It was named after Empress Eugenia di Montijo , the wife of Napoleon III , and was the first asteroid to be named after a real person , rather than a figure from classical legend ( although there had been controversy about whether 12 Victoria was really named for the mythological figure or for Queen Victoria ) . The asteroid was named by its discoverer after Empress Eugenia di Montijo , the wife of Napoleon III . It was the first asteroid to be definitely named after a real person , rather than a figure from classical legend , although there was some controversy about whether 12 Victoria was really named for the mythological figure or for Queen Victoria .