diff --git a/xarray/core/indexes.py b/xarray/core/indexes.py
index c233c6911e4..094a3a50b10 100644
--- a/xarray/core/indexes.py
+++ b/xarray/core/indexes.py
@@ -786,8 +786,16 @@ def create_variables(
         attrs: Mapping[Hashable, Any] | None
         encoding: Mapping[Hashable, Any] | None
 
-        if variables is not None and name in variables:
-            var = variables[name]
+        if variables is not None:
+            if name in variables:
+                var = variables[name]
+            else:
+                # temp fix for PandasIndex subclasses that
+                # do not update self.index.name in the
+                # (overridden) PandasIndex.from_variables()
+                assert len(variables) == 1
+                name, var = next(iter(variables.items()))
+                self.index.name = name
             attrs = var.attrs
             encoding = var.encoding
         else: