Here's a breakdown:
* Christopher Columbus's name in Spanish is Cristóbal Colón.
* The country's founder, Simón Bolívar, admired Columbus and was a strong advocate for Latin American independence.
* Bolívar decided to name the newly independent nation Colombia in honor of Columbus, as a symbol of the country's break from European colonialism and a new beginning for the Americas.
Therefore, while Columbus himself never set foot in what is now Colombia, the name was chosen to commemorate his legacy and the broader concept of exploration and discovery that he represented.