First it was Territory of Columbia, Columbia being a poetic name for the United States in use at that time.Later the Territory was named District of Columbia. And yes, the poetic name was in honor of Christopher Columbus. And if you notices it is the English for Crist��bal Col��n.This is my help from Washington, D.C. United States of America.Please pick an answer as the best answer, even if it is not mine.
The city was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. The district s name, Columbia , is an early poetic name for the United States and a reference to Christopher Columbus, an early European explorer of the Americas
I think its because DC is not a state, nor is it part of any state (technically) so it is considered a district of Columbia(which i assume is the surrounding area).