In Earth literature, Pinocchio was a wooden puppet who longed to become a real boy.
William T. Riker referred to Data as "Pinocchio" upon learning of Data's desire to be Human. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") When forced to argue the case that Data was only a machine, he referenced the name again to demonstrate how, though Data aspired to be a living human being, he was not and never would be one. (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man")