diff --git a/pygmt/clib/session.py b/pygmt/clib/session.py
index 0988d87728d..c2a0ba12427 100644
--- a/pygmt/clib/session.py
+++ b/pygmt/clib/session.py
@@ -1476,7 +1476,7 @@ def virtualfile_from_data(
         check_kind=None,
         data=None,
         vectors=None,
-        ncols=2,
+        names=["x", "y"],
         required_data=True,
     ):
         """
@@ -1498,8 +1498,9 @@ def virtualfile_from_data(
         vectors : list of 1-D arrays or None
             A list of 1-D arrays. Each array will be a column in the table.
             All of these arrays must be of the same size.
-        ncols : int
-            The minimum number of columns required for the data.
+        names : list of str
+            A list of names for each of the columns. Must be of the same size
+            as the number of vectors. Default is ``["x", "y"]``.
         required_data : bool
             Set to True when 'data' is required, or False when dealing with
             optional virtual files. [Default is True].
@@ -1537,7 +1538,7 @@ def virtualfile_from_data(
         validate_data_input(
             data=data,
             vectors=vectors,
-            ncols=ncols,
+            names=names,
             required_data=required_data,
             kind=kind,
         )
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
index d6b7ab8ce5a..6926f1a1911 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
@@ -16,30 +16,49 @@
 
 
 def validate_data_input(
-    data=None, vectors=None, ncols=2, required_data=True, kind=None
+    data=None, vectors=None, names=["x", "y"], required_data=True, kind=None
 ):
     """
     Check if the data input is valid.
 
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    data : str, pathlib.PurePath, None, bool, xarray.DataArray or {table-like}
+        Pass in either a file name or :class:`pathlib.Path` to an ASCII data
+        table, an :class:`xarray.DataArray`, a 1-D/2-D
+        {table-classes} or an option argument.
+    vectors : list of 1-D arrays
+        A list of 1-D arrays with the data columns.
+    names : list of str
+        List of column names.
+    required_data : bool
+        Set to True when 'data' is required, or False when dealing with
+        optional virtual files. [Default is True].
+    kind : str or None
+        The kind of data that will be passed to a module. If not given, it
+        will be determined by calling :func:`data_kind`.
+
     Examples
     --------
     >>> validate_data_input(data="infile")
-    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]], ncols=2)
-    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]], ncols=3)
+    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]], names="xy")
+    >>> validate_data_input(
+    ...     vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]], names="xyz"
+    ... )
     >>> validate_data_input(data=None, required_data=False)
     >>> validate_data_input()
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: No input data provided.
-    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], None], ncols=2)
+    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], None], names="xy")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: The 'y' column can't be None.
-    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[None, [4, 5, 6]], ncols=2)
+    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[None, [4, 5, 6]], names="xy")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: The 'x' column can't be None.
-    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], None], ncols=3)
+    >>> validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], None], names="xyz")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: The 'z' column can't be None.
@@ -47,13 +66,13 @@ def validate_data_input(
     >>> import pandas as pd
     >>> import xarray as xr
     >>> data = np.arange(8).reshape((4, 2))
-    >>> validate_data_input(data=data, ncols=3, kind="matrix")
+    >>> validate_data_input(data=data, names="xyz", kind="matrix")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must have at least 3 columns.
     >>> validate_data_input(
     ...     data=pd.DataFrame(data, columns=["x", "y"]),
-    ...     ncols=3,
+    ...     names="xyz",
     ...     kind="matrix",
     ... )
     Traceback (most recent call last):
@@ -61,7 +80,7 @@ def validate_data_input(
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must have at least 3 columns.
     >>> validate_data_input(
     ...     data=xr.Dataset(pd.DataFrame(data, columns=["x", "y"])),
-    ...     ncols=3,
+    ...     names="xyz",
     ...     kind="matrix",
     ... )
     Traceback (most recent call last):
@@ -91,28 +110,27 @@ def validate_data_input(
     if kind == "vectors":  # From data_kind, we know that data is None
         if vectors is None:
             raise GMTInvalidInput("No input data provided.")
-        if len(vectors) < ncols:
+        if len(vectors) < len(names):
             raise GMTInvalidInput(
-                f"Requires {ncols} 1-D arrays but got {len(vectors)}."
+                f"Requires {len(names)} 1-D arrays but got {len(vectors)}."
             )
-        for i, v in enumerate(vectors[:ncols]):
+        for i, v in enumerate(vectors[: len(names)]):
             if v is None:
-                if i < 3:
-                    msg = f"The '{'xyz'[i]}' column can't be None."
-                else:
-                    msg = "Column {i} can't be None."
-                raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
+                raise GMTInvalidInput(f"Column {i} ('{names[i]}') can't be None.")
     else:
         if vectors is not None and any(v is not None for v in vectors):
             raise GMTInvalidInput("Too much data. Pass in either 'data' or 1-D arrays.")
         if kind == "matrix":  # check number of columns for matrix-like data
+            msg = f"data must have at least {len(names)} columns.\n" + " ".join(names)
             if hasattr(data, "shape"):  # np.ndarray or pd.DataFrame
-                if len(data.shape) == 1 and data.shape[0] < ncols:
-                    raise GMTInvalidInput(f"data must have at least {ncols} columns.")
-                if len(data.shape) > 1 and data.shape[1] < ncols:
-                    raise GMTInvalidInput(f"data must have at least {ncols} columns.")
-            if hasattr(data, "data_vars") and len(data.data_vars) < ncols:  # xr.Dataset
-                raise GMTInvalidInput(f"data must have at least {ncols} columns.")
+                if len(data.shape) == 1 and data.shape[0] < len(names):
+                    raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
+                if len(data.shape) > 1 and data.shape[1] < len(names):
+                    raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
+            if hasattr(data, "data_vars") and len(data.data_vars) < len(
+                names
+            ):  # xr.Dataset
+                raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
 
 
 def data_kind(data=None, required=True):
diff --git a/pygmt/src/blockm.py b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
index d8462445ed6..bfe1be138dd 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/blockm.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def _blockm(block_method, data, x, y, z, outfile, **kwargs):
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".csv") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
             table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             )
             # Run blockm* on data table
             with table_context as infile:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/contour.py b/pygmt/src/contour.py
index ac34dcb5d95..3e88c45aec5 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/contour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/contour.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def contour(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
 
     with Session() as lib:
         file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
         )
         with file_context as fname:
             lib.call_module(
diff --git a/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py b/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
index b53b8ec4a9f..d266cce075c 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def nearneighbor(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
             table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             )
             with table_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot.py b/pygmt/src/plot.py
index 3e998122486..5c7bfb20351 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -215,11 +215,11 @@ def plot(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
 
     kind = data_kind(data)
     vectors = [x, y]
-    ncols = 2
+    names = ["x", "y"]
 
     if kwargs.get("S") is not None and kwargs["S"][0] in "vV" and direction is not None:
         vectors.extend(direction)
-        ncols += 2
+        names.extend(["x2", "y2"])
     elif (
         kwargs.get("S") is None
         and kind == "geojson"
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def plot(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
                 "Can't use arrays for fill if data is matrix or file."
             )
         vectors.append(kwargs["G"])
-        ncols += 1
+        names.append("fill")
         del kwargs["G"]
     if size is not None:
         if kind != "vectors":
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def plot(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
                 "Can't use arrays for 'size' if data is a matrix or file."
             )
         vectors.append(size)
-        ncols += 1
+        names.append("size")
 
     for flag in ["I", "t"]:
         if kwargs.get(flag) is not None and is_nonstr_iter(kwargs[flag]):
@@ -259,12 +259,12 @@ def plot(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
                     f"Can't use arrays for {plot.aliases[flag]} if data is matrix or file."
                 )
             vectors.append(kwargs[flag])
-            ncols += 1
+            names.append(plot.aliases[flag])
             kwargs[flag] = ""
 
     with Session() as lib:
         file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, ncols=ncols
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
         )
 
         with file_context as fname:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
index 215b659ac8f..1cbce57bc6e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
@@ -185,11 +185,11 @@ def plot3d(
 
     kind = data_kind(data)
     vectors = [x, y, z]
-    ncols = 3
+    names = ["x", "y", "z"]
 
     if kwargs.get("S") is not None and kwargs["S"][0] in "vV" and direction is not None:
         vectors.extend(direction)
-        ncols += 2
+        names.extend(["x2", "y2"])
     elif (
         kwargs.get("S") is None
         and kind == "geojson"
@@ -212,15 +212,15 @@ def plot3d(
                 "Can't use arrays for fill if data is matrix or file."
             )
         vectors.append(kwargs["G"])
-        ncols += 1
+        names.append("fill")
         del kwargs["G"]
     if size is not None:
         if kind != "vectors":
             raise GMTInvalidInput(
                 "Can't use arrays for 'size' if data is a matrix or a file."
             )
-        ncols += 1
         vectors.append(size)
+        names.append("size")
 
     for flag in ["I", "t"]:
         if kwargs.get(flag) is not None and is_nonstr_iter(kwargs[flag]):
@@ -229,12 +229,12 @@ def plot3d(
                     f"Can't use arrays for {plot3d.aliases[flag]} if data is matrix or file."
                 )
             vectors.append(kwargs[flag])
-            ncols += 1
+            names.append(plot3d.aliases[flag])
             kwargs[flag] = ""
 
     with Session() as lib:
         file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, ncols=ncols
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
         )
 
         with file_context as fname:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/project.py b/pygmt/src/project.py
index dd7f665fd4b..c5ecd8cb83a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/project.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/project.py
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def project(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, outfile=None, **kwargs):
         with Session() as lib:
             if kwargs.get("G") is None:
                 table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                    check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+                    check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
                 )
 
                 # Run project on the temporary (csv) data table
diff --git a/pygmt/src/rose.py b/pygmt/src/rose.py
index 4a9b39d2cfd..01862152543 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/rose.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/rose.py
@@ -203,7 +203,10 @@ def rose(self, data=None, length=None, azimuth=None, **kwargs):
 
     with Session() as lib:
         file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[length, azimuth], ncols=2
+            check_kind="vector",
+            data=data,
+            vectors=[length, azimuth],
+            names=["length", "azimuth"],
         )
 
         with file_context as fname:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py b/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
index 46f2ee2abc2..a7179496531 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def sphdistance(data=None, x=None, y=None, **kwargs):
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
             file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y], ncols=2
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y], names="xy"
             )
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/surface.py b/pygmt/src/surface.py
index 32b099c2af0..62341a52b95 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/surface.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/surface.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ def surface(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
             file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             )
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index f4a368aa16f..21e652bb8e4 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -222,24 +222,24 @@ def text_(
         kwargs["F"] += f"+c{position}+t{text}"
 
     vectors = [x, y]
-    ncols = 2
+    names = ["x", "y"]
     # If an array of transparency is given, GMT will read it from
     # the last numerical column per data record.
     if kwargs.get("t") is not None and is_nonstr_iter(kwargs["t"]):
         vectors.append(kwargs["t"])
         kwargs["t"] = ""
-        ncols += 1
+        names.append("transparency")
 
     # Append text at last column. Text must be passed in as str type.
     if kind == "vectors":
         vectors.append(
             np.vectorize(non_ascii_to_octal)(np.atleast_1d(text).astype(str))
         )
-        ncols += 1
+        names.append("text")
 
     with Session() as lib:
         file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-            check_kind="vector", data=textfiles, vectors=vectors, ncols=ncols
+            check_kind="vector", data=textfiles, vectors=vectors, names=names
         )
         with file_context as fname:
             lib.call_module(module="text", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=fname))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/triangulate.py b/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
index 3f47926e90b..da980730638 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def _triangulate(
         """
         with Session() as lib:
             table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             )
             with table_context as infile:
                 # table output if outgrid is unset, else output to outgrid
diff --git a/pygmt/src/wiggle.py b/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
index 2b2577a0b2c..74cd5c34223 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def wiggle(
 
     with Session() as lib:
         file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
         )
 
         with file_context as fname:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py b/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
index b0cf1f51ff2..e0b0d041353 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def xyz2grd(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
             file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], ncols=3
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             )
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None: