The surname Pilo shows a nickname origin with different possible interpretations. In this sense, V. Blunda links it with the Sicilian dialect word pìlu ('hair'), from the Latin pilus, which suggests a byname applied to people with distinctive hair characteristics, such as abundance, colour or particular features.

For his part, N. Bergamo proposes a possible Greek root in pelòs ('mud'), although this interpretation is less certain. In this way, the surname reflects mainly a descriptive origin based on physical traits, with an alternative hypothesis of a more uncertain etymological character.