NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Link

A masculine name derived from an old English word meaning "ridge" or "flat top".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Link is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Link popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 14 births.

This profile covers 105 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2013 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 79% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 104 living people in the UK are called Link. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Link ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 14 boys were registered as Link.
  • About 104 living people in the UK are estimated to have Link as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2088

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2021

14 births

Estimated living

104

2026

Meaning

What does Link mean?

The name Link has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the word "lenc" which means a ring or a link in a chain. This name likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Link is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership and property values commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The name appears as a surname, indicating that it was already in use as a given name at that time.

In medieval times, the name Link may have been associated with occupations related to metal-working or armor-making, as the term "link" referred to the interconnected rings or links found in chain mail and other types of protective gear.

One notable historical figure with the name Link was Link Syverud, a Norwegian-American author and educator who lived from 1904 to 1981. He was known for his contributions to the field of education and his advocacy for democratic values.

Another individual with this name was Link Wray, an American rock and roll guitarist who was born in 1929 and passed away in 2005. He is renowned for his innovative guitar playing techniques and his influential instrumental hit "Rumble," which is considered a landmark in the development of the guitar-based rock genre.

During the Renaissance period, the name Link was occasionally used as a given name, although it remained relatively uncommon. One example is Link Luckett, an English composer and organist who lived from around 1520 to 1594. He is known for his contributions to the development of English church music during the Reformation era.

In the 19th century, the name Link gained some popularity in the United States, particularly among families with German or Scandinavian heritage. One notable American with this name was Link Henry, a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1912 to 1920.

Another historical figure with the name Link was Link Crew, an American outlaw and gunfighter who was active in the American Old West during the late 19th century. He was known for his involvement in various conflicts and feuds in the frontier territories of the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Link over time

The chart below shows babies named Link registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Link, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Link
0471114201320182024

Decades

Link by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Link was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2007 57 5
2010s #2587 48 6

Related

Names similar to Link

FAQ

Link: questions and answers

How popular is the name Link in the UK right now?

In 2024, Link was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Link most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 14 babies registered as Link in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Link?

A masculine name derived from an old English word meaning "ridge" or "flat top".

How many people are called Link in the UK?

A total of 105 babies have been registered as Link across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.