ðə dʒənˈɛɹɪk nˈeɪm ɪz ɐ kˈɑːmpaʊnd nˈaʊn dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə mˈaʊɹi rjˈuːæ mˈiːnɪŋ ˈiːðɚ "fˈɪʃ" ɔːɹ "hˈoʊl" ænd nˈoʊhoʊ mˈiːnɪŋ tuː "dwˈɛl" wˌɪtʃ ɹᵻfˈɜːz tə ðə hˈæbɪt ʌvðə spˈiːsiːz ɪn ðɪs dʒˈɛnəs tə ʃˈɛltɚɹ ˌʌndɚ ɹˈɑːks ɔːɹ wɪðˌɪn kɹˈɛvɪsᵻz.
The generic name is a compound noun derived from the Māori rua meaning either "fish" or "hole" and noho meaning to "dwell" which refers to the habit of the species in this genus to shelter under rocks or within crevices.