'Antlia' originates from Latin, ultimately from Greek 'ἀντλία' (antlía), meaning 'pump' (specifically an air or water pump).

'Antlia' was coined in the 18th century by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille as the Latin name 'Antlia Pneumatica' ('pneumatic pump'). The name was later shortened to the single-word constellation name 'Antlia'.

Initially it referred to the physical device 'pump'; over time the term was adopted as the name of a constellation and now primarily denotes that constellation in astronomical contexts.