diff --git a/include/arch/arc/v2/linker.ld b/include/arch/arc/v2/linker.ld
index 18ffade96ac..248521957bd 100644
--- a/include/arch/arc/v2/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/arc/v2/linker.ld
@@ -178,10 +178,14 @@ SECTIONS {
 
 #include <linker/common-noinit.ld>
 
+	GROUP_START(DATA_REGION)
+
+	__data_region_start = .;
+
 	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,) {
 
 /* when XIP, .text is in ROM, but vector table must be at start of .data */
-		__data_ram_start = .;
+		__data_start = .;
 		*(".data")
 		*(".data.*")
 		*(".kernel.*")
@@ -191,9 +195,14 @@ SECTIONS {
  */
 #include <snippets-rwdata.ld>
 
+		__data_end = .;
+
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	__data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+	__data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+	__data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+
+	__data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 #include <linker/kobject-data.ld>
@@ -209,7 +218,8 @@ SECTIONS {
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-	__data_ram_end = .;
+	__data_region_end = .;
+
 	MPU_MIN_SIZE_ALIGN
 	/* Define linker symbols */
 	_image_ram_end = .;
diff --git a/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_a_r/scripts/linker.ld b/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_a_r/scripts/linker.ld
index 9b628593527..255f2dd3950 100644
--- a/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_a_r/scripts/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_a_r/scripts/linker.ld
@@ -278,9 +278,11 @@ SECTIONS
 
 #include <linker/common-noinit.ld>
 
+    __data_region_start = .;
+
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
     {
-        __data_ram_start = .;
+        __data_start = .;
         *(.data)
         *(".data.*")
         *(".kernel.*")
@@ -293,10 +295,13 @@ SECTIONS
 #ifdef CONFIG_CODE_DATA_RELOCATION
 #include <linker_sram_data_relocate.ld>
 #endif
+        __data_end = .;
 
     } GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+    __data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+    __data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
-    __data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+    __data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 #include <linker/kobject-data.ld>
@@ -307,7 +312,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
+    __data_region_end = .;
 
 
     /* Define linker symbols */
diff --git a/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld b/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld
index 9d2044ac4d8..543b5a8142f 100644
--- a/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/arm/aarch32/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld
@@ -292,9 +292,13 @@ SECTIONS
 
 #endif  /* CONFIG_USERSPACE */
 
+    GROUP_START(DATA_REGION)
+
+    __data_region_start = .;
+
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
-	__data_ram_start = .;
+	__data_start = .;
 	*(.data)
 	*(".data.*")
 	*(".kernel.*")
@@ -307,10 +311,13 @@ SECTIONS
 #ifdef CONFIG_CODE_DATA_RELOCATION
 #include <linker_sram_data_relocate.ld>
 #endif
+	__data_end = .;
 
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+    __data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+    __data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
-    __data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+    __data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 #include <linker/kobject-data.ld>
@@ -322,7 +329,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
+    __data_region_end = .;
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_USERSPACE
    SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME,(NOLOAD),)
diff --git a/include/arch/arm64/scripts/linker.ld b/include/arch/arm64/scripts/linker.ld
index bf8ddb07ae6..573aee7dee3 100644
--- a/include/arch/arm64/scripts/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/arm64/scripts/linker.ld
@@ -248,9 +248,11 @@ SECTIONS
 
 #include <linker/common-noinit.ld>
 
+    __data_region_start = .;
+
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
     {
-        __data_ram_start = .;
+	__data_start = .;
         *(.data)
         *(".data.*")
         *(".kernel.*")
@@ -260,9 +262,13 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-rwdata.ld>
 
-    } GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+        __data_end = .;
 
-    __data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+    } GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+    __data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+    __data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+
+    __data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 #include <linker/kobject-data.ld>
@@ -273,7 +279,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
+    __data_region_end = .;
 
 
     /* Define linker symbols */
diff --git a/include/arch/nios2/linker.ld b/include/arch/nios2/linker.ld
index 70a3cc7f01d..d54dc2defd3 100644
--- a/include/arch/nios2/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/nios2/linker.ld
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ SECTIONS
         }
 
     GROUP_START(ROMABLE_REGION)
-    _image_rom_start = _ROM_ADDR;
+    __rom_region_start = _ROM_ADDR;
 
     SECTION_PROLOGUE(_RESET_SECTION_NAME,,)
     {
@@ -119,21 +119,21 @@ SECTIONS
          * we are going to waste flash space? */
         . = ALT_CPU_RESET_ADDR;
 
-        _image_text_start = .;
+        __text_region_start = .;
 
         *(.text)
         *(".text.*")
         *(.gnu.linkonce.t.*)
         } GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-    _image_text_end = .;
+    __text_region_end = .;
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_GP_ALL_DATA)
         _gp = ABSOLUTE(. + 0x8000);
         PROVIDE(gp = _gp);
 #endif
 
-    _image_rodata_start = .;
+    __rodata_region_start = .;
 
 #include <linker/common-rom.ld>
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ SECTIONS
     _image_rodata_size = _image_rodata_end - _image_rodata_start;
 
     _image_rom_end = .;
-    __data_rom_start = ALIGN(4);    /* XIP imaged DATA ROM start addr */
+    __data_region_load_start = ALIGN(4);    /* XIP imaged DATA ROM start addr */
 
     GROUP_END(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ SECTIONS
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_EXCEPTION_SECTION_NAME,,)
         {
             _image_ram_start = .;
-            __data_ram_start = .;
+            __data_region_start = .;
 
             KEEP(*(".exception.entry.*"))
             *(".exception.other.*")
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
         {
+	__data_start = .;
         *(.data)
         *(".data.*")
 
@@ -223,8 +224,11 @@ SECTIONS
  * zephyr_linker_sources() Cmake function.
  */
 #include <snippets-ram-sections.ld>
+	__data_end = .;
 
         } GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+    __data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+    __data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/cplusplus-ram.ld>
 
@@ -233,7 +237,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
+    __data_region_end = .;
 
 	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME,(NOLOAD),)
         {
diff --git a/include/arch/posix/linker.ld b/include/arch/posix/linker.ld
index 3cc2d44069f..d56260e76af 100644
--- a/include/arch/posix/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/posix/linker.ld
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
- __data_ram_end = .;
+__data_region_end = .;
 
 /* Located in generated directory. This file is populated by the
  * zephyr_linker_sources() Cmake function.
diff --git a/include/arch/riscv/common/linker.ld b/include/arch/riscv/common/linker.ld
index bc3475e321d..7ac29711074 100644
--- a/include/arch/riscv/common/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/riscv/common/linker.ld
@@ -229,11 +229,13 @@ SECTIONS
 #include <linker/common-noinit.ld>
 #include <linker/cplusplus-ram.ld>
 
+    __data_region_start = .;
+
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 		 . = ALIGN(4);
 		/* _image_ram_start = .; */
-		 __data_ram_start = .;
+		 __data_start = .;
 
 		 *(.data)
 		 *(".data.*")
@@ -260,10 +262,13 @@ SECTIONS
  * zephyr_linker_sources() Cmake function.
  */
 #include <snippets-rwdata.ld>
+		 __data_end = .;
 
 	}  GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+	__data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+	__data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
-	__data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+	__data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 #include <linker/kobject-data.ld>
@@ -278,7 +283,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
+    __data_region_end = .;
 
     MPU_MIN_SIZE_ALIGN
 
diff --git a/include/arch/sparc/linker.ld b/include/arch/sparc/linker.ld
index 217f2d08b6e..1bb491ee8dc 100644
--- a/include/arch/sparc/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/sparc/linker.ld
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ SECTIONS
 
     _image_rom_end = .;
 
-    __data_rom_start = .;
+    __data_region_load_start = .;
+    __data_region_start = .;
 
 
     SECTION_PROLOGUE(.plt,,)
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	{
 		 . = ALIGN(8);
 		 _image_ram_start = .;
-		 __data_ram_start = .;
+		 __data_start = .;
 
 		 *(.data)
 		 *(.data.*)
@@ -96,7 +97,11 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-rwdata.ld>
 
+		 __data_end = .;
+
 	}  GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(REGION_DATA_VMA, REGION_DATA_LMA)
+    __data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+    __data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 
@@ -110,7 +115,7 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
+    __data_region_end = .;
 
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME,(NOLOAD),)
 	{
diff --git a/include/arch/x86/ia32/linker.ld b/include/arch/x86/ia32/linker.ld
index 6550a29a45f..7b2a6342bc3 100644
--- a/include/arch/x86/ia32/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/x86/ia32/linker.ld
@@ -437,10 +437,12 @@ SECTIONS
 
 	MMU_PAGE_ALIGN_PERM
 
+
 	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 
-	__data_ram_start = .;
+	__data_region_start = .;
+	__data_start = .;
 
 	*(.data)
 	*(".data.*")
@@ -462,9 +464,13 @@ SECTIONS
 #endif /* !CONFIG_LINKER_USE_PINNED_SECTION */
 
 	. = ALIGN(4);
-	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+	__data_end = .;
 
-	__data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+	__data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+	__data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+
+	__data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/cplusplus-ram.ld>
 
@@ -482,7 +488,7 @@ SECTIONS
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
 	MMU_PAGE_ALIGN
-	__data_ram_end = .;
+	__data_region_end = .;
 
 	/* All unused memory also owned by the kernel for heaps */
 	__kernel_ram_end = KERNEL_BASE_ADDR + KERNEL_RAM_SIZE;
@@ -536,6 +542,6 @@ SECTIONS
  * to 3 extra bytes copied in next section (BSS). At run time, the XIP copy
  * is done first followed by clearing the BSS section.
  */
-__data_size = (__data_ram_end - __data_ram_start);
+__data_size = (__data_region_end - __data_region_start);
 __data_num_words = (__data_size + 3) >> 2;
 #endif
diff --git a/include/linker/linker-defs.h b/include/linker/linker-defs.h
index 7efab81f38c..d28f3c39c9b 100644
--- a/include/linker/linker-defs.h
+++ b/include/linker/linker-defs.h
@@ -172,9 +172,9 @@
 GDATA(__bss_start)
 GDATA(__bss_num_words)
 #ifdef CONFIG_XIP
-GDATA(__data_rom_start)
-GDATA(__data_ram_start)
-GDATA(__data_num_words)
+GDATA(__data_region_load_start)
+GDATA(__data_region_start)
+GDATA(__data_region_num_words)
 #endif
 
 #else /* ! _ASMLANGUAGE */
@@ -224,9 +224,9 @@ extern char __bss_end[];
 
 /* Used by z_data_copy() or arch-specific implementation */
 #ifdef CONFIG_XIP
-extern char __data_rom_start[];
-extern char __data_ram_start[];
-extern char __data_ram_end[];
+extern char __data_region_load_start[];
+extern char __data_region_start[];
+extern char __data_region_end[];
 #endif /* CONFIG_XIP */
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MMU
diff --git a/kernel/xip.c b/kernel/xip.c
index c59edc456aa..0498ae6bcd8 100644
--- a/kernel/xip.c
+++ b/kernel/xip.c
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ extern volatile uintptr_t __stack_chk_guard;
  */
 void z_data_copy(void)
 {
-	(void)memcpy(&__data_ram_start, &__data_rom_start,
-		 __data_ram_end - __data_ram_start);
+	(void)memcpy(&__data_region_start, &__data_region_load_start,
+		 __data_region_end - __data_region_start);
 #ifdef CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_RAMFUNC_SUPPORT
 	(void)memcpy(&_ramfunc_ram_start, &_ramfunc_rom_start,
 		 (uintptr_t) &_ramfunc_ram_size);
diff --git a/soc/riscv/openisa_rv32m1/linker.ld b/soc/riscv/openisa_rv32m1/linker.ld
index c46f6df67d1..fea4cd13902 100644
--- a/soc/riscv/openisa_rv32m1/linker.ld
+++ b/soc/riscv/openisa_rv32m1/linker.ld
@@ -159,11 +159,13 @@ SECTIONS
 
     GROUP_START(RAM)
 
+    __data_region_start = .;
+
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 	. = ALIGN(4);
 	_image_ram_start = .;
-	__data_ram_start = .;
+	__data_start = .;
 
 	*(.data)
 	*(.data.*)
@@ -178,7 +180,11 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-rwdata.ld>
 
+	__data_end = .;
+
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
+	__data_size = __data_end - __data_start;
+	__data_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
 #include <linker/common-ram.ld>
 #include <linker/cplusplus-ram.ld>
@@ -188,8 +194,8 @@ SECTIONS
  */
 #include <snippets-data-sections.ld>
 
-    __data_ram_end = .;
-    __data_rom_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
+    __data_region_end = .;
+    __data_region_load_start = LOADADDR(_DATA_SECTION_NAME);
 
     SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME,(NOLOAD),)
 	{