Excel guide · 3 min read

#NAME? error in Excel

Quick answer#NAME? means Excel does not recognize something in your formula, usually a misspelled function name (=SUMM), text without quotes, or a range missing its colon. It also appears when you open a file that uses a function your version of Excel does not have, such as XLOOKUP in Excel 2019.

Sample data

Every result on this page was calculated from this sheet by the same spreadsheet engine the Cellwise app uses.

	A	B
1	Student	Score
2	Ava	88
3	Ben	64
4	Cleo	91
5	Dan	77

Cause 1: a misspelled function

SUMM is not an Excel function, so Excel cannot work out what to do. Typos like VLOKUP, COUNTIFF or AVERGE are the most common source of #NAME?.

=SUMM(B2:B5)

Result: #NAME?

Excel has no function called SUMM, so the result is #NAME?.

Fix: pick the function from AutoComplete

Type = and the first few letters, then choose the function from the list and press Tab. Excel fills in the name correctly and shows the arguments it expects. A quick check: correctly spelled function names turn uppercase when you press Enter, even if you typed them in lowercase.

=SUM(B2:B5)

Result: 320

With the correct name, the scores add up to 320.

Cause 2: text without quotes

In a formula, unquoted words are read as names of functions or named ranges. Pass is not defined anywhere, so Excel stops with #NAME?.

=IF(B2>=70,Pass,"Retake")

Result: #NAME?

Pass has no quotes, Excel looks for a range called Pass, finds none, and returns #NAME?.

Fix: wrap text in double quotes

Any text you want returned or compared goes in straight double quotes. If you paste formulas from Word or a web page, curly "smart" quotes can sneak in and also cause errors, so retype them in Excel.

=IF(B2>=70,"Pass","Retake")

Result: Pass

Ava scored 88, so the formula returns Pass.

Cause 3: a range without its colon

B2B5 reads as a single name, not a range. Excel looks for something called B2B5 and finds nothing. Put the colon back: B2:B5.

=AVERAGE(B2B5)

Result: #NAME?

Without the colon, B2B5 is not a valid reference, so the result is #NAME?.

Cause 4: missing names and newer functions

If a formula uses a named range like =SUM(Scores) and that name was deleted or never created, you get #NAME?. Check Formulas > Name Manager.

Newer functions such as XLOOKUP, FILTER, UNIQUE, IFS and TEXTBEFORE do not exist in older versions. Opening a file that uses them in Excel 2016 or 2019 shows #NAME?, and the formula bar may show a prefix like _xlfn. before the function name. The fix is either a newer Excel or an older equivalent such as INDEX/MATCH.

Click the #NAME? cell and read the formula bar.
Go to Formulas > Name Manager to see whether any name used in the formula exists.
If you see _xlfn. in front of a function, that function is not available in your version.

Common mistakes

Wrapping #NAME? in IFERROR

The formula never calculates at all, so IFERROR just shows the fallback everywhere. Fix the name.

Naming a range with a space

Names cannot contain spaces. Use Sales_2026 or Sales2026, then refer to it exactly as defined.

Comparing to text without quotes

B2=Sales gives #NAME?. Write B2="Sales". Numbers and cell references do not need quotes.

FAQ

What does #NAME? mean in Excel?

Excel found a word in the formula it does not recognize as a function, a named range or quoted text. Check spelling, quotes and colons first.

Why do I get #NAME? with XLOOKUP?

Your version of Excel does not have XLOOKUP. It needs Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2021 or later, or Excel for the web. Use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP instead.

How do I find all #NAME? errors in a workbook?

Press Ctrl+F, type #NAME?, click Options, set Within to Workbook and Look in to Values, then click Find All.

Functions used

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Updated October 31, 2026