Why was America called instead of Columbia?

The name "America" was suggested in 1507 by cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in honor of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci. At the time, it was believed that Vespucci was the first European to discover the New World. Waldseemüller's map, which prominently displayed the name "America," was widely distributed and helped popularize the use of the name.

Other names that were considered included "Atlantis," "Vinland," and "Columbia," but "America" gained the widest acceptance and eventually became the official name of the continent. The name "Columbia" was coined by the Italian geographer Pietro Martire in 1511. It was in honor of Christopher Columbus, who is credited by many historians with being the first European to discover the Americas.