The proper name recognised by the IAU for this star is Leepwal, a name it takes from the legends of the Marshall Islands. Zeta Centauri also shares the common name Alnair (meaning 'the bright') with another unrelated star, Alpha Gruis. Physically, both these stars are bluesubgiants: Zeta Centauri is the larger and more luminous of the two, but its great distance means that it shines less brightly in the skies of Earth.