On 1 November 1947, Loeng Nok Tha was elevated to district (amphoe) status in Ubon Ratchathani Province.[2] When Yasothon was established as a province in 1972, Loeng Nok Tha was one of six districts reassigned to the new province.
Nok (fowl) Tha (painted), Isan for a species of bird similar to the guineafowl.
The area of Loeng Nok Tha is so called because there once were large numbers of nok tha living around the swamps of the region, but they have now disappeared almost entirely as a result of human habitation; not to be confused with similarly named Tambon Nong ('fen') Nok Tha (Thai: หนองนกทา) in Khemarat district, Ubon Ratchatani Province; or None ('hill') Nok Tha (Thai:โนนนกทา) a Thai prehistoric archaeological site in Phu Wiang district, Khon Kaen Province.