Given name & surname
Link
“lake”·“from the village near the lake”
Link is a variant of Lincoln. Interpretations include “lake” and “from the village near the lake” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Link is a variant of Lincoln. Interpretations include “lake” and “from the village near the lake” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Link is a variant of Lincoln. An origin associated with Lincoln is English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Link is a diminutive of Lincoln.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1893. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Link is a variant of Lincoln. The history of Lincoln gives this family its wider story. Lincoln’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Link through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,689
- 2,689 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 204 babies
- 2025
- 108
- #1,579 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 108 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,579 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (11). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,641 as a first name in 2020; 21,010 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Link’s family of names
In English usage, Link is a diminutive of Lincoln. In German usage, Link as a surname has a related form in LENK. Link has a related form in Lincoln.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Link has relatives in 3 languages.
7 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Link
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Link, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lane
“one who takes the narrow path”
93% boys · 7% girls
Lian
“of the willow”
90% boys · 10% girls
Lucca
“surrounded by light”
93% boys · 7% girls
Hank
“the ruler of the house” · “home”
>99% boys
Lawson
“the son of Lawrence”
96% boys · 4% girls
Legend
“one who is memorable”
97% boys · 3% girls
Lucian
“surrounded by light”
>99% boys
Leonel
“resembling a lion” · “resembling a young lion”
>99% boys