diff --git a/copulas/multivariate/gaussian.py b/copulas/multivariate/gaussian.py
index d9e739ae..1dd7d657 100644
--- a/copulas/multivariate/gaussian.py
+++ b/copulas/multivariate/gaussian.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def fit(self, X):
 
         # Validate the input data
         X = self._validate_input(X)
-        columns, univariates = self._fit_individual_columns(X)
+        columns, univariates = self._fit_columns(X)
 
         self.columns = columns
         self.univariates = univariates
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def _validate_input(self, X):
 
         return X
 
-    def _fit_individual_columns(self, X):
+    def _fit_columns(self, X):
         """Fit each column to its distribution."""
         columns = []
         univariates = []
diff --git a/tests/unit/multivariate/test_gaussian.py b/tests/unit/multivariate/test_gaussian.py
index 35ea05c3..c0c2c616 100644
--- a/tests/unit/multivariate/test_gaussian.py
+++ b/tests/unit/multivariate/test_gaussian.py
@@ -376,8 +376,8 @@ def test__validate_input_with_non_dataframe(self):
         pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(result, expected_df)
 
     @patch('copulas.multivariate.gaussian.LOGGER')
-    def test__fit_individual_columns(self, mock_logger):
-        """Test that `_fit_individual_columns` fits each column to its distribution."""
+    def test__fit_columns(self, mock_logger):
+        """Test that `_fit_columns` fits each column to its distribution."""
         # Setup
         instance = GaussianMultivariate()
         instance._get_distribution_for_column = Mock(return_value='normal')
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ def test__fit_individual_columns(self, mock_logger):
         X = pd.DataFrame({'A': [1, 2, 3], 'B': [4, 5, 6]})
 
         # Run
-        columns, univariates = instance._fit_individual_columns(X)
+        columns, univariates = instance._fit_columns(X)
 
         # Assert
         assert columns == ['A', 'B']