Some of the common names applied to this snake are terciopelo, fer-de-lance,[REF] barba amarilla (Guatemala, Honduras; "yellow beard"), equis (Ecuador & Panama; "x"),[REF] taya equis (Colombia), cuaima (Venezuela), nauyaca (México; from Nahuatl nahui, four, and yacatl, nose; "four noses"),[REF] and yellow-jaw tommygoff (Belize).
The name fer-de-lance is commonly used in North America to refer to this species, as well as to B. atrox, although B. atrox is more commonly referred to as the "lancehead" in North America.