Columbus

Columbus: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “dove”
Origin: Latin
Say it: kuh-LUHM-bus · 3 syllables
Used for: Boys

From Latin columba meaning dove; Columbus is a Latinized surname and given name, famously borne by Christopher Columbus. Related forms include Italian Colombo and Spanish Colón.

Italian names Spanish names English names Names meaning bird Names meaning peace Classic names

How popular is Columbus?

20240 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Columbus in 20240

Peak year1880

Total US babies since 18807,517

Columbus was not given to enough US babies in 2024 to appear in the records.

Names like Columbus

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Lucasfrom Lucania · Latin
Leolion · Latin
Julianyouthful, downy-bearded · Latin
Anthonyof the Antonius family · Latin
RomanRoman, from Rome · Latin
Bennettblessed · Latin
Adrianfrom Hadria · Latin
Christianfollower of Christ · Latin

Columbus questions

What does the name Columbus mean?

Columbus means "dove". It comes from Latin. From Latin columba meaning dove; Columbus is a Latinized surname and given name, famously borne by Christopher Columbus. Related forms include Italian Colombo and Spanish Colón.

Is Columbus a boy or girl name?

Columbus is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Columbus?

Columbus was given to fewer than 5 babies of either sex in 2024; its peak year was 1880.

How do you pronounce Columbus?

Columbus is usually pronounced kuh-LUHM-bus.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.