Columbia is a female given name of Latin origin that means "dove." It is derived from the male name Columbus, which was given to Christopher Columbus by his parents in honor of the city of Columbus in Italy where they lived. The name Columbia has been used as a feminine form of Columbus since the Middle Ages.
The name Columbia gained popularity during the 19th century in the United States, likely due to its association with the New World and the spirit of exploration and discovery embodied by Christopher Columbus. It was also popularized by poets such as Emma Lazarus, who wrote "The New Colossus" sonnet which includes the famous lines: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," which are inscribed on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty.
Columbia has been used historically as a female personification of the United States. The female figure Columbia is often depicted wearing a Phrygian cap and carrying a flag or an anchor, symbolizing liberty and freedom. She appears on U.S. coins and postage stamps, and is featured in various forms of American art and literature.
Despite its historical significance, Columbia remains relatively uncommon as a given name today. However, it continues to be associated with the spirit of exploration, discovery, and American ideals of liberty and freedom.
Columbia is a unique and distinctive name that has seen varying levels of popularity over the years in the United States. From 1882 to present day, there have been a total of 640 births registered with the name Columbia.
The earliest recorded births with this name occurred in 1882, with six newborns being named Columbia. The number of births fluctuated throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ranging from as low as five in certain years to as high as 33 in others (in 1916).
The highest peak in popularity for the name Columbia occurred between the years 1913 and 1922. During this period, there were at least 20 births each year, with a high of 32 births in 1922. After this peak, the number of births with the name Columbia began to decline steadily.
By the mid-20th century, the popularity of the name had significantly decreased, with fewer than ten births registered annually from 1940 onwards. This trend continued until the late 20th and early 21st centuries, when there was a slight resurgence in the name's popularity.
Between 1997 and 2015, there were a total of 38 births recorded with the name Columbia, with six births each in 1997 and 2010, and ten births in 2015. While these numbers are still relatively low compared to the peak years earlier in the century, they indicate that the name Columbia continues to be a part of American naming traditions.
It is interesting to note that despite its ups and downs in popularity over the years, the name Columbia has maintained a consistent presence among baby names in the United States. This consistency may be attributed to the name's unique association with America itself, as Columbia is often used as an poetic and historic reference to the country.