{"id":83821,"date":"2025-02-03T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=83821"},"modified":"2025-02-03T01:23:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T06:23:31","slug":"name-box-in-excel-all-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/name-box-in-excel-all-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Name Box in Excel: All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Not many Excel users name their cells, constant values, or formulas inside the worksheet. However, there\u2019s a purpose to Excel names. They make the worksheet content<\/a> easier to read, write, and reuse. It\u2019s easier to find content in a named range of cells than by using the cell references. It\u2019s also fun as you can add unique characters to the name and create symbols such as smiley, or a heart.
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Microsoft Excel allows you to make two types of names, the Defined and Table name. The Defined name refers to a cell, a range of cells, a constant, or a formula. It\u2019s these names that this article will teach you how to use in a Name Box. The Table names are given to the tables when you insert them into the Excel spreadsheet. But before you start naming your Excel data ranges, let\u2019s learn more about the Name Box in Excel!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Name Box in Excel and Where Can You Find It?\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Name Box in Excel is used to give cells, ranges of cells<\/a>, or tables a name. It\u2019s a box located to the left of the formula bar. When you select a certain cell in the spreadsheet, this Name Box will display its name. For example, selecting the cell A1 will result in the Name Box displaying A1.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You can use this Name Box to assign the group of cells a unique name, instead of the combination of their row and column designations.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Give a Name in the Name Box\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Naming individual cells or a group of cells is as easy as simply typing the name you want in the name box. Just ensure you have selected a cell or a range of cells before typing the name in the Name Box. That\u2019s how Excel will know what range of cells you\u2019re referring to. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s see it as an example. If you have a list of names, let\u2019s say of employees in your company, you can select all the cells containing names (without a header) and give that range of the cells the name \u201cEmployees\u201d. After typing the name you want in the Name Box make sure to press Enter Key<\/span> on your keyboard to finish creating the name. \n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you want to expand this range and include column B which would contain their salaries, you can do so by selecting the data in both the Employees and Salaries columns (without headers) and typing the new name designation in the Name Box.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Using the Excel Name Box to give a name to a range of cells is easy. But you might still be wondering why you would do that.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Use the Name Box\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you learned how to name cell ranges by typing the designation of your choosing into the Name Box, let\u2019s see how you can use it. The Name Box gives you access to different features you\u2019ll use daily in your work with Excel spreadsheets. Some of these features are crucial if you\u2019re working with large Excel databases. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Quickly Find a Specific Cell\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say your Excel worksheet is filled with data, but you need to find specific data<\/a>. You know it\u2019s in a cell designated B150. Scrolling through the worksheet to find cell B150 can consume your time needlessly. Instead, you can use the Name Box to quickly find and select that specific cell.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you need to do is select the Name Box and type B150 in it. Hit the Enter Key on your keyboard and this action will automatically take you to the B150 cell and select it.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

2. Select Multiple Cells\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can use Name Box to select multiple cells at once, instead of dragging your mouse through the range of cells you need. Let\u2019s say you want to select all the Employees on your list. Just type the name \u201cEmployees\u201d in the Name Box and hit enter to select the range of cells designated by that name.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You can also quickly select a range of cells to which you didn\u2019t give a name. Simply input the column and row designation of the range you need to be selected, and hit the Enter key. For example, you want to select all the cells from A1 to D10. Input A1:D10 into the Name Box to make the selection quickly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Selecting a range of cells with the Name Box is especially useful if your worksheet contains empty cells. In that case, using the keyboard shortcut Shift<\/span> + Ctrl<\/span> + Right arrow<\/span> will only select until it finds an empty cell. It\u2019s the same with the Shift<\/span> + Ctrl<\/span> + Down arrow<\/span> shortcut. It will stop selecting as soon as it hits the empty cell. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Quickly Select a Range of Cells From an Active Cell\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say you want to select a range of cells starting from the active cell. An active cell is the cell you currently have selected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say it\u2019s a B3 cell, and you want to make a selection to D10. In that case, you don\u2019t have to type the whole reference for the range B3:D10. Instead type only the last cell you want selected, in this case, the D10. However, don\u2019t press Enter. Rather use the keyboard macro Shift <\/span>+ Enter<\/span> to select the range of cells.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

4. Select Two Cells \n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you want to quickly select two cells that are not next to each other, you can use the Name Box to do so quickly. You won\u2019t need to scroll through your document to find the particular cell you need.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say you want to select B3 and D10. Select the B3 and type D10 in the Name Box. Then press Ctrl <\/span>+ Enter<\/span> on your keyboard.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

5. Select Multiple Ranges of Cells\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Selecting multiple ranges by using the Name Box is easy. All you need to do is type the designations of the ranges separated by a comma (,). After inputting the ranges, hit Enter on your keyboard to make a selection.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s see it as an example. You want to make a selection of a range of cells between A2 and B8 as well as E2 and F8 to have all the employees and their salaries selected. Type A2:B8,E2:F8 in the Name Box.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Once you hit enter, you\u2019ll get a selection of the two ranges of cells.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

6. Select Entire Column or Row\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Selecting an entire column from the Name Box is easy. If you want to select the entire A column just type A:A in the name box and hit the Enter key to make a selection.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It’s the same with selecting an entire row. If you want to select the entire row 2 just type 2:2 and hit enter.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Excel Name Rules\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are certain rules you must follow when creating names in Excel. These rules are put in place so that the Excel program can easily deal with them. It needs to be able to recognize them and use the names in functions.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n