Two theories of the term paparazzi

One theory is that an Italian film producer, Federico Fellini, modelled a film after Secchiarioli, calling him Paparazzo because the word reminded him of a buzzing insect that is always hovering, darting, stinging. The film La Dolce Vita came out in 1960 and meant "the sweet life."

Another theory is that the word came from an Italian hotel manager, Coriolono Paparazzo. English author George Gissing wrote a travel book in 1901 and recorded the name in it. Later in 1958, Ennio Flaiano, the screenwriter on the film, read the book and found the name, Paparazzo.