This minor planet was named after American astronaut and mission specialist David McDowell Brown, who was killed in the "Columbia" space shuttle reentry disaster on 1 February 2003. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003 (). The following asteroids were also named in memory of the other six members of STS-107: 51823 Rickhusband, 51824 Mikeanderson, 51826 Kalpanachawla, 51827 Laurelclark, 51828 Ilanramon and 51829 Williemccool.