Aquill
Of uncertain origin, may derive from Latin words related to eagle or water.
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Aquill. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Aquill today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Aquill births was 1995 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Aquill. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Aquill. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1995
7 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
1995 SSA rank
#7,029
Tracked since 1995
Popularity
Aquill: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Aquill by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Aquill during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Aquill
The name Aquill has its origins in the ancient Gaulish language, spoken by the Celtic tribes that inhabited parts of modern-day France and Belgium during the Iron Age. It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Celtic root *akwa, meaning "water" or "river". This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near bodies of water or had some connection to aquatic environments.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Aquill can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who documented the campaigns of the Roman legions against the Gaulish tribes in the 1st century AD. In his work "Annals", Tacitus makes reference to a Gaulish chieftain named Aquillus, who led a rebellion against the Roman occupation.
During the Middle Ages, the name Aquill appears to have been relatively uncommon, with few recorded instances. However, in the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name emerged in the form of Aquill Wykes, an English monk and historian who lived from 1512 to 1586. Wykes is best known for his chronicle "Antiquitates Monasterii Burtonensis", which documented the history of Burton Abbey in Staffordshire.
In the 17th century, the name gained some prominence in the literary world with the birth of Aquill Rose (1605-1677), an English poet and playwright. Rose is remembered for his works such as "The Mistress" and "The Exposition upon the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England".
Another notable figure with the name Aquill was Aquill Barclay (1718-1792), a Scottish writer and philosopher. Barclay was a proponent of the Scottish Enlightenment and wrote extensively on topics such as ethics, theology, and natural law.
Crossing over into the 20th century, we find Aquill Chamberlain (1919-2001), an American author and historian who specialized in the study of Native American cultures. Chamberlain's works, including "The Havasupai People" and "Raven's Cry", have been widely acclaimed for their insights into indigenous societies.
It is worth noting that while the name Aquill has its roots in ancient Celtic traditions, its usage has been relatively rare throughout history. This scarcity may contribute to the name's unique and distinctive quality, making it a intriguing choice for those seeking a name with a rich historical background and a connection to the natural world.
People
Aquill + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Aquill as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Aquill: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Aquill?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Aquill going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Aquill a common name?
We classify Aquill as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Aquill most popular?
The single biggest year for Aquill was 1995, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Aquill is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Aquill in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Aquill a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Aquill in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Aquill still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Aquill in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Aquill can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Aquill?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.