 "Hakea laevipes" was first formally described in 1919 by Michel Gandoger and the description was published in "Bulletin de la Societe Botanique de France".The specific epithet ("laevipes") is derived from the Latin words "laevis" meaning "smooth", "polished" or "bald" and "pes" meaning "foot", since Gandoger described the species as having a smooth flower stalk.When Gandoger initially named the species he compared it to "H. leucopoda" and "H. incrassans", both synonyms of "H. dactyloides".