Leptaena tenuistriata was named by de Sowerby and Murchison (1839) [= 1871 Strophomena rhomboidalis (Wilckens); Davidson, p. 281 pars, pl. 39, fig. 19, non figs 1–18, 20–21, nec pl. 44, fig. 1.]. Its type specimen is GSM Geol. Soc. Coll. 6860, a shell (external mould of both conjoined valves), and it is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Leptaena (Leptaena) tenuistriata by Cocks (2010).