The surname Paladini is of anthroponymic origin and derives from the medieval name Paladino, diffused in Italy from the 12th century. On this point E. De Felice and E. Rossoni agree, noting that the term comes from the Latin Paladinus and became popular with the Carolingian epic, where it designated the knights who accompanied Charlemagne.

E. De Felice highlights its link with the literary tradition of the "paladins", while E. Rossoni confirms its broad diffusion in the Middle Ages and documents its subsequent transformation into a hereditary surname. In this way, the surname reflects the influence of chivalric literature in the formation of personal names that later gave rise to Italian surnames.