The name heterodoxa, meaning variable, was given to the species by J.A. Steyermark who had observed that considerable variation occurs within this species. An expedition to the locus classicus of H. heterodoxa on the southwestern slopes of Ptari-tepui undertaken in May 2018 confirmed occurrences of one other species of Heliamphora, H. collina, as well as a H. collina x purpurascens hybrid swarm being present at the very same location.