diff --git a/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py b/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py
index 28ddbf8..62ed70f 100644
--- a/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py
+++ b/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class AsciiReader:
             for j in range(1, num_y+1, stepsize):
                 if col_names is not None:
                     # predefined name
-                    kwargs['name'] = col_names[j]
+                    kwargs['name'] = col_names[j-1]
                 elif num_y > single_len:
                     # more than one axis, append column number
                     kwargs['name'] = filename + '_' + str(y[j-1])