Discovered in Java, Indonesia, by Heinrich Kuhl, the bluespotted stingray was earlier named Trygon kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841); later termed as Dasyatis kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841); followed by Neotrygon kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841). Today, all three scientific names of this species are in use.