How to Name a Range in Excel

By
Mathew Abiodun
-
How to Name a Range in Excel-ugtechmag.com
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Microsoft Excel, a go-to tool for countless professionals, students, and data aficionados, offers a plethora of features, some of which are not as widely recognized as they should be. One such feature, often overlooked but incredibly useful, is the ability to create and manage named ranges. Named ranges are a practical solution for streamlining your work when dealing with specific sets of cells in an Excel spreadsheet. Instead of wrestling with complex cell references, you can assign meaningful labels to these sets, simplifying your formulas and making your work more efficient.

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Picture this scenario: You’re working with a sprawling spreadsheet containing data scattered across various locations. Instead of constantly deciphering cell coordinates when crafting formulas, you can employ named ranges to streamline your efforts. Named ranges not only save time but also enhance the clarity of your formulas, especially when dealing with intricate spreadsheets. If you’re ready to simplify your Excel experience by giving your cells user-friendly names, let’s explore how to create and manage named ranges in Excel.

Contents

What is a Named Range in Excel?

A named range is a personalized label you can assign to a single cell or a group of cells. For instance, if you have a list of sales figures in cells B1:B22, you can bestow upon this specific range the name ‘Sales.’

Excel is quite generous in allowing you to create multiple named ranges, provided each bears a unique name. Attempting to create two different ranges with the same name, such as ‘Sales,’ will not be permitted.

READ ALSO: Five Easy Ways to Fix Excel Not Highlighting Cells

Why Name a Range in Excel?

Here are compelling reasons to embrace named ranges in Excel:

1. Enhanced Efficiency: When managing extensive datasets, manually selecting entire ranges can become tiresome. Named ranges offer an elegant alternative by enabling you to use user-defined names instead of cell references, thus simplifying and accelerating formula creation.

2. Adaptability: By creating dynamic named ranges (as we’ll discuss later), you won’t need to continually adjust your formulas when adding more data to a range. The named range will automatically expand to encompass all data within its designated scope.

3. Streamlined Navigation: In sprawling spreadsheets, named ranges serve as navigational aids. By selecting a named range, you can swiftly jump to the relevant cells, significantly enhancing your workflow.

READ ALSO: How to Calculate Variance in Excel

How to Name a Range in Excel

Naming ranges in Excel is a versatile process, and the method you choose depends on whether you’re naming a single range or multiple ones at once.

Using the Name Box:

One of the quickest and simplest ways to name a range in Excel is via the Name box, a constant presence in your spreadsheet:

  • Highlight the cells you want to include in your range.
Highlight the cell
Highlight the cell
  • Click inside the Name box in the top-left corner of your spreadsheet.
  • Enter the desired name for your range.
Enter desired name
Enter desired name
  • Press Enter to finalize the naming process.
Selected name range highlighted
Selected name range highlighted

Should you wish to navigate to these cells at any time, simply click the arrow at the end of the Name Box and select the desired named range.

Using the Define Name Tool:

The Define Name tool offers another method to name ranges:

  1. Highlight the cells you want to include in your range.
  2. Right-click within the selection.
  3. Select ‘Define Name’.
Select Define Name
Select Define Name
  1. In the ensuing dialog box, enter the name for your range and click OK.
Enter the desired name
Enter the desired name
  1. Another way to access the Define name option is by going to “Formulas” menu.
Click the define name field
Click the define name field

Editing Range Names in Excel:

Should you wish to modify or delete a named range:

  1. Navigate to the ‘Formulas‘ menu.
  2. Click the ‘Name Manager‘ icon.
Click the Name Manager
Click the Name Manager
  1. Select the named range you want to edit and click ‘Edit‘ to change its name.
Click the Edit or Delete button
Click the Edit or Delete button
  1. To delete a named range, select it and click ‘Delete’.

Conclusion

Mastering named ranges in Excel is a valuable skill that not only saves time but also enhances the organization and efficiency of your spreadsheets. Whether you’re simplifying complex formulas or navigating extensive data, named ranges are your trusty allies in the world of Excel.