because it was a description that helped, like "brick" helps describe a dark red. "Prairie Rose" does nothing to help me.

Any man who thinks fairy tales are inherently feminine is a stupid man. Any man who thinks feminine things must be avoided is a stupid man.

Yuck. It's insulting men's intelligence. Dirty Socks?! Tho I'm not a fan of the original names either. wtf is Lexington Park?

When I describe colors to people, I use the @nadnuk naming convention. "It's like a kinda yellowish-green."

I think the idea is widely being used now in marketing. For example, my boyfriend always had issues buying Dove soap because it's so geared towards women and now that they have a "Man" version, he buys it. I never understood what the issue was, it's basically the same soap but it costs more.

So for paint, who knows? I think most people pick a colour because they like it not because of it's name but there are probably some people (men and women) who might pick it because it has a "cool" name and they like the colour.

Where do I get a job as Paint Color Namer?

@Stream13 - does it smell differently? I mean, I can't blame a guy for not wanting to smell like flowers or fruit. As a woman, I don't want to smell like Axe, Old Spice, or any of those musky scents.

I don't think it's a matter of insulting men's intellegence, I' think they're just trying to appeal to a wider market.

Even I (as a woman) think a lot of paint colour names are stupid. Why would it be Fairytale green? What makes it a fairytale? I don't think the name would change my mind on a colour if I liked it.

I think they're probably also trying to appeal to a younger crowd. More young people are buying homes or being allowed to paint their rentals and they're taking more time to consider what their living space looks like and not just live in a white box. The more "current" names for paints could help to bring in that market as well.

Either way it still comes down to the simple fact of: Do you like the colour? Yes. Then who cares what it's called.

@ Pi - I think it smells a little bit different, but Dove doesn't smell like flowers or overly feminine, it's more of a natural clean smell. Once he's showered I really can't smell a difference. I think it's the packaging that makes it "OK".

I love my boyfriend and he's a very smart guy but sometimes he just doesn't want to buy something that may be perceived as feminine (yet he'll buy me feminine products if I ask him too). I'm sure my boyfriend isn't the only one who does it.

I find most paint colour names to be incredibly useless and extremely subjective, though occasionally entertaining. Some are actually descriptive enough to help visualize but most seem to be increasingly desperate attempts to appeal to some sense or feeling I apparently don't have. Call them what you like, the actual colour is the important thing. I think they just use a lot of the same colours over and over on the paint chips anyway, changing the names now and then. I think they mix the paint according to a code number anyway, not a name.

...maybe its me..maybe its living in NYC...but i have YET to meet anyone that describes a color like Sunset Smile, Lonesome Dove, or Flaming Peach. I agree with Nadnuk in the first comment. my Kitchen is Tan, my living room is light yellow, bedroom is Blue-ish..and the toilet is WHITE..not Parisian Snow!

I thought Parisian Snow was more like yellow!

Haha hazelnuts!

I snorted my coffee when I read that "dirty socks" was a description meant to appeal to the male brain. This would suggest an awareness that dirty socks turn a different color than clean ones!

I'll never understand why some men are so uncomfortable with their gender identity.

Anyone who picks out a paint color based on the name is an idiot.
Just a bunch of marketing BS.

LOVE it.

Beyond ‘appealing to men’, paint names like “Deathstar” and “Dirty Socks” point a finger at the ridiculous marketing efforts out there designed to appeal to women. Well played.

Clooney Brown
Pattinson Blue
Bieber Blonde

I'm a man, and I'd paint my wall Deathstar. But Dirty Socks is just an example of why this idea got rediculous right out the gate. "What color did you pick? Oh, dirty socks." Yeah, that sounds very flattering.

why in gods name would anyone pick a color named Dirty Socks and admit to it? I'm baffled.

Good point, @mimarie.

@Bee for Brian--I agree completely. Thanks for speaking out.

@Bee for Brian--I agree completely. Thanks for speaking out.

I'm going to guess that any man who has a sensitivity to color and cares enough about his home to be at the store choosing paint samples, is not a man who would care if the paint is called fairytale green, or mo money. Like most readers have mentioned, we pick colors based on what they look like and not what they're named. Still, I appreciate the effort of companies to come up with creative names. It's much more evocative than simply red#49, and makes looking at swatches more fun!

This is all about generating brand impressions and not at all about trying to appeal to men. I think we should recognize this for the buzz marketing that it is.

Totally stupid idea, and the kind of man it would appeal to cares little for his environment beyond a keg in a frat house. People dont choose a color by the name. They choose it by the eye appeal. Pretty sad that someone was paid to think this up and worse that the company bought it.

I buy based on the color.... But I suppose I am more inclined to buy green paint called ” anjou pear,” as opposed to, say, ” snot rocket.”

If anyone is going for such stupid idea of sexualizing colors... and being the average man, the target of such move. It would be easier, wiser and more effective to go for something as simple as: Green, strong green, darker green. Or even better.... Green 001, Green 002.......

This isn't so new. How about automotive paint colors: Pontiac red? Stingray yellow? Or scale model/model railroad paint colors: Signal yellow? RAF Medium Green? Haze Gray? Royal Navy Blue? (Actually, check out Fine Paints of Europe's British Standard Paint Colours....)

Me? I'm going to paint my foyer Panzer Gray, with Muffler Rust highlights!

As the intended target audience, I think this kind of pandering is insulting. I'm less likely to buy this product based on its name than something with a name considered "feminine". Why someone would be embarrassed to buy paint because it's name is "too girly" is beyond me. I'd be more embarrassed of buying somethIng so overly frat-boyish.

Have you seen what autocorrect does to paint color names? If you're not familiar with this site, it's great for cheap laughs.
http://damnyouautocorrect.com/12744/top-5-funniest-autocorrected-color-names/

It's the only way to stop the public ridiculing of men who paint their homes in paints with girly names, which is an under-reported crime...

Isn't there a financial crisis on? Why do these sort of people still have jobs?

lol dirty socks ?

Seems like a publicity stunt to me: the intent is not necessarily to appeal to men, but to draw attention to the brand. Seems like it's working.

gender stereotyping, yay!

As a woman I'm not hugely impressed by flowery names myself. And I like using Axe products because I like the smell (and who doesn't love shampoo/conditioner/body wash all in one), vs all that fruity stuff geared towards women. And it would be AWESOME, as Pi said, if there was a paint color called 'Death Star'. Because I would buy that.