The traditional name "Thuban" is derived from the Arabic word "", 'large snake' (e.g. a python or a legendary draconian serpent). It is sometimes known as the "Dragon's Tail" and as "Adib" . In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included "Thuban" for this star. It is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.