In 1822 William Daniel Conybeare named it Mosasaurus after the Latin name (Mosa) of the Maas (Meuse) River passing along Mount Saint Peter, the second skull being the holotype, MNHNP AC9648.
En 1822 William Daniel Conybeare nomeouno Mosasaurus polo nome latino (Mosa) do río Maas (ou Meuse) que pasa xunto ao monte Saint Peter, sendo o segundo cranio o holotipo, MNHNP AC9648.