This unusual name for a variety of zebra has been adopted from the Hottentot speaking indigenous people of the South African interior.

The name "Quagga" has been spelt in a variety of ways, according to the language in which it is used. Pronounced correctly, the double "g" as a guttural "ch", as in the Scottish word "loch", and with the emphasis on the first syllable."

Quagga" is an imitation of the animals call, which it shared with the other Plains Zebras. The Quagga’s nearest relative, the "true" Burchell’s Zebra, subspecies Equus quagga burchelli (also extinct), to the north of the Quagga’s distribution, became known as the "Bontquagga".

Unfortunately this distinction has often been omitted, and both forms were simply referred to as "Quagga". Eventually the term "Quagga" became used, especially in Afrikaans, for any zebra, including the other two species, Mountain Zebra and Grevy Zebra (the latter which occurrs only in East Africa).