Named for Niccolò Fulchignoni (1991– ), second son of Marcello Fulchignoni and M. Antonietta Barucci {see, respectively, planets  (3486) and  (3485)}, planetary scientists at the Observatoire de Paris. Niccolò is the “Renaissance” Italian form of the name Nikolaus (northern Europe’s Santa Claus) and has been given to distinguished personalities of the arts, literature and philosphy — Paganini {see planet  (2859)}, Tommaseo and Machiavelli, for example. (M 31296) _ _.