The genus name Leptoptilos is derived from the Greek word meaning thin or slender, which refers to the storks slim build and the Greek word meaning down or soft feather, referring to the soft feather down covering the frame of the members of Leptotilos stork. The species name, falconeri was named in honor of Henri Falconer, who gathered the type specimen in the Sivalik Hills of India, to be later named by Alphonse Milne-Edwards in France.