At a Glance
- Meaning
- Built on Latin 'columba' (dove); the '-anus' ending is an adjectival suffix ('of/belonging to'), so more precisely 'dove-like' or 'of the dove' rather than a true diminutive
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- kol-um-BAY-nus
Columbanus is a Latin boy's name meaning “built on Latin 'columba' (dove); the '-anus' ending is an adjectival suffix ('of/belonging to'), so more precisely 'dove-like' or 'of the dove' rather than a true diminutive”. It appears in our list of 200+ Saint Names for Boys — Faithful, Timeless, and Surprisingly Cool.
Meaning & Origin of Columbanus
Meaning: Built on Latin 'columba' (dove); the '-anus' ending is an adjectival suffix ('of/belonging to'), so more precisely 'dove-like' or 'of the dove' rather than a true diminutive.
Origin: Latin.
A common claim: Commonly glossed as 'little dove' Actually: '-anus' is a standard Latin adjectival suffix, not a diminutive, so 'little dove' overstates the grammar; 'of the dove' is closer.
How to Pronounce Columbanus
kol-um-BAY-nusIPA /ˌkɒləmˈbeɪnəs/
Popularity of Columbanus
Columbanus doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Columbanus
Similar Names
Ignatius · Cyprian · Fergal · Polycarp · Malo · Gildas
