Alpha Hydrae is called Alphard (Solitary One) short for Al Phard al Shuja, "The Solitary One in the Serpent", although it has a number of neighbours: Alphard.

From its position and brightness Alphard serves as the serpent's heart and was aptly so named by Tycho Brahe: Cor Hydrae, a name which nevertheless didn't stick.

The snake's body stretches out to the southeast, below Leo. From Alphard to the south-southeast, just outside the viewing area of Alphard, is upsilon-1, at which point the snake's body curls upward, toward the northeast.