The surname Pacifici is of anthroponymic origin and derives from the personal name Pacifico, coming from the Late Latin Pacificus, with the meaning "lover of peace" or "one who promotes peace". On this point E. De Felice and E. Rossoni agree, noting that it is a name diffused as early as the Middle Ages and later fixed as a hereditary surname.

E. De Felice adds that, in many cases, the surname may represent the translation of the Hebrew name Solomon (Shelomoh), which explains its presence among Italian Jewish families. Along the same lines, E. Rossoni confirms its historical use in notarial documents and its continuity as a surname, reinforcing its origin in a personal name of an auspicious and symbolic character.