It is traditionally depicted as one of the two northern, far upper ends of the mythological, chained-to-the-rocks princess, the other being binary star system Gamma Andromedae.

At an estimated age of 1.7 billion years, this is an evolved red giant star with a stellar classification of K3- III CN0.5.

It is radiating 142 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,951 K.[6] 51 Andromedae is the star's Flamsteed designation.

Flamsteed oversaw its constellation reverting and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) made his 51 Andromedae its official designation in 1930.

[16] Consequently, the Chinese name for 51 Andromedae itself is 天大將軍三 (Tiān Dà Jiāng Jūn sān, English: the Third Star of Heaven's Great General.