Did Columbus name the brown skinned people Indians?

Yes, Christopher Columbus referred to the indigenous peoples of the Americas as "Indians" because he believed he had reached the outskirts of India while searching for a westward route to Asia. This misnomer arose from his misunderstanding of geography, as he encountered various indigenous groups with diverse cultures, languages, and appearances. The term "Indian" has persisted historically, though it is often considered inaccurate and misleading today.