[13] ε Canis Majoris bore the traditional name Adhara (sometimes spelled Adara, Adard, Udara or Udra), derived from the Arabic word عذارى 'aðāra', "virgins".

Consequently, ε Canis Majoris itself is known as 弧矢七 (Hú Shǐ qī, English: the Seventh Star of Bow and Arrow).

Its color is blue or blueish-white, due to the surface temperature of 22,200 K. It emits a total radiation equal to 38,700 times that of the Sun.

A few million years ago, ε Canis Majoris was much closer to the Sun than it is at present, causing it to be a much brighter star in the night sky.

About 4.4 million years ago, Adhara was 9.3 parsecs (30 ly) light-years from the Sun, and was the brightest star in the night sky with a magnitude of −4.13.

ε Canis Majoris appears on the national flag of Brazil, symbolising the state of Tocantins.