taxon Gadus chalcogrammus, highlighting its close genetic relationship to the other species of the cod genus Gadus. Since 2014, registries of scientific names for fish species (e.g. the United Nations' ASFIS list and the World Registry of Marine Species (WoRMS) have largely adopted the Gadus chalcogrammus name.

The change of the official scientific name was followed by a discussion to change the common name as well, to highlight the fish as a member of the cod genus. The common names "Alaska pollock" "pacific pollock" and "walleye pollock",