The word procyon is Greek meaning before the dog. In the Northern Hemisphere, the star Procyon announces the rise of Sirius, the Dog Star.

Procyon lives in the small constellation of Canis Minor, The Little Dog. The constellation symbolizes the smaller of Orion's two hunting dogs (Canis Minor and Canis Major). The Big Dog, Canis Major, is running at the heel of Orion just to the east.