ɪt wʌz nˈeɪmd baɪ kˈæptɪn kˈʊk wɛn hiː pˈæst ˌɔn twˈɛnti fˈaɪv mˈeɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti, sˈɪns hiː fˈaʊnd ɪt təbi loʊkˈeɪɾᵻd ɔnðə tɹˈɑːpɪk ʌv kˈæpɹɪkˌɔːɹn wˌɪtʃ wʌz loʊkˈeɪɾᵻd æt twˈɛnti θɹˈiː dᵻɡɹˈiːz twˈɛnti ˈeɪt fˈɪftiːn ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti.
It was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 25 May 1770, since he found it to be located on the Tropic of Capricorn (which was located at 23°28′15″ in 1770).