The species is now the only member of the genus Chlorornis that was introduced in 1850 by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek khlōros meaning "green" and ornis meaning "bird".
The species is now the sole representative of the genus Chlorornis, which was initially defined by Ludwig Reichenbach in 1850. The genus name, derived from Ancient Greek words for "green" and "bird", accurately describes the bird's appearance.