This publication details the etymology of all available names given to the extant members of the odonate family Ephaeidae. Nine of the 15 available genus-group names are presently considered valid, two names have been rejected as homonyms and four are synonyms. Of the 101 available species-group names, 79 are presently regarded as valid species, one is a subspecies and 21 are synonyms. A synonymc checklist of extant Euphaeidae is presented, with an annotated list of the author names. Where available information on the primary type of each species-group taxon is given, including type locality, collector and the present type depository. The historical development of knowledge of euphaeid diversity beginning in 1840 is discussed. A grouping of the 116 taxon names according to the meaning of their roots is presented as an appendix.