Boy · Latin · New Testament

Aquila

AK-wih-luh · means “Eagle”

Aquila is a Latin name meaning "eagle." He was a Jewish tentmaker who, with his wife Priscilla, became one of the apostle Paul's closest partners in ministry, hosting a church in their home and helping teach the eloquent preacher Apollos more accurately about Jesus (Acts 18).

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me.”

The story behind the name

Aquila, a Jew originally from Pontus, had recently arrived in Corinth with his wife Priscilla after Emperor Claudius ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul, sharing the same trade of tentmaking, stayed and worked with them, and the three became close partners in ministry (Acts 18:1-3).

Aquila and Priscilla traveled with Paul to Ephesus and stayed on there, and it was in their home that they heard Apollos teaching boldly but incompletely, and took him aside to explain the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:24-26). Paul later calls them his fellow workers who risked their own necks for his life (Romans 16:3-4).

Aquila's story shows how ordinary skill and steady hospitality can build the church as much as public preaching does. A boy named Aquila carries a name meaning eagle, fitting for a life spent quietly strengthening others in the faith.

Middle names that sing with Aquila

Chosen for rhythm and meanings that speak to each other.

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