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How To Fix Name Error In MS Excel?

June 9, 2024
By Vineetha B

Can you imagine organizing and analyzing huge loads of data without using Excel Sheets? Excel has become an integral part of daily work-related activities involving data management, analysis, and calculation. Excel not only offers a user-friendly work environment but also a wide range of formulas to get the job done. Your only complaint with Excel would be the sudden errors like #NAME? error popping up on the screen.

The #NAME? error is mostly caused by human error, mainly when the formulas are involved. This error occurs when Excel fails to recognize a specific value in the formula. The error can be frustrating while handling large spreadsheets. You do not have to worry since this error is easy to fix. Through this article, we will learn about the #NAME? error and discuss various methods to identify the problem and fix this error.

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Outline

The Name (#NAME?) Error In Excel

The Name error tells the user that something is wrong with the formula entered in the formula bar. This error occurs whenever the specified value in the formula is not detected in the whole spreadsheet. Various reasons can contribute to this error which makes it difficult to detect the source of the problem. Excel uses functions like SUM, AVERAGE, COUNTIF, VLOOKUP, etc. Even a slight mistake in the spelling of the formula or function would create the #NAME? error. Refer this example to understand how a simple misspell can cause #NAME? error.

	A	B	C
1		Product	Cost
2		Pencil	$1.99
3		Ruler	$1.00
4		Book	$2.50
5		Sheets	$1.50
6		Pen	$3.50
7		Product	Cost
8

Suppose we have typed the following formula for the above-mentioned data: “VLOKUP(E6,B6:C7,2,0)”
Excel will instantly give the Name error since the spelling of VLOOKUP is not correct.

Factors Causing The #NAME? Error In Excel

We are aware of how an incorrect formula can cause a Name error in Excel. Other factors also contribute to the Name error, which can be quite frustrating. We have explained some of the popular factors that cause the #NAME error in Excel.

Misspelled Function Name Or Formula

A misspelled function name or formula is one of the most common reasons behind the Name error. Excel surely has a wide range of functions and formulas which help in performing simple and complex calculations. However, due to a simple misspell, the Excel fails to identify what the input value, formula, or function is. As a result, the Name error is displayed on the screen.

For example, if you are using the VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP formula to fetch certain data from any table. If you misspell these functions as VLOKUP or XLOOOKUP, Excel will not recognize them. Since it is an invalid function, the Name error will be returned instead of the results.

Incorrect Named Range

Excel allows the user to create a Named Range. This Named Range can be used in the formula inputs to specify the targeted columns or rows. When the Named Range is not specified correctly, the Name error will appear instead of the results. If the Named Range is misspelled, Excel will not be able to refer to a range for the solution.

For example, you have a Named Range called “Items”. White typing the formula for the table, you misspelled the Named Range as “Item” where the “s” alphabet is missing. Excel will not identify the Named range and hence the Name error will be returned.

Invalid Range Reference

While using Excel, the user has to specify the Named Range, which acts as the targeted area for the formulas to work. In simple words, Named Range sets a range of rows and columns that will be included in the result. With the help of the set range, the formula will be applied to only this range and not the whole table. Whenever the range is not correctly specified, the Name error will be displayed as the Excel is not able to find the range.

For example, to fetch results from a range C2 to C30, you will have to type it as “C2:C20”. If by mistake, you write the range as “C2C30”, the Name error will be shown in the results.

Use Of New Functions On Older Version Of Excel

With every update, Excel adds a new set of Formulas to ease the workflow for users. The XLOOKUP, SORTBY, and many other functions are some of the recent additions to Excel (2019). These functions are not reverse compatible, which means they will not run on the older version of Excel. Hence, if you try to use these functions on the older version of Excel, it will not recognize them. As a result, the Name error will appear in the result section. The same error will occur if you try to open a new version of the Excel file on an older version of Excel.

Quotation Marks missing Around Text Values

While using Excel, when you enter text values, it is important to enclose them with double quotation. This way, Excel will understand that a text value has been entered in the formula. If the user fails to use double quotations around the text value, Excel will mistake the text value with Named Range or a function. This will eventually cause the Name error since Excel will not be able to fetch the value.

For example, to know the total number of characters in the word NATION, you should use this formula: “=LEN(“NATION”)”. Since the word NATION is enclosed in double quotations, the result will be returned as “6”. Similarly, if you enter “=LEN(NATION)” the Name error will appear.

How To Prevent The Name (#NAME?) Error In Excel?

Now that we have discussed the mistakes or factors causing the Name error, prevention of this error will be easy. Depending on the problem causing a mistake or factor, your solution will change. We have discussed the most effective solutions which also work as a prevention tool for the Name error. You can use the following features:

Excel Formula AutoComplete Feature

If you are having trouble while typing the formulas, the Formula Auocomoket feature will assist you. This feature offers formula suggestions to the user in the formula bar. This helps in completing the formulas by directly tapping on the suggestions. To activate this feature, follow these steps:

Launch the Excel program on your system
Select the File option from the top menu bar
Click on “Options” to open the settings for Excel
Front the left side menu, select the Formulas section
In this section, locate the “Working with formulas” section
Click on the box right next to the “Formula AutoCompete” option
Return to the sheet and click on the Formula bar
Type any formula and check if the suggestions are being displayed.
This way, correctly spelled formulas will prevent the Name error from happening.

Formula Wizard Feature

If you are not sure if the formula you are typing is creating the Name error, you can directly access formulas via Formula Wizard. With this feature, users can view all the formulas supported by the version of Excel they are working on.

To open the Formula Wizard, you have to click on the “fx” icon next to the Formula bar
A window will open where you can view all the functions
To search the function you are currently using, type its name in the box under the “search for a function” option and click on OK
After coating the function, select it and click on the OK option
Excel will guide you in filling in the necessary values for the function
Input the values and click OK
The formula will be automatically applied

If you are unable to locate the function name in the search option, the version of Excel might not support it. The version of Excel might be older than the function.

Name Manager Feature

If you are entering the wrong Named Range, the Name error will keep popping up. This may happen when dealing with a large number of Named Ranges. Fortunately, you can check the saved Named Range with the help of Name Manager.

To open the Name Manager, open the Formulas tab
Select the Name Manager option
You can also open the Name Manager by using hotkeys. On Windows, press CTRL and F3 keys. For Mac, you can press CMD and F3 keys to open the Name manager
Once the Name Manager is opened, you can view all the saved Named Ranges
Click on the desired Named Range and you can change the range or rename it
By referring to these names, you can enter the right value and prevent the Name error from happening

Use In Formula

If you want to use the Named Range in the formula, you can follow these steps:
Visit the Formulas tab
Select the “Use in Formula” option right next to the Name Manager
All the available Named Ranges will be displayed. Select the one you want to use in formulas and click it
The named Range will be added to the formula bar
As you are directly adding the Named Range from Excel, the Name error will not happen due to “Invalid Named Range”.

Finding The #Name? Errors In Excel

You can find all the Name errors present in an Excel file at the same time. This helps in locating and fixing them instantly, which keeps the sheet clean from errors.

Method 1: Via Go To Special Feature

You have to highlight or select the range of cells to check for errors
After selecting the range, click on the Home tab
In the Editing section, click on the “Find & Select” option
A drop-down list will appear where you have to click on the “Go to Special” option
Click on the Formula option and unselect all the options from the Formula sub-menu. Keep the tick on only the Errors option
In the end, click on the OK option, and the cells with errors will appear

Method2: Via Find And Replace Feature

You have to select the range of cells to check for errors
Press the CTRL and F keys to open the Find & Replace dialog box
For Mac, you can press the CMD and F keys to open the Find & Replace dialog box
In the Find What search box, type “#NAME?” and click on the “Find all” option
If the selected range contains a Name error, a window will open under the Find and Replace dialog box.
This window will display all the cells where the Name error is detected
You can individually select these cells and or all the cells at once to take actions like highlight or delete

Name Error in Excel- FAQs

Q. What is the meaning of “#NAME?” in Excel?

A. In Excel, the “#NAME?” is a type of error. This error occurs when the function or formula entered in the Excel sheet is not able to find the reference data. The majority of times, this error happens due to incorrect names, references, and many other factors. The Name error will not return the result and instead show the “#NAME?” value.

Q. How to use the formula wizard to prevent the Name error?

A. You can access the formula wizard in Excel with simple steps. You have to first select a cell where the formula will be entered. In the Formulas tab, you have to click on the Insert Function option. You can also click on the “fx” icon right next to the formula bar. A window will appear where all the supported formulas will be displayed. Users can scroll or directory type the formula to locate and use it.

Q. How to fix the Name error in Excel?

A. It is easy to fix the Name error in Excel. You have to first inspect the source of the error. Check if the formula contains any misspelled text or invalid Named Range. You can also check if the entered syntax has missing elements like double quotes for text, commas, etc. Once located, you can fix the error by correcting misspelled texts, entering the valid Named Range, adding double quotes, etc.

Q. What is the Formula AutoComplete in Excel?

A. The Formula AutoComplete feature is one of the Excel features that assist users in various ways. It offers suggestions in the formula bar when the user is typing the syntax. The suggestions include matching formulas or functions supported by that version of Excel. By clicking on the suggestions, users can instantly enter the values and prevent the Name error.

Q. How to avoid Name errors in Excel formulas?

A. If you want to avoid the Name error in Excel formulas, you have to take certain precautions or get help from certain features of Excel. Use the Formula AutoComplete feature to correctly input the function in the formula. Take the help of the Formula Wizard to enter compatible formulas. Also, keep your syntax correct along with the Named Range to avoid the Name error.

Conclusion

Formulas and functions are crucial for performing complex calculations and analysis of data present in the Excel sheets. Built to improve productivity, these formulas can create frustration when errors like the name error pop up in the results. In this article, we have discussed the Name error and various factors which contribute to this error. We have also discussed various methods to find and avoid the Name error in Excel. With this information, you can keep the Excel sheets free from the name error.