The genus was named and described in 2002 by Stephen Czerkas and Debra Mickelson. The type species is Utahdactylus kateae. The genus name is derived from Utah and Greek daktylos, "finger". The specific name means "for Kate", referring to Kate Mickelson. The holotype consists of some disarticulated bone fragments preserved on several chalkstone blocks. It is housed in the Dinosaur Museum, run by Czerkas himself.