Initially designated 2001 HC16, the asteroid was given its present name by the International Astronomical Union in honor of American actress Nana Visitor, who is best known for playing Kira Nerys on the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Michelle Forbes, who had portrayed Ensign Ro, turned down the offer, so a new Bajoran character was created instead.
Kira Nerys | Kira Roessler | Kira O%27Reilly | Kira Inugami | Kira Hall | Yume Kira Dream Shoppe | Kira Isabella |
From 1993–1999, Visitor appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Major (later Colonel, and eventually, Commander) Kira Nerys, a former freedom fighter/terrorist for the planet Bajor, who worked to drive off the alien occupiers, the Cardassians, from her homeworld, now forced to work with the Starfleet contingent brought in by her government to administer the titular space station built in orbit around her planet during the occupation.