Named for Edith (Rand) Wirtanen, who found this minor planet on an astrographic plate taken by her husband, the Lick astronomer Carl A. Wirtanen {see planet  (2044)}. As a long-term resident at Mt. Hamilton, she performed numerous jobs, from library assistant to observing assistant under F. J. Neubauer and G. {see planet  (2796)} and K. Kron. (M 26764) _ _.