More hypothesis about the etymology of the name exist. Carbonara al Ticino overlooks the valley of Ticino and it covers an overall area of 14,65 km². More hypothesis about the etymology of the name exist. The name in Latin was Carbonaria Laumellorum and it could comes from carbonar ; in the dialect of the Liguria region they were the ditches excavated to collect the water coming from the fields or carbonaria, in reference to the preparation of coal.

Carbonara could also be connected to the valley below the village or to the fire of the forest by the inhabitants. It was situated in the forest Sylva Carbonaria and it was supposed to be along the via Ticinum-Duriis-Laumellum, as the milestone coming from Carbonara, but found in Pavia, would prove. So, it is supposed that the feudatory family of Carbonara took the name from it. In 1865, “al Ticino” was added to the name of the village.