Have you used an Excel spreadsheet and have the dreaded #NAME? error?
And the #NAME? Errors are common errors in Excel that you can easily fix and get back to work.
In this blog post, we will discuss the error #NAME? and then we will provide useful solutions to get rid of it.
Read on as we cover the following:
What is behind the #NAME error?
How can I fix #NAME? Error in Excel
Final thoughts on #NAME? Error in Excel
#NAME Frequently Asked Questions? Error in Excel
what is the reason behind itWrong #NAME?
If you get #NAME? An error occurred while using the formula, which means that something in the formula was not recognized. Here are some common reasons behind the problem:
Type name is misspelled.
If you get a "Name Error" message, it's probably because you're using the wrong formula name, which is a common mistake.
If you use the wrong formula name in Excel, such as typing SOM instead of SUM, will you get the #NAME? because Excel doesn't know what you're thinking.
To fix misspelled type names:
Check the names of all functions used. A helpful tip is to hover over the function name in Excel, which willdisplay tool tip.
If it is not displayed, the tooltip may indicate a misspelled function name in the formula bar.
Invalid name range.
Named ranges can be written correctly in Excel. When this happens, you'll see a name error because the program can't find the range.
The name error occurs because Excel does not recognize the range you mean by a misspelled name.
After you enter the wrong name in a formula, Excel displays the wrong name.
To fix incorrect name ranges:
Check the named ranges you are using for accuracy and correct misspelled names.
Whenever you include a named range in a formula, its color changes. So if you come across rows with black names, it can cause problems.
Data range error.
If you enter the range manually, you may make a mistake, resulting in a wrong name. Here are some examples:
There is no colon between the start and end cells of the range (for example, A1A3 instead of A1:A3).
Entering a reference in Excel outside the range A1:ASD1287 will result in a naming error. For example, typing =ASD1287 into a cell will generate a zero.
Open the new version of the Excel formula in the old version of Excel.
Newer versions of Excel such as Excel 2019 and Microsoft Excel 365 add many new formulas and functions, such asXLOOKUP, FILTERING, SORTING, and more.
Some features introduced in Excel 2013 or 2016, such as IFNA, may work differently than in Excel 2010 and earlier versions.
If you open an Excel workbook that contains new formulas from an earlier version, you may experience naming errors.
The problem occurs because your version of Excel requires formulas, so the formulas are considered misspelled names. Unfortunately, there is no solution available for this problem yet.
Avoid newer types to ensure that anyone can open the files you send without error. Alternatively, suggest that they upgrade to a newer version of Excel.
The type is missing quotation marks around the text.
If a formula requires a text value to be enclosed in double quotes, failure to use them will result in a naming error.
Excel will interpret the text stringinside double quotes, but if not, Excel can substitute it for a formula name or a named range.
Using the formula =LEN("Simple Sheets") works. However, if I use =LEN(Simple Sheets) or LEN("Simple Sheets"), the wrong name is displayed.
How can I fix #NAME? Error in Excel
Let's look at some simple tips that will help youavoid name mistakesWe have covered most of the possible causes of this problem in your worksheet.
Use the Excel style helper.
In Excel, when you type the equal sign and start typing a formula name, a list of all matching formulas will appear.
To avoid misspelled formula names, select them from the list instead of entering them manually.
If you have named ranges or arrays, they will also appear in the list, helping you avoid typos more easily.
Use the Excel style guide.
You canUsing the Formula WizardSpecifies the parameters required by the function, which can lead to naming errors.
Open:
Find and click the "fx" icon next to the formula bar.
Enter the name of the formula in the Insert Function dialog box and double-click it.
Clicking this button opens the Function Arguments dialog box, which provides details about each argument. When you're done, click the "OK" button.
(Video) How to Fix the Name Error in Excel
If you still need to easily write formulas directly on the worksheet, we recommend using the Excel Formula Wizard. Once you are confident, you can start using the formula yourself.
Use Excel Name Manager.
when dealing with complex issuesData and calculations in Excel,You can create multiple tables and named ranges.
As a result, you might forget the name you gave them and misspell it later.
Consider using a name manager instead of just relying on your memory. Name Manager displays all range and table names by name, allowing you to select and use what you need directly from Name Manager.
Follow the steps below to access the name manager:
Go to the "Types" tab.
Click the Name Manager icon.
You can use the Name Manager to view all existing names, create new names, or modify/delete existing names.
If you prefer to use the keyboard, you canUse the following shortcutOpen the name manager:
Here's a helpful tip when working with multiple branded ranges:
To use named ranges in formulas:
Go to the "Types" tab.
Click the Use in Type drop-down list in the Definition Name group.
Excel will display all the named ranges you have.
(Video) Understanding Excel's #NAME? Error
Select one and click on it to add it to your formula.
Final thoughts on #NAME? Error in Excel
Now you know the cause and solution for #NAME? Excel error, you can safely use the program without encountering this problem.
This may seem frustrating, but it's easy to fix once you know what it is and how to do it.
Visit Simple Forms to learn moreeasy to follow tutorial, and don't forget to visit the Related Articles section of this blog post.
ForThe most direct video tutorial for Excel, Subscribe to Simple Sheets on Youtube!
#NAME Frequently Asked Questions? Error in Excel
How can the find and replace tool help me eliminate name errors?
The Find and Replace tool can show you a list of incorrect cell names. To fix them, you can select one item to go to the cell with the error, or select multiple items to highlight all the wrong cells or remove all the errors.
How do I fix errors using the Find and Replace dialog box?
Delete all #NAME? Error, press Ctrl + H on your keyboard.
Enter "#NAME?" (without quotes) in the first column, leaving the second column blank.
Then click Replace All.
After following the steps above, this will remove any name errors from your worksheet.
How effective is Excel's formula auto-completion at preventing naming errors?
Selecting a function or name from the list can help you enter the formula correctly. Formula Assistant will also give you a quick explanation of how to use the function properly.
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FAQs
Everything you need to know about #NAME? Error in Excel? ›
#NAME? is a common Excel error notation that appears when a formula or function cannot find the referenced data it needs to complete the calculation. This could be caused by a few different things, such as a misspelling in the formula name or an invalid reference.
What is NAME error in Excel unique? ›#NAME? error. Occurs if you use a UNIQUE formula in an Excel version where this function is not supported. Currently, the UNIQUE function is only available in Excel 365 and 2021.
What are the 5 common errors in Microsoft Excel? ›- 1 – #DIV/0 Error. How to Resolve this Error? Example – IF Function to Avoid #DIV/0 Error.
- 2 – #N/A Error. Solution 1: To enter the Roll number as text. Solution 2: Use the TEXT Function.
- 3 – #NAME? Error.
- 4 – #NULL! Error.
- 5 – #NUM! Error. ...
- 6 – #REF! Error.
- 7 – #VALUE! Error.
- 8 – ###### Error. Example.
#NAME error
Occurs when trying to use FILTER in an older version of Excel. Please remember that it is a new function, which is only available in Office 365 and Excel 2021. In new Excel, a #NAME error occurs if you accidentally misspell the function's name.
The #### error is one of the most common errors when using Excel, and it's easy to fix. Excel prints this error message when the width of a column is not wide enough to display all the characters within that cell. This error can also occur when Excel displays a negative time and date.
What causes name conflict in Excel? ›If you are seeing the Name Conflict dialog box in Excel, that's because you are trying to copy one or more worksheets to a workbook that has similar named ranges.
What could be the possible reason of getting the given error in a worksheet #name? ›The #NAME? error message appears if Excel can't understand the name of the formula you're trying to run, or if Excel can't compute one or more values entered in the formula itself. To resolve this error, check the formula's spelling, or use the Formula Builder to have Excel build the function for you.
What is an example of a NAME error in Excel? ›When you include text references in formulas, you need to enclose the text in quotation marks, even if you're only using a space. If the syntax omits double quotation marks “” for a text value, you will see the #NAME error.
What is the most difficult thing in MS Excel? ›VBA is Excel's most difficult area. Most people indicate they have difficulty writing macros, automating parts of their work, comprehending VBA, and designing Excel apps.
How do you quickly find errors in Excel? ›Select the worksheet you want to check for errors. If the worksheet is manually calculated, press F9 to recalculate. If the Error Checking dialog is not displayed, then click on the Formulas tab > Formula Auditing > Error Checking button.
What is NAME error for VLOOKUP? ›
Misspelled Formula
This is the most common cause behind the NAME error in Excel. For example, if you accidentally type VLOKUP, instead of VLOOKUP, Excel will immediately pop the #NAME error message. To correct this, simply replace the wrong formula name with the correct formula name.
The pivot table error, "field name is not valid", usually appears because one or more of the heading cells in the source data is blank. To create a pivot table, you need a heading value for each column.
What is invalid NAME error in Excel concat? ›If the text is not enclosed in double quotes, it is considered part of the formula calculation and results in the #NAME? error. For example, the formula below is concatenating text with a cell value. Double quotes enclose the text "Total sales in" in the formula, but the double quotes were missed around the text were.
What causes Excel errors? ›error values occur when the two or more cell references are separated incorrectly or unintentionally by a space in a formula. In Excel formulas, the space character is used as the intersect operator, which means it is used when listing two or more intersecting or overlapping ranges of data.
How many types of errors are there in Excel? ›15 Different Errors in Excel and Their Meaning. There can be different types of errors in Excel. Some of them are Formula Errors. When we type the wrong function name in the formula or inputs the wrong reference data in the argument, Excel shows the cell value which starts with #.
How do you avoid naming conflicts? ›You can avoid most naming conflicts by understanding the scoping, private module-level, and public module-level. A naming conflict can occur when an identifier: Is visible at more than one scoping level. Has two different meanings at the same level.
How do I manage names in Excel? ›On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click Name Manager. In the Name Manager dialog box, double-click the name you want to edit, or, click the name that you want to change, and then click Edit.
Are Excel names case sensitive? ›By default, Excel is not case-sensitive. This means that standard lookup functions like VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, and INDEX and MATCH are also not case-sensitive. These formulas will simply return the first match, ignoring upper and lower case.
What is the name cell reference error? ›The #REF! error shows when a formula refers to a cell that's not valid. This happens most often when cells that were referenced by formulas get deleted, or pasted over.
When you happened to come across a name error in your spreadsheet it means that you have used the incorrect function? ›The #NAME error is Excel's way of saying that one (or more) names in the underlying formula are incorrect. It usually occurs when the function's name is misspelled. Or when any of the arguments are incorrect. For example, if a text string in your function is not enclosed in double quotation marks.
What is name error with example? ›
In Python, the NameError occurs when you try to use a variable, function, or module that doesn't exist or wasn't used in a valid way. Some of the common mistakes that cause this error are: Using a variable or function name that is yet to be defined.
What is ambiguous name error in Excel? ›This error has the following causes and solutions: More than one object in the same scope may have elements with the same name. In this case, you must change one of the names because qualification with a common module name would not resolve the ambiguity.
How do you remove the name already exists in Excel? ›- Close all open Workbooks if any & shut down Excel.
- Restart Excel and then open the workbook.
- Press Ctrl+F3 and filter the named ranges on errors.
- Delete all erroneous named ranges.
- Finish with OK.
- Save & close the workbook.
It's impossible to learn Excel in a day or a week, but if you set your mind to understanding individual processes one by one, you'll soon find that you have a working knowledge of the software. Make your way through these techniques, and it won't be long before you're comfortable with the fundamentals of Excel.
How long will it take to master Excel? ›Although it's possible to gain a basic understanding of Excel's interface and core functions in just a few hours, it can require additional time and study to master its more complex capabilities. It takes most Excel users approximately 18-20 hours to fully learn this spreadsheet application.
How many days will it take to learn Excel? ›How long does it take to learn Excel? Excel offers a range of tools and functions. Depending on your familiarity with Excel's capabilities, it may take as little as a few days to learn new skills. For learners just getting started, it may take a few months to properly learn Excel.
What is text manipulation in Excel? ›Text Manipulation in Excel. Make All Text Upper Case or Lower Case in Excel. Capitalize First Letter of Every Word in a Cell - PROPER Function. TRIM - Remove Spaces From the Sides of Text and Extra Ones in the Middle in Excel. Get the First Word from a Cell in Excel.
Can Excel check for errors? ›If you have the Excel desktop application, you can use the Open in Excel button to open your workbook to use error checking rules that help you check your formulas for errors. Here's how: Click Open in Excel and use error checking to detect errors in formulas.
What is NAME error in lookup? ›The #NAME error occurs in Excel when the program doesn't recognize something in your formula. The most common cause is a simple misspelling of the function being used. For example, in the image below, the formula has VLOOKUP spelled incorrectly in the first instance (F5), so it produces the #NAME? error.
Can you use VLOOKUP for names? ›The range of cells in which the VLOOKUP will search for the lookup_value and the return value. You can use a named range or a table, and you can use names in the argument instead of cell references. The first column in the cell range must contain the lookup_value.
What is the difference between VLOOKUP and lookup? ›
The LOOKUP function allows a user to search for a piece of data in a row or column and return a corresponding piece of data in another row or column. The VLOOKUP function is similar but only allows a user to search vertically in a row and only returns data in a left-to-right procedure.
What is #name error in Excel Smartview? ›#NAME - Excel does not recognize text in a formula. When you forward a worksheet that contains functions to a user who does not have Oracle Smart View for Office, they can view the same data as the functions on the worksheet. When the user edits or refreshes the function, it changes to #Name.
What does Getpivotdata mean in Excel? ›What is the GETPIVOTDATA Function? The GETPIVOTDATA Function[1] is categorized under Excel Lookup and Reference functions. The function helps to extract data from specified fields in an Excel Pivot Table. The Pivot Table is used often in financial analysis to facilitate deeper analysis of given data.
How do I fix a Vlookup error? ›Solution: If you are sure the relevant data exists in your spreadsheet and VLOOKUP is not catching it, take time to verify that the referenced cells don't have hidden spaces or non-printing characters. Also, ensure that the cells follow the correct data type.
What are the invalid characters in Excel sheet NAME? ›...
Try one of the following:
- Make sure the name you entered does not exceed 31 characters.
- Make sure the name does not contain any of the following characters: : \ / ? * [ or ]
- Make sure you did not leave the name blank.
The most common error when entering a formula is to reference the wrong cell in the formula. The Percent Style button instructs Excel to display a value as a percentage, determined by multiplying the cell entry by 100, rounding the result to the nearest percent, and adding a percent sign.
What are the names of the three types of errors? ›Generally errors are classified into three types: systematic errors, random errors and blunders.
What are the 3 basic type of errors? ›- (1) Systematic errors. With this type of error, the measured value is biased due to a specific cause. ...
- (2) Random errors. This type of error is caused by random circumstances during the measurement process.
- (3) Negligent errors.
| Error Code | Message |
|---|---|
| OperationCanceled | The operation has been canceled. |
| RangeParseError | Excel Services was unable to parse the range request. |
| RangeRequestAreaExceeded | The area of the requested range exceeds 1,000,000 cells. |
| RetryError | Excel Services is unable to process the request. |
Description. Returns a number corresponding to one of the error values in Microsoft Excel or returns the #N/A error if no error exists. You can use ERROR. TYPE in an IF function to test for an error value and return a text string, such as a message, instead of the error value.
How do I make a unique name in Excel? ›
To filter for unique values, click Data > Sort & Filter > Advanced. To remove duplicate values, click Data > Data Tools > Remove Duplicates. To highlight unique or duplicate values, use the Conditional Formatting command in the Style group on the Home tab.
Should names be unique in Excel? ›Use unique table names — Duplicate names aren't allowed. Excel doesn't distinguish between upper and lowercase characters in names, so if you enter “Sales” but already have another name called “SALES" in the same workbook, you'll be prompted to choose a unique name.
How do I fix a name error in Excel Vlookup? ›Misspelled Formula
For example, if you accidentally type VLOKUP, instead of VLOOKUP, Excel will immediately pop the #NAME error message. To correct this, simply replace the wrong formula name with the correct formula name.
#NAME? - The #NAME? error occurs because Excel does not recognize the specified formula. #REF! - #REF indicates an invalid link is referenced in the formula.
How do I find unique names in two columns in Excel? ›Navigate to the "Home" option and select duplicate values in the toolbar. Next, navigate to Conditional Formatting in Excel Option. A new window will appear on the screen with options to select "Duplicate" and "Unique" values. You can compare the two columns with matching values or unique values.
How do I count unique names in Excel with multiple criteria? ›You can use the combination of the SUM and COUNTIF functions to count unique values in Excel. The syntax for this combined formula is = SUM(IF(1/COUNTIF(data, data)=1,1,0)). Here the COUNTIF formula counts the number of times each value in the range appears.
What characters are not allowed in Excel names? ›Guidelines for creating names
The first character of a name must be a letter or an underscore character (_). Remaining characters in the name can be letters, numbers, periods, and underscore characters. In some languages, Excel may replace certain characters with underscores. Spaces are not allowed.
Make sure the name you entered does not exceed 31 characters. Make sure the name does not contain any of the following characters: : \ / ? * [ or ]
How do I fix a named cell in Excel? ›- On the Ribbon, click the Formulas tab.
- Click Name Manager.
- In the list, click on the name that you want to change.
- In the Refers To box, change the range reference, or drag on the worksheet, to select the new range.
- Click the check mark, to save the change.
- Click Close, to close the Name Manager TOP.
The most common cause of the #N/A error is with XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, LOOKUP, or MATCH functions if a formula can't find a referenced value. For example, your lookup value doesn't exist in the source data. In this case there is no “Banana” listed in the lookup table, so VLOOKUP returns a #N/A error.
How do I remove error NAME manager in Excel? ›
- On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click Name Manager.
- In the Name Manager dialog box, click the name that you want to change.
- Select one or more names by doing one of the following: To select a name, click it. ...
- Click Delete.
- Click OK to confirm the deletion.