diff --git a/crates/optimize/src/links.rs b/crates/optimize/src/links.rs
index bef69c43b7..485e7912f0 100644
--- a/crates/optimize/src/links.rs
+++ b/crates/optimize/src/links.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 //! refers to.
 
 use std::collections::{HashSet, VecDeque};
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use pdfcraft_cos::{Dict, Document, ObjRef, Object, PdfString};
 
@@ -164,6 +165,8 @@ pub(crate) fn remove_invalid(doc: &mut Document, pages: &[ObjRef]) -> Result<(us
 fn referenced_names(doc: &Document) -> HashSet<Vec<u8>> {
     let mut out = HashSet::new();
     let mut seen = HashSet::new();
+    let mut named_refs = HashSet::new();
+    let mut named_held: std::collections::HashMap<*const Object, Arc<Object>> = std::collections::HashMap::new();
     let mut stack = vec![Object::Dict(doc.trailer().clone())];
     if let Some(r) = doc.root() {
         stack.push(Object::Ref(r));
@@ -180,11 +183,26 @@ fn referenced_names(doc: &Document) -> HashSet<Vec<u8>> {
                 // string, and an unresolved ref has no name, so the destination it uses would
                 // look unreferenced and be removed. A GoToR or GoToE /D names a destination in
                 // another document, so it does not count as a use of this one's.
-                if let Some(n) = d.get(b"Dest").and_then(|x| dest_name(doc.resolve(x).as_ref())) {
+                // A name given by reference is copied once, however many dictionaries (or aliases
+                // of the object) name it. The objects are kept so an address is never reused.
+                let mut named = |x: Option<&Object>| {
+                    let x = x?;
+                    if let Object::Ref(r) = x
+                        && !named_refs.insert(*r)
+                    {
+                        return None;
+                    }
+                    let held = doc.resolve(x);
+                    if matches!(x, Object::Ref(_)) && named_held.insert(Arc::as_ptr(&held), held.clone()).is_some() {
+                        return None;
+                    }
+                    dest_name(held.as_ref())
+                };
+                if let Some(n) = named(d.get(b"Dest")) {
                     out.insert(n);
                 }
                 if d.name(b"S") == Some(b"GoTo")
-                    && let Some(n) = d.get(b"D").and_then(|x| dest_name(doc.resolve(x).as_ref()))
+                    && let Some(n) = named(d.get(b"D"))
                 {
                     out.insert(n);
                 }
diff --git a/crates/optimize/tests/optimize.rs b/crates/optimize/tests/optimize.rs
index eee2e9570c..5bb20e8159 100644
--- a/crates/optimize/tests/optimize.rs
+++ b/crates/optimize/tests/optimize.rs
@@ -4439,6 +4439,36 @@ fn indirectly_referenced_destination_is_kept() {
     assert!(!left.contains(&b"unused".to_vec()));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn many_links_naming_one_destination_string_by_reference_keep_it() {
+    // The name string is copied once however many links name it by reference; it is still a use.
+    let mut doc = Document::new_empty();
+    let p = page(&mut doc, &[], "BT ET");
+    let s = |t: &str| Object::String(pdfcraft_cos::PdfString::literal(t.as_bytes().to_vec()));
+    let name_ref = Object::Ref(doc.add(s("target")));
+    let links: Vec<Object> = (0..50)
+        .map(|_| {
+            let mut link = Dict::new();
+            link.set(b"Subtype".to_vec(), Object::name("Link"));
+            link.set(b"Rect".to_vec(), Object::Array(vec![0.into(), 0.into(), 10.into(), 10.into()]));
+            link.set(b"Dest".to_vec(), name_ref.clone());
+            Object::Ref(doc.add(Object::Dict(link)))
+        })
+        .collect();
+    doc.update_dict(p, |d| d.set(b"Annots".to_vec(), Object::Array(links))).unwrap();
+    let fit = Object::Array(vec![Object::Ref(p), Object::name("Fit")]);
+    let mut tree = Dict::new();
+    tree.set(b"Names".to_vec(), Object::Array(vec![s("target"), fit.clone(), s("unused"), fit]));
+    let tree = doc.add(Object::Dict(tree));
+    let mut names = Dict::new();
+    names.set(b"Dests".to_vec(), Object::Ref(tree));
+    let root = doc.root().unwrap();
+    doc.update_dict(root, |c| c.set(b"Names".to_vec(), Object::Dict(names))).unwrap();
+    let report = optimize(&mut doc, &Settings::default()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(report.unreferenced_dests, 1);
+    assert_eq!(named_dest_keys(&doc), vec![b"target".to_vec()]);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn a_destination_named_only_by_a_remote_or_embedded_go_to_is_removed() {
     // The /D of a GoToR or GoToE action names a destination in another document. A local