[1] The specific name honours the friend of the author, Oliver Lucanus, a collector and aquarist who supplied Lamboj with information on where to look for this species.

The first component, Enigmato refers to the word Enigma and chromis (ˈkrō-məs) is a Greek term meaning "fish".

[3] Upon its arrive through the aquarium fish trade in 2004 to USA, Canada, and Europe, many assumed this species to be of the genus Pelvicachromis because of its similarities in coloration to that of Pelvichachromis rollofi and females of Enigmatochromis will present a red abdomen which all females of Pelvicachromis possess during times of defense or spawning.

One of the most discernible ways to determine gender in adult specimens is the crimson red that can be seen on the abdomen of territorial females.

This characteristic of dimorphism with similar body morphology of Pelvicachromis, would cause confusion of initial ornamental fish importers in 2004.