The surname Zini is interpreted, according to the main scholars, from an anthroponymic origin linked to hypocoristic forms, that is, abbreviated or affectionate forms of personal names. E. De Felice notes that it derives from Zino, an aphaeretic form (with the loss of the initial syllable) of diminutives in -ino of numerous names such as Lorenzino, Vincenzino, Innocenzino or Terenzino. Likewise, he indicates that in northern Italy —especially in the Venezie and in Emilia-Romagna— Zino functions as an equivalent of forms such as Cino and Gino, reflecting phonetic adaptations typical of those areas.

For his part, E. Rossoni agrees with this interpretation, noting that the surname may derive from the loss of the initial syllable in names such as Lorenzino, Vincenzino, Domizio, Ignazio or Eustazio, among others. This type of phonetic evolution was very frequent in the formation of surnames, especially in dialectal contexts where long names tended to be simplified in everyday use.