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 (1774) station. Horatio Nelson (who was created 1st Viscount Nelson 1801) was Senior Naval Officer of the Leeward Islands from 1784 to 1787 on the Boreas. The Boreas was used as a slop ship from 1797 until its breakup. HMS Boreas (1774) HMS "Boreas" was a modified sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was first commissioned in August 1775 under Captain Charles Thompson. On 31 August 1779 "Boreas", under the command of Captain Charles Thompson, captured the French corvette "Compas", of eighteen 6-pounder guns, which was carrying a cargo of sugar. "Compas", which was armed "en flute", put up resistance