Acis tingitana was first described in 1878 by John Gilbert Baker, as Leucojum tingitanum.[3] The specific epithet tingitanus refers to Tangier, in Morocco.[4] In 1934, René Maire described Leucojum fontianum.[5] Although in 1987 Brian Mathew regarded the two species as distinct, in 1992, he synonymized them.[6] In 2004, Leucojum tingitanum was transferred to the genus Acis, along with other species of Leucojum, on the basis of a molecular phylogenetic study.[7]