The genus was named and described in 1999 by Bryn Mader and Alexander Kellner, and it means "wing of the Sirocco", referring to the warm wind that originates in the North Africa and then goes through the Mediterranean, along with the Greek word pteryx, which translates as "wings". The designation of the type species, S. moroccensis refers to Morocco, since that it is the first pterosaur described in this country.[1][2]