It was initially named C/2017 U1 because it was assumed to be a comet, and was renamed to A/2017 U1 after no cometary activity was found on October 25.
Foi inicialmente chamado C/2017 U1 porque se supoñía que era un cometa, pero foi rebautizado coma A/2017 U1 despois de que non se atopase actividade cometaria.