How to combine first and last name columns in excel

Answer

To combine the first and last name columns in Excel, you can use formulas or built-in functions.

1. Using the CONCATENATE function

The CONCATENATE function joins text from multiple cells into one cell.

Steps:

1. Select the cell where you want the combined name to appear.

2. Enter the formula:

   =CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)

• A2 contains the first name.

• B2 contains the last name.

• " " adds a space between the first and last names.

3. Press Enter.

4. Drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other rows.

2. Using the & Operator

The & operator performs the same task more concisely.

Steps:

1. Select the cell for the combined name.

2. Enter the formula:

   =A2 & " " & B2

3. Press Enter.

4. Drag the fill handle down to apply to other rows.

3. Using the TEXTJOIN Function (Excel 2016 and later)

TEXTJOIN allows combining multiple cells with a delimiter, ignoring empty cells.

Steps:

1. Select the target cell.

2. Enter the formula:

   =TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A2, B2)

• " " specifies the space between names.

• TRUE ignores any empty cells.

3. Press Enter and fill down.

4. Converting Formula Results to Static Text

After combining names with formulas, you may want to make them static:

1. Select the combined column.

2. Copy the cells (Ctrl + C).

3. Right-click → Paste Special → Values.

This replaces formulas with actual text.

5. Notes for Mac Users

• Formulas work the same on Mac Excel.

• Use Command + Enter to fill a formula in a cell.

• The fill handle works identically to Windows.

This approach ensures first and last names are combined efficiently and can be applied to large datasets.

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