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How to combine first and last name into one cell in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=A2 & " " & B2✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| First Name | Last Name |
| John | Doe |
| Jane | Smith |
| Emily | Jones |
=A2 & " " & B2→John Doe
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Step by step
- 1Enter your first names in column A and last names in column B.
- 2Click on the cell where you want the combined name to appear.
- 3Type the formula =A2 & " " & B2 in Excel or =A2 & " " & B2 in Google Sheets.
- 4Press Enter to see the combined name.
- 5Drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other cells.
Tips
- Ensure there's a space between the quotes in the formula to separate the first and last names.
- If your names have titles or suffixes, adjust the cell references accordingly.
- Check for any leading or trailing spaces in your data that might affect the output.
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Frequently asked
What if I want to add a comma between the last name and first name?
Modify the formula to =B2 & ", " & A2.
Can I use CONCATENATE instead of the & operator?
Yes, use =CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2) for the same result.
How do I handle middle names or initials?
Include the middle name or initial in another column and adjust the formula to include it, e.g., =A2 & " " & C2 & " " & B2.