Both the specific name, oldhamii, and the common name, Oldham's leaf turtle, are in honor of Thomas Oldham, Superintendent of the Geological Survey of India.

[5] The generic name Cyclemys comes from the Greek κύκλος (kyklos, meaning 'round' or 'circle', referring to the shape of the carapace) and εμύς (emys; 'freshwater turtle').

[6] C. oldhamii is found in Bangladesh, in the terai of mizoram, in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, West Borneo, Sumatra and Java.

In addition, Cyclemys oldhami shanensis – sometimes considered a distinct species due to its shell pattern, oft described as looking similar to aged meat - occurs from central Myanmar to Thailand and Cambodia.

[7] In Germany, a case of hybridization between a male Cyclemys (oldhamii) shanensis and a female Chinese stripe-necked turtle has been described.