How did our hero get such a dashing, manly name, you wonder? All will be revealed.
The name Link stems from the fact that Miyamoto wanted players to feel a "link" with the character they were controlling. As for Zelda, Mr. Miyamoto is a fan of Zelda Fitzgerald, author F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife.
In Japanese, Link's name is written using the katakana リ (ri) ン (n) and ク (ku). リンク is pronounced "ree-n-kew". (U's in Japanese are pronounced ooh, like the -ou sound in "you".)
Link is an English name, meaning "from the bank." And a bank is: "the rising ground bordering a lake, river, or sea or forming the edge of a cut or hollow." Hooray, Webster!
link - (noun)
1. any of the series of rings or loops making up a chain
2. anything serving to connect or tie (a link with the past)
3. a point or stage in a series of circumstances (a weak link in the evidence)
The following was taken from Kabalarians:
Your name of Link has given you an idealistic nature with a desire to help others. Your initiative often causes you to be the first to act when you see a need. Since you are impressionable and receptive, you feel the misfortunes of others very keenly. However, this name makes it awkward for you to express your deeper thoughts and feelings with finesse and diplomacy to the extent that your candid, sometimes blunt, manner of speaking creates misunderstandings with others.
Being somewhat self-centered, you learn through your own experiences, as you rarely take advice from others. Yet, you are sensitive and very easily hurt and offended. You long for praise and appreciation for your efforts, but others find it difficult to understand you. You dislike monotony and system and enjoy being creative in an inventive way whether it be in interior decorating, music, art, crafts, or other endeavors that require versatility and skill. You are imaginative and visionary, somewhat of a perfectionist, yet the results of your efforts often fall short of your high expectations.
A leadership position appeals to you because you would enjoy directing others rather than being directed. Your feelings are strong and you tend to react intensely to situations. Because of your sensitive nervous system, over-stress and extreme tiredness could cause nervous disorders, seizures, fainting, or dizziness. You could also experience head tension such as headaches, weak eyes, or throat problems.