Limodorum utriculatum Sw. (1788) is the basionym. Other synonyms include:

• Cymbidium utriculatum (Sw.) Sw. (1799)
• Epidendrum utriculatum (Sw.) Poir. (1810)
• Govenia capitata Lindl. (1835)
• Govenia gardneri Hook. (1838)
• Govenia andrieuxii Rchb.f. (1852)
• Govenia sulphurea Rchb.f. (1885)
• Govenia boliviensis Rolfe (1895)
• Govenia ernsti Schltr. (1919)
• Govenia platyglossa Schltr. (1920)
• Govenia powellii Schltr. (1922)
• Govenia utriculata var. capitata (Lindl.) Correll (1947)