Columba

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Columba

Gender: Masculine
Language: Latin
Etymology:
Columba and Columbus are Latin names meaning “Dove.”

History:
Columba, although the name of one of Scotland’s favorite saints, was not much used by Scottish parents. Contrary to the practice of the rest of Europe, in the Gaelic lands it was considered irreverent to name children directly after saints. In Scotland, children were called Malcolm (servant of St. Columb) instead of Columba.

Columbus was occasionally bestowed by Americans parents in honor of explorer Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón), who, until recently, was revered as the discoverer or the Americas.

Pronunciation: coll-um-bus.

Diminutives:
English: Cally, Caley.

Alternates: Columban, Columbo, Columb, Columba, Columbine.
Czech: Kolman.
English: Colman, Colver, Culver.
French: Colombain.
Hungarian: Kálmán.
Irish Gaelic: Colmán.
Italian: Columbano.
Latin: Columbanus, Columbianus.
Spanish: Colon.

Alternates: Columbia, Columba.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Kálmán Mikszáth (1847-1910)
Hungarian novelist.

Political Figures:
Kálmán Tisza (1830-1902)
Hungarian statesman.
Kálmán Darányi (1886-1939)
Hungarian statesman.

Religious Figures:
Saint Columba (Saint Colum) (521-597)
Famous missionary who helped convert Scotland.
Saint Columban (Columbanus) (543-615)
Missionary of the Celtic church.
Saint Colman of Lindisfarne (605-676)
A leader of early Irish, Scottish, and English churches.

Scientists:
Columbus O’Donnell Iselin (1901-1971)
American oceanographer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.005 % named Columbus

Popularity of Columbus:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 166th most popular.
1875: 162nd most popular.
1900-1910: 545th most popular.
1910-1920: 508th most popular.
1920-1930: 539th most popular.
1930-1940: 676th most popular.
1940-1950: 823rd most popular.
1950-1960: 932nd most popular.
1960-2000: N/A