A thermal transfer recording material contains at least one colorant represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1 represents a trifluoromethyl, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, acyloxy, amide, carbamoyl, amino, or cyano group; R2 represents alkyl, acyl, carbamoyl, or alkoxycarbonyl group; R3 represents alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; a total number of carbon atoms in R1 and R2 is 3 or more; X represents —CR4R5—, —S—, —O— or —NR6—; R4 and R5 respectively represent hydrogen, halogen, or a substituent; R6 represents hydrogen or a substituent; and Y represents an atom group required for forming a 5- to 6-memberd ring.