To the IAU, name refers to the (usually colloquial) term used for a star in everyday conversation, while designation is solely alphanumerical, and used almost exclusively in official catalogues and for professional astronomy.
[4]) The terms of reference for the WGSN[5] for the period 2016–2018 were approved by the IAU Executive Committee at its meeting on 6 May 2016.
[7] The WGSN decided to attribute proper names to individual stars rather than entire multiple systems.
[5] The main aim for the next few years is to delve into worldwide astronomical history and culture, looking to determine the best-known stellar appellations to use as the officially recognised names.
Beyond this point, once the names of many of the bright stars in the sky have been officially approved and catalogued, the WGSN will turn its focus towards establishing a format and template for the rules, criteria and process by which proposals for stellar names can be accepted from professional astronomers, as well as from the general public.