Columbus
Boy nameColumbus has been given to 7,517 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1922.
Meaning & origin /kəˈlʌmbəs/
From Latin columbus (“a dove”). Doublet of Colombo. The common noun and verb are references to the Italian explorer.
Origin: Latin
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
7,517
Peak year
1922 (187 babies)
Rank in 2025
Below top 1000
First recorded
1880
10-year trend
New / returning
Gender split
All boys
Rank through the decades
Columbus's rank among U.S. boy names at 25-year milestones.
| Year | Boys rank |
|---|---|
| 1900 | #314 |
| 1925 | #490 |
| 1950 | #741 |
— means outside the top 1000 that year.
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Columbus.
FAQ
How popular is the name Columbus?
Columbus has been given to 7,517 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.
When did the name Columbus peak?
Columbus peaked in 1922, when 187 babies were given the name.
Is Columbus a girl or boy name?
Columbus is primarily a boy name (100% of babies named Columbus are boys).
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