[14] α Ursae Majoris is located at a distance of approximately 123 light years from the Sun, based on parallax measurements.

The pair orbit at a separation of about 23[16] astronomical units (AU) with a period of 44.5 years and an eccentricity (ovalness) of 0.44.

[3] There is another spectroscopic binary at an angular separation of 7.1 arcminutes, forming a 7th magnitude pair showing an F8 spectral type with an orbital period of 6.035 days and an eccentricity of 0.09.

It bore the traditional name Dubhe, which is derived from the Arabic for 'bear', dubb, from the phrase ظهر الدب الاكبر żahr ad-dubb al-akbar 'the back of the Greater Bear'.

Consequently, the Chinese name for Alpha Ursae Majoris itself is 北斗一 Běi Dǒu yī, (English: the First Star of Northern Dipper) and 天樞 Tiān Shū, (English: Star of Celestial Pivot).