 The genus name is derived from the ancient Greek "aulós" (αὐλός, "flute") + "pygé" (πῦγή, "behind, rump"), and thus means approximately "fluted tail-stem".The specific name honours the Austrian naturalist and diplomat Charles von Hügel.Though the genus was established in 1841, the species was only mentioned but not described at that time; that happened the following year, and in 1843, the frequently-seen misspelling "huegeli" was introduced.