The surname Picca shows a nickname origin with different possible interpretations. In this sense, E. Rossoni notes that it could derive from nicknames related to the pica (a medieval weapon), which would indicate a reference to the activity or condition of the bearer, or else from the term pica ('magpie'), in line with other surnames formed from animal names.

For his part, V. Blunda proposes an alternative interpretation of Sicilian dialect origin, linking it with the word pìcca ('little'), used as a nickname, sometimes ironically, to describe physical or behavioural characteristics. In this way, the surname may reflect different kinds of bynames arisen in diverse linguistic and social contexts.