This, i.e. Name selection in column, is how I used to do it, but it's frustrating that the column name doesn't default to the current column, so I often end up having to retype the column name. There should really be a button to copy in the name of the current column, or a default so it grabs the current column name.
Copying the value from somewhere, then selecting the cells and then "paste" is a new tip -- thanks, Byron!
Alternatively, recode "in place" is another method I use frequently for this.