Written and reviewed by FormulaCraft Team. Each formula on this page is run through our verification engine before publishing.
Last reviewed:
How to split a full name into first and last name in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=LEFT(A2, FIND(" ", A2&" ")-1)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Full Name | First Name | Last Name |
| John Doe | ||
| Jane Smith | ||
| Alice Johnson | ||
| Michael Brown |
=LEFT(A2, FIND(" ", A2&" ")-1)→John
Try it with your data
Edit the grid or formula, then run it through a real spreadsheet engine — no signup.
Sample data — click any cell to edit
Runs server-side · free · no signup
Step by step
- 1Enter your full names in column A starting from cell A2.
- 2In cell B2, enter the formula to extract the first name.
- 3Copy the formula down to apply it to other cells in column B.
- 4In cell C2, enter the formula to extract the last name.
- 5Copy the formula down to apply it to other cells in column C.
Tips
- Ensure there is only one space between the first and last name in your data.
- This method assumes the first name comes before the last name.
- Adjust the formula if your data includes middle names or suffixes.
Working on a sheet you inherited? Run the Auditor on the whole file first — it flags every #REF!, #N/A, broken column pattern, and inconsistent formula in seconds, free, no signup.
Frequently asked
What if my names have middle initials?
Modify the formula to account for additional spaces or use more complex text functions.
Can this work with names that have multiple last names?
Yes, but you may need to adjust the formula to handle the specific format of your data.
Is this case-sensitive?
No, these functions are not case-sensitive.