We show that seven of nine previously overlooked names recently recorded as validly published in Agave L. (Agavaceae / Asparagaceae) only add to the already substantial nomenclatural burden of the genus. In one case, that of A. leopoldii [as “Leopoldea”] Rafarin, which was published in 1874 in the Revue Horticole in an article entitled ‘Souvenirs de l'Exposition Internationale d'Horticulture de Gand', could have an impact on the species-level nomenclatural stability of the genus, if a proposal to conserve the name is not accepted. For the sake of nomenclatural stability, a formal mechanism must be found to lessen or, ideally, entirely prevent, long-forgotten names that were never used from being introduced in preference to ones in long use.