The authors agree that this surname derives from the term carnevale, originally used as a given name to designate those who were born during the carnival period. A. Bongioanni notes that it is one of the many names alluding to the time of birth, and documents Latin forms such as Carnevalis, Carnevarius and Carnelevarius in Lombard and Piedmontese texts. Among the related variants he mentions Carnevali, Carlevari, Carlevaris and Carleveri.

E. Rossoni broadens this approach and indicates that all these surnames can also derive from nicknames given to people of a festive or buffoonish character. He specifies that carnevale became a proper name to designate the one "born the day before Ash Wednesday", and that it is documented as a proper name in the Modena area from the 12th century. According to Rossoni, Carnevale predominates in southern Italy, while Carnevali is more frequent in the centre-north. Carnevalli would in almost all cases be the result of transcription errors of Carnevali. Carnovale is typical of Calabria, with origin in the Vibo Valentia area, and Carnovali presents a markedly Lombard distribution, probably linked to the Brescia or Varese areas.