1916 Boreas a rotation period between 3.4741 and 3.49 hours with a brightness variation between 0.25 and 0.35 magnitude (). In 1994, astronomer Tom Gehrels estimated "Boreas" to measure 3.5 kilometers in diameter, based on an assumed albedo of 0.15. The "Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link" assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 3.07 kilometers with an absolute magnitude of 14.93. This minor planet is named after the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas, as the asteroid was discovered moving rapidly northward after passing the ascending node of its orbit. The official naming citation was
HMS Boreas (1757) Port-de-Paix. In late 1760, boats under the command of Lieutenant Millar, first lieutenant of and Lieutenant Stuart, first lieutenant of "Boreas", cut out the privateers "Vainquer" and "Mackau" from Cumberland Harbour, Cuba. The French were forced to burn another, the "Guespe", to prevent her capture. "Trent" lost three men killed and one man wounded and one man missing, and "Boreas" lost one man killed and five men wounded; French casualties are unknown. ASll the casualties occurred in taking "Vainquer" as "Mackau" did not resist. "Boreas" also lost her barge, sunk in the boarding. "Vainquer" was armed with 10 guns, 16