The Azure-naped jay was first described by Alan F. Gentry based on a single specimen, marked as a male, from the T. B. Wilson Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

[2] The genus Cyanocorax comes from the Ancient Greek kuanos (dark blue) and korax (raven).

The species epithet heilprini honours Gentry's friend, Professor Angelo Heilprin.

[3] There are two identified subspecies: The back is dark brown, as are the upper sides of the wings and tail.

The front and sides of the head are black, with the feathers of the forecrown and forehead curled up and forwards in a short bushy crest.