diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 219422bb9..2331deda2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 - Improve HTML rendering of tables. @bendichter [#998](https://github.com/hdmf-dev/hdmf/pull/998)
 - Improved issue and PR templates. @rly [#1004](https://github.com/hdmf-dev/hdmf/pull/1004)
 
+### Bug fixes
+- Fixed issue with custom class generation when a spec has a `name`. @rly [#1006](https://github.com/hdmf-dev/hdmf/pull/1006)
+
 ## HDMF 3.11.0 (October 30, 2023)
 
 ### Enhancements
diff --git a/src/hdmf/build/classgenerator.py b/src/hdmf/build/classgenerator.py
index 6a31f4cec..bdfbbc7da 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/build/classgenerator.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/build/classgenerator.py
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ def process_field_spec(cls, classdict, docval_args, parent_cls, attr_name, not_i
         fixed_value = getattr(field_spec, 'value', None)
         if fixed_value is not None:
             fields_conf['settable'] = False
-        if isinstance(field_spec, (BaseStorageSpec, LinkSpec)) and field_spec.data_type is not None:
-            # subgroups, datasets, and links with data types can have fixed names
+        if isinstance(field_spec, BaseStorageSpec) and field_spec.data_type is not None:
+            # subgroups and datasets with data types can have fixed names
             fixed_name = getattr(field_spec, 'name', None)
             if fixed_name is not None:
                 fields_conf['required_name'] = fixed_name
diff --git a/src/hdmf/spec/spec.py b/src/hdmf/spec/spec.py
index f383fd34a..cdc041c7b 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/spec/spec.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/spec/spec.py
@@ -816,11 +816,6 @@ def data_type_inc(self):
         ''' The data type of target specification '''
         return self.get(_target_type_key)
 
-    @property
-    def data_type(self):
-        ''' The data type of target specification '''
-        return self.get(_target_type_key)
-
     def is_many(self):
         return self.quantity not in (1, ZERO_OR_ONE)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/build_tests/test_classgenerator.py b/tests/unit/build_tests/test_classgenerator.py
index 5635b12d1..0c117820b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/build_tests/test_classgenerator.py
+++ b/tests/unit/build_tests/test_classgenerator.py
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ def setUp(self):
             ],
             links=[
                 LinkSpec(
-                    doc='A composition inside with a fixed name',
+                    doc='A composition inside without a fixed name',
                     name="my_baz1_link",
                     target_type='Baz1'
                 ),
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ def test_gen_parent_class(self):
             {'name': 'name', 'type': str, 'doc': 'the name of this container'},
             {'name': 'my_baz1', 'doc': 'A composition inside with a fixed name', 'type': baz1_cls},
             {'name': 'my_baz2', 'doc': 'A composition inside with a fixed name', 'type': baz2_cls},
-            {'name': 'my_baz1_link', 'doc': 'A composition inside with a fixed name', 'type': baz1_cls},
+            {'name': 'my_baz1_link', 'doc': 'A composition inside without a fixed name', 'type': baz1_cls},
         ))
 
     def test_init_fields(self):
@@ -537,8 +537,7 @@ def test_init_fields(self):
             },
             {
                 'name': 'my_baz1_link',
-                'doc': 'A composition inside with a fixed name',
-                'required_name': 'my_baz1_link'
+                'doc': 'A composition inside without a fixed name',
             },
         ))
 
@@ -548,7 +547,7 @@ def test_set_field(self):
         baz3_cls = self.type_map.get_dt_container_cls('Baz3', CORE_NAMESPACE)
         baz1 = baz1_cls(name="my_baz1")
         baz2 = baz2_cls(name="my_baz2")
-        baz1_link = baz1_cls(name="my_baz1_link")
+        baz1_link = baz1_cls(name="any_name")
         baz3 = baz3_cls(name="test", my_baz1=baz1, my_baz2=baz2, my_baz1_link=baz1_link)
         self.assertEqual(baz3.my_baz1, baz1)
         self.assertEqual(baz3.my_baz2, baz2)
@@ -573,13 +572,6 @@ def test_set_field_bad(self):
         with self.assertRaisesWith(ValueError, msg):
             baz3_cls(name="test", my_baz1=baz1, my_baz2=baz2, my_baz1_link=baz1_link)
 
-        baz1 = baz1_cls(name="my_baz1")
-        baz2 = baz2_cls(name="my_baz2")
-        baz1_link = baz1_cls(name="test")
-        msg = "Field 'my_baz1_link' on Baz3 must be named 'my_baz1_link'."
-        with self.assertRaisesWith(ValueError, msg):
-            baz3_cls(name="test", my_baz1=baz1, my_baz2=baz2, my_baz1_link=baz1_link)
-
 
 class TestGetClassSeparateNamespace(TestCase):
 
@@ -1049,7 +1041,7 @@ def test_process_field_spec_link(self):
             spec=GroupSpec('dummy', 'doc')
         )
 
-        expected = {'__fields__': [{'name': 'attr3', 'doc': 'a link', 'required_name': 'attr3'}]}
+        expected = {'__fields__': [{'name': 'attr3', 'doc': 'a link'}]}
         self.assertDictEqual(classdict, expected)
 
     def test_post_process_fixed_name(self):