The surname Amari is of nickname origin and is linked mainly to Sicily, in particular to the Palermo area. According to E. De Felice, it derives from the Sicilian adjective amaru ("bitter"), which in dialectal use could also mean "unhappy" or "wretched". This type of nickname, based on character traits, life experiences or social perceptions, was common in the formation of medieval surnames.

As for its diffusion, E. De Felice notes that the surname is characteristic of Sicily and especially of the Palermo area, which reinforces its local dialectal origin.

For his part, F. De Laurentiis fully agrees with this interpretation, indicating that the surname is based on the same adjective amaru, with the meanings of "bitter" but also "unhappy" or "unfortunate".

V. Blunda offers a different interpretation, noting that it is a Sicilian surname of Arabic origin, a legacy of the Emirate of Sicily (827–1091). It derives from the etymon ammar, meaning "the brave one". He adds that among its most illustrious bearers is Michele Amari (1806–1889), a Palermitan historian, author of the monumental Storia dei Musulmani di Sicilia, a foundational work in the study of the Arab presence on the island.