Given name & surname
Columba
“dove”·“resembling a dove”
Columba is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “dove” and “resembling a dove” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “dove” and “resembling a dove” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1919. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Columba through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 43
- 0 boys · 43 girls
- Most popular year
- 1919
- 6 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2000. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 821 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Columba’s family of names
In Latin usage, Columba has a later derivative in Kalman. Columba has a related form in Columbus. Columba has a related form in Columbia.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Columba has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
6 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 19
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Columba
- Columba6th‑century Gaelic Irish missionary monk, Christian saint, pioneer of Celtic Christianity in Scotland and “Apostle of the Picts”521–597
- Columba of Senssaintly virgin associated with Sens in France and a fountain named d'Azon257–273
- Columba DomínguezMexican actress and singer (1929–2014)
- Columba MarmionIrish monk (1858-1923)
- Columba BushAmerican philanthropistborn 1953
- Columba Macbeth-GreenAustralian priestborn 1968
- Columba of SpainSpanish nun
- Columba of RietiItalian Dominican tertiary nun1467–1501
- Columba of Terryglassone of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland550–552
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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