The International Astronomical Union uses the name "Cor Caroli" specifically for the brighter star of the binary.

[17] Alpha Canum Venaticorum is the brightest point of light in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici.

[19] However, Robert Burnham Jr. notes that "the attribution of the name to Halley appears in a report published by J. E. Bode at Berlin in 1801, but seems to have no other verification".

[24] Consequently, the Chinese name for Alpha Canum Venaticorum itself is 常陳一 (Cháng Chén yī, English: the First Star of Imperial Guards).

α2 Canum Venaticorum has a spectral type of A0, and has an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 2.84 and 2.98, with a period of 5.47 days.

This is thought to be due to some elements sinking down into the star under the force of gravity while others are elevated by radiation pressure.