#NAME?Excel error guide No upload

#NAME? in Excel — Unknown function or name

#NAME? means Excel does not recognise a function, named range or reference in the formula. The usual causes are a misspelled function, missing quotation marks around text, or a function that is not available in your Excel version.

Reviewed 31 October 2026 Tested in Excel 365; fixes apply to 2021, 2024 and Mac where the feature exists

The short answer

What it looks like

A formula copied from the web shows #NAME?
The formula works in one workbook but not another
Excel suggests a similar function name when you edit the formula

Why #NAME? happens

A function name is misspelled, such as VLOKUP instead of VLOOKUP.
Text arguments are missing quotation marks: =IF(A2>10,High,Low).
The workbook uses a function that is not available in that Excel version, such as XLOOKUP in Excel 2016.
A named range or table name was deleted or misspelled.
A custom VBA function is used in a macro-free .xlsx file or macros are disabled.
The formula uses the wrong list separator for the computer's regional settings.

How to fix #NAME?

1
Check spelling and quotation marks
Function names must be exact, and text values need double quotes. Start typing = and let Excel's function list complete the name.
```
=IF(A2>10,"High","Low")
```
2
Check the Excel version
XLOOKUP, FILTER, LET, TEXTSPLIT and dynamic arrays need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021. Use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP when the file must open in older versions.
```
=INDEX($B$2:$B$500,MATCH(A2,$D$2:$D$500,0))
```
3
Repair the name or table reference
Open Formulas → Name Manager and check that the name still exists. If the formula uses a table, confirm the table name in Table Design.
4
Check the list separator
Some locales use a semicolon instead of a comma between arguments. Excel usually converts separators automatically, but pasted formulas may need editing.

A safer formula pattern

=IF(A2>10,"High","Low")

A correctly quoted IF formula; adapt the separators if your locale uses semicolons.

Check it in your own workbook

Paste the formula into the free browser tools to see the exact fix without uploading your file. The Error Fixer explains the code, the Formula Checker finds syntax problems, and the Formula Explainer breaks down nested logic.

Open the interactive Error Fixer Check a formula

Related functions

IF XLOOKUP INDEX MATCH LET

Frequently asked questions

What does #NAME? mean in Excel?

How do I fix #NAME? in Excel?

Check spelling and quotation marks: Function names must be exact, and text values need double quotes. Start typing = and let Excel's function list complete the name. Check the Excel version: XLOOKUP, FILTER, LET, TEXTSPLIT and dynamic arrays need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021. Use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP when the file must open in older versions.

Why does #NAME? appear only in some rows?

Usually because only some rows contain the trigger: A function name is misspelled, such as VLOKUP instead of VLOOKUP. Text arguments are missing quotation marks: =IF(A2>10,High,Low). The workbook uses a function that is not available in that Excel version, such as XLOOKUP in Excel 2016.

How can I stop #NAME? from appearing again?

A correctly quoted IF formula; adapt the separators if your locale uses semicolons. Use this pattern as a guard: =IF(A2>10,"High","Low")

Related Excel error guides

All error codes →

#VALUE!Wrong value type#VALUE! means Excel expected a number, date or logical value but found text, an empty cell or a value from another data type. The fix is to convert the input, remove hidden characters, or guard the calculation with IFERROR.#REF!Broken cell reference#REF! means a formula points to a cell, row, column or sheet that no longer exists. It usually appears after deleting rows or columns, moving a sheet, or pasting a formula into a workbook that does not contain the referenced sheet.#N/ALookup value not found#N/A means a lookup or match function could not find the value. The value may be missing, spelled differently, stored as text instead of a number, or surrounded by spaces. Use exact-match mode and return a clear fallback.#DIV/0!Division by zero#DIV/0! appears when a formula divides by zero or by an empty cell. Excel treats a blank denominator as zero. Check the denominator, exclude blank rows, or return a controlled blank with IFERROR.

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#NAME? in Excel — Unknown function or name

Reviewed 31 October 2026 Tested in Excel 365; fixes apply to 2021, 2024 and Mac where the feature exists

Why #NAME? happens

A function name is misspelled, such as VLOKUP instead of VLOOKUP.

Text arguments are missing quotation marks: =IF(A2>10,High,Low).

The workbook uses a function that is not available in that Excel version, such as XLOOKUP in Excel 2016.

A named range or table name was deleted or misspelled.

A custom VBA function is used in a macro-free .xlsx file or macros are disabled.

The formula uses the wrong list separator for the computer's regional settings.

How to fix #NAME?

Check spelling and quotation marks

Function names must be exact, and text values need double quotes. Start typing = and let Excel's function list complete the name.

=IF(A2>10,"High","Low")

Check the Excel version

XLOOKUP, FILTER, LET, TEXTSPLIT and dynamic arrays need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021. Use INDEX/MATCH or VLOOKUP when the file must open in older versions.

=INDEX($B$2:$B$500,MATCH(A2,$D$2:$D$500,0))

Repair the name or table reference

Open Formulas → Name Manager and check that the name still exists. If the formula uses a table, confirm the table name in Table Design.

Check the list separator

Some locales use a semicolon instead of a comma between arguments. Excel usually converts separators automatically, but pasted formulas may need editing.