Define and use names in formulas

By using names, you can make your formulas much easier to understand and maintain. You can define a name for a cell range, function, constant, or table. Once you adopt the practice of using names in your workbook, you can easily update, audit, and manage these names.

Name a cell

1. Select a cell.

2. In the Name Box, type a name.

   

3. Press Enter.

Define names from a selected range

1. Select the range you want to name, including the row or column labels.

2. Select Formulas > Create from Selection.

3. In the Create Names from Selection dialog box, designate the location that contains the labels by selecting the Top row,Left column, Bottom row, or Right column check box.

4. Select OK.

   Excel names the cells based on the labels in the range you designated.

Use names in formulas

1. Select a cell and enter a formula.

2. Place the cursor where you want to use the name in that formula.

3. Type the first letter of the name, and select the name from the list that appears.

   Or, select Formulas > Use in Formula and select the name you want to use.

4. Press Enter.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community, get support in the Answers community, or suggest a new feature or improvement on Excel User Voice.

See Also

Learn more about names in formulas

Use structured references in Excel table formulas

Overview of formulas in Excel

Create or change a cell reference