[2][3][4][5][6] Eucalyptus goniocalyx was first formally described in 1856 by Friedrich Miquel from an unpublished description by Ferdinand von Mueller.

All five are accepted subspecies at the Australian Plant Census:[9] The specific epithet goniocalyx is from the Greek gonia meaning 'angle' and calyx (referring to the flower bud or hypanthium).

The epithet laxa is derived from the Latin laxus, 'loose', referring to loosely attached bark and viridissima is based on the Latin word viridis meaning 'green' with the suffix issimus 'very', referring to the bright green juvenile leaves of the subspecies.

Subspecies exposa only occurs in the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound areas where it grows on the summits of peaks, often with E. flindersii.

Subspecies fallax is only known from a single occurrence in forest, south of Mount Blackwood, near Greendale in central Victoria.