The surname Pica is of nickname origin and derives from the Latin term pica ('magpie'), used as a byname in popular tradition. On this point E. De Felice, F. De Laurentiis, E. Rossoni and V. Blunda agree, noting that the surname arises from this bird name, widely diffused in the central-southern and dialect sphere.

From the semantic point of view, E. De Felice and F. De Laurentiis highlight its figurative use to describe a talkative, gossipy or slanderous person, while V. Blunda adds other possible nuances associated with the magpie, such as curiosity or the tendency to appropriate shiny objects. Along the same lines, E. Rossoni confirms the origin in this Latin word, consolidating its interpretation as a descriptive nickname transformed into a hereditary surname.