Fix the #NAME? Error

Excel & Google Sheets

How it works

#NAME? means the spreadsheet found a word in your formula it doesn't recognize. The most common cause is a typo in the function name — =VLOKUP instead of =VLOOKUP — because a misspelled function simply doesn't exist. The second is text without quotes: =IF(A2=High,1,0) makes the sheet hunt for a named range called High, fail, and error out. The third is a named range that was deleted or never defined. And in Excel specifically, a fourth: the function isn't available in your version — XLOOKUP, FILTER, and TEXTSPLIT need Excel 365 or 2021, so opening the file in Excel 2019 turns them into #NAME?. Read the formula character by character; the unrecognized word is your answer.

VLOOKUP

Spelled exactly right. =VLOKUP or =VLOOOKUP is a nonexistent function, which is the #1 cause of #NAME?.

"FALSE" vs FALSE

TRUE and FALSE need no quotes, but any text value does. =IF(A2=High,…) errors; =IF(A2="High",…) works.

Named ranges

If the formula uses a name like TaxRate, confirm it exists: Formulas > Name Manager in Excel, Data > Named ranges in Sheets.

When to use it

Run this checklist whenever #NAME? appears right after typing a new formula, pasting one from the web, or opening a 365 workbook in an older Excel version.

Common mistakes

• ✕Typing text conditions without quotation marks.

  ✓=IF(A2=Complete,1,0) returns #NAME? because Complete looks like an undefined name. Quote it: =IF(A2="Complete",1,0).

• ✕Using XLOOKUP, FILTER, or UNIQUE in Excel 2019 or earlier.

  ✓Those functions need Excel 365/2021. On older versions, rebuild with VLOOKUP or INDEX + MATCH, or upgrade.

• ✕Wrapping the formula in IFERROR to hide the #NAME?.

  ✓#NAME? is never expected data — it's always a typo or missing definition. Fix the spelling; don't suppress it.