From the given name Prosdocimo, a medieval given name from the old Greek Prosdokimos.

The surname Prosdocimi is of anthroponymic origin and derives from the personal name Prosdocimo, diffused in the Middle Ages, especially in the Padua area. On this point E. De Felice, F. De Laurentiis and E. Rossoni agree, noting that the name comes from the Greek Prosdókimos ("expected," "awaited"), adapted into Latin as Prosdocimus, and used as an auspicious name for long-desired children.

E. De Felice and F. De Laurentiis further highlight the importance of the cult of Saint Prosdocimus, considered the first bishop of Padua, which favoured the diffusion of the name in that region. Along the same lines, E. Rossoni confirms this origin and its rootedness in the local Christian tradition, consolidating its later transformation into a hereditary surname.