The genus was named in 1927 by Friedrich von Huene but without a description, so that it remained a nomen nudum.[1] In 1929 the type species, Laplatasaurus aurakanicus, was described by von Huene.[2] The generic name refers to La Plata. The specific name is derived from the Auracanos or Mapuche. By accident von Huene in 1929 also mentioned a "Laplatasaurus wichmannianus" but that was a lapsus calami for Antarctosaurus wichmannianus. In 1933 however, he and Charles Alfred Matley renamed Titanosaurus madagascariensis to Laplatasaurus madagascariensis.[3] This last species is today commonly referred to the original Titanosaurus.