Discovered 1894 Nov. 4 by M. F. Wolf at Heidelberg.

Concerning this name there exist different explanations. E. Weiss (Astronomischer Kalender für 1896, p. 155) interpreted the name as “eine Ehrenbezeugung für Kaiser Wilhelm”, the German emperor. T. Gehrels gives the more likely explanation that this planet was named in honor of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880–1962): “At the time of discovery, it must have drawn quite a bit of attention in western Europe that Princess Wilhelmina was so young and, because of the death of her father became nominally Queen already at the age of 10! There must have been sympathetic publicity because the Dutch Royal Family was and is highly respected.” Queen Wilhelmina abducated 1948 in favor of her daughter Juliana {see also the citation for planet (816)}. (LDS)