As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by the IAU's Minor Planet Center, and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU's naming conventions. The list below concerns those minor planets in the specified span of numbers that have received names, and explains the meanings of those names. Besides the Minor Planet Circulars (in which the citations are published), a key source is Lutz D. Schmadel's Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Meanings that do not quote a reference (the "†" links) are tentative.
Minor planets not yet given a name have not been included in this list.
| Contents: |
|---|
| Name | Provisional Designation | Source of Name |
|---|---|---|
| 51401–51500 | ||
| 51406 Massimocalvani | 2001 DL108 | Massimo Calvani, Italian astronomer, director of the Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova (Astronomical Observatory of Padua) and Asiago from 1999 to 2005 † |
| 51415 Tovinder | 2001 ER13 | Pat Tovsen and her husband Philip Inderwiesen, American light pollution control advocates † ‡ |
| 51431 Jayardee | 2001 FH9 | James R. Durig ("J. R. D."), astronomer and the father of the discoverer † |
| 51501–51600 | ||
| 51599 Brittany | 2001 HR24 | Brittany Johnson, niece of the discoverer † |
| 51601–51700 | ||
| 51655 Susannemond | 2001 JA | Susanne Marie Emond, American dietitian and friend of the discoverer † |
| 51701–51800 | ||
| 51741 Davidixon | 2001 KQ50 | David Dixon, American amateur astronomer, who operates Jornada Observatory, New Mexico † |
| 51801–51900 | ||
| 51823 Rickhusband | 2001 OY28 | Rick D. Husband, American astronaut, commander of the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51824 Mikeanderson | 2001 OE30 | Michael P. Anderson, American astronaut, payload commander of the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51825 Davidbrown | 2001 OQ33 | David M. Brown, American astronaut, mission specialist on board the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51826 Kalpanachawla | 2001 OB34 | Kalpana Chawla, American astronaut, mission specialist on board the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51827 Laurelclark | 2001 OH38 | Laurel B. Clark, American astronaut, mission specialist on board the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51828 Ilanramon | 2001 OU39 | Ilan Ramon, Israeli astronaut, payload specialist on board the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51829 Williemccool | 2001 OD41 | William C. "Willie" McCool, American astronaut, pilot of the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107) † ‡ |
| 51895 Biblialexa | 2001 QX33 | Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a revival of the old library at Alexandria † |
| 51901–52000 | ||
| 51983 Hönig | 2001 SZ8 | Sebastian F. Hönig, German amateur astronomer † ‡ |
| Preceded by 50,001–51,000 |
Meanings of minor planet names List of minor planets: 51,001–52,000 |
Succeeded by 52,001–53,000 |