The common name is squill, but this has also been applied to a number of taxa not included in Scilla.

[2] The number of species varies from 30 to about 80, depending on how narrowly or widely the genus is defined.

In the narrow circumscription (e.g Speta 1998) a number of species are segregated into eight separate smaller genera.

[5] As of 2022[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[6] A hybrid has been named: The common bluebell of British and European bluebell woods, still occasionally referred to by a former name, Scilla non-scripta, is now known as Hyacinthoides non-scripta.

Several African species previously classified in Scilla have been removed to the genus Ledebouria.