 The designations of the two components as "53 Eridani A" and "B" derive from the convention used by the Washington Multiplicity Catalog (WMC) for multiple star systems, and adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).53 Eridani bore the traditional name "Sceptrum", Latin for "scepter", as it was one of the brighter stars, designated "p Sceptri (Brandenburgici)", in the obsolete constellation of Sceptrum Brandenburgicum.The constellation was coined by Gottfried Kirch to honor the Brandenburg province of Prussia, and although it was later used in other atlases by Johann Elert Bode, the constellation fell out of use.