More than 3000 minerals have been recognized and named. Each year, worldwide research by mineralogists adds about 100 new minerals to the list. New mineral names are approved by the Commission of New Minerals and New Mineral Names established in 1959 by the International Mineralogical Association.

Minerals can be named after a locality (athabascaite), an institution (mcgillite), the chemical composition (cobaltite) or in honour of a person. The mineralogist who has conducted the scientific study to determine a new mineral normally has the privilege of suggesting its name to the International Committee.

Weloganite was discovered in 1966 by GSC mineralogist Ann Sabina who was investigating mineral occurrences in a Montreal area limestone quarry. The GSC's John Jambor and George Plant conducted a study of the mineral's composition, discovering a new strontium zirconium carbonate.

The mineral is named after the GSC's first director, William E. Logan. In 1851, the Survey's T. Sterry Hunt had given the name loganite to a mineral from Calumet Island in the Ottawa River. But the Fifth Edition of Dana's System of Mineralogy (1868) denied it species stature and so both loganite and weloganite were considered as possible names for the new mineral. The name weloganite was approved by the Commission in 1968. The mineral is white, lemon-yellow or amber in colour with colourless and transparent fragments.