It originally described as a genus in 1947 by Robert Kühner, but the description was invalid until it was re-published in 1971, though as a subgenus of Rhodocybe.

It did not find favour as a genus until Rhodocybe was found to be polyphyletic and Kluting et al. resurrected the name in 2014 as part of a DNA-based reclassification of the family.

[1][2] Rhodophana is distinguished from other genera of the Entolomataceae because there are clamp connections and based on the structure of the cap skin.

This genus has a thin outer cutis in a single layer merging into the main trama whilst other family members have a two-layer cap skin.

[1] The name is derived from "rhodon" (ῥόδον) = "rose" (referring to the pink colour of the spores and gills) and "phanos" (φανός) = bright or conspicuous (referring to the cap colour).