Columba \c(o)-lu-mba\ as a girl's name is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Columba is "dove". Saint Columba, sixth-century Irish saint, founded an influential monastery on the Scottish island of Iona, and is supposed to have exorcised the River Ness of a monster. Though the Irish Columba was a man, two other saints of that name were both women. The dove is a Christian symbol for the Holy Spirit.

Columba has 5 variant forms: Collie, Colly, Colombe, Columbia and Columbine.