Link Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: link /lɪŋk/
Origin: English; Japanese
Meaning: English: connection; Japanese: to link or join
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Link has uncertain etymological roots, but it is often associated with the English word 'link,' which derives from the Old English 'hlinc,' meaning 'a connection or bond.' This term evolved through Middle English as 'linke' before solidifying into its modern form. The word itself has connections to the Proto-Germanic '*linkō,' which also relates to the concept of joining or connecting, reflecting a broader linguistic heritage that spans various Germanic languages.
While the name Link is not traditionally recognized as a given name in historical texts, its usage has emerged more prominently in contemporary contexts, particularly influenced by popular culture. Historically, the concept of a 'link' has been significant in various cultural narratives, often symbolizing unity or connection.
In literature and folklore, links can represent the ties between individuals or communities, emphasizing themes of loyalty and kinship. The name Link gained further recognition in the late 20th century through the popular video game franchise 'The Legend of Zelda,' where the protagonist, Link, is depicted as a hero on a quest to connect different realms and restore peace.
This association has contributed to the name's cultural resonance, linking it to themes of adventure and heroism. While Link does not have a long-standing history as a personal name, its symbolic meaning and connections to ideas of unity and adventure have allowed it to find a place in modern naming conventions.
The name's association with the character from 'The Legend of Zelda' has imbued it with a sense of narrative significance, appealing to those who value storytelling and mythic journeys. As such, Link serves as a modern example of how names can evolve and gain new meanings through cultural influences.
Famous people named Link
In this section, you will find notable people named Link. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Link who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Link who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Link is a video game character best known for The Legend of Zelda series, Super Smash Bros., and Hyrule Warriors.
Fictional characters named Link
The following list of fictional characters named Link is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Link is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. He is the courageous hero tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda and defeating the evil Ganon.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Link, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Link. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Link was first seen in the United States in 1893.
Link has ranked as high as #1189 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Link has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Link is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Link was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Link (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 | |
| TX | 9 | |
| FL | 8 | |
| NY | 7 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| MN | 6 | |
| MO | 5 | |
| AL | 5 | |
| OK | 5 | |
| AZ | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Link.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 130 |
| 2023 | 146 |
| 2022 | 204 |
| 2021 | 156 |
| 2020 | 171 |
| 2019 | 151 |
| 2018 | 158 |
| 2017 | 135 |
| 2016 | 146 |
| 2015 | 134 |
| 2014 | 95 |
| 2013 | 73 |
| 2012 | 52 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1994 | 7 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1981 | 8 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 11 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1976 | 9 |
| 1975 | 15 |
| 1974 | 12 |
| 1973 | 13 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1971 | 20 |
| 1970 | 24 |
| 1969 | 10 |
| 1968 | 5 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1966 | 18 |
| 1965 | 11 |
| 1964 | 38 |
| 1963 | 29 |
| 1962 | 13 |
| 1961 | 16 |
| 1960 | 6 |
| 1959 | 11 |
| 1958 | 9 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1955 | 5 |
| 1954 | 9 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 11 |
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1949 | 15 |
| 1946 | 8 |
| 1945 | 7 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1931 | 6 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1927 | 9 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 7 |
| 1924 | 8 |
| 1921 | 7 |
| 1920 | 6 |
| 1919 | 7 |
| 1917 | 8 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1913 | 5 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1911 | 6 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1893 | 6 |