The designations of the two constituents as ζ Cancri AB and C, and those of their components—ζ Cancri A, B, Ca, Cb, Cb1 and Cb2—derive from the convention used by the Washington Multiplicity Catalog (WMC) for multiple star systems, and adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

[3] Considerable confusion had developed concerning the catalogue identities of the three bright stars; correct correspondences were worked out by Griffin:[4] Zeta Cancri bore the traditional name Tegmine (Tegmen) "the shell (of the crab)".

The WGSN decided to attribute proper names to individual stars rather than entire multiple systems.

[7] Consequently, Zeta Cancri itself is known as 水位四 (Shuǐ Wèi sì, English: the Fourth Star of Water Level).

[12] The tenth magnitude Zeta Cancri Cb is a close pair of red dwarfs.