How to Sort by Name in Excel (3 Examples)

Example 1 – Use Sort & Filter Group to Sort Columns by Name

To sort names alphabetically.

1.1 Sort a Column by Name

Step 1:

• Select the first cell which contains a person’s name.

Step 2:

• From the Ribbon, choose the Data tab.
• Click on the A → Z icon from the Sort & Filter group.

You will get the column with a sorted value as shown in the image.

1.2 Sort Multiple Columns by Name

Step 1:

• Click on the Data tab from the Ribbon.
• From the Sort & Filter group, select Sort.

Step 2:

• From the table, choose any of your preferred columns to sort by. We have chosen City to sort it.

• You will get the sorted value according to the second column.

Step 3:

• To sort by another column, click on the Add Level.
• From the They by list, choose the column listed as Names.

Step 4:

• Press OK.

Read More: How to Sort by Last Name in Excel

Example 2 – Use Sort & Filter Group to Sort Rows by Name

You may sort a row by names in addition to sorting by columns. We have reorganized the Names and City values in a row.

Step 1:

• After opening the Sort option from the Sort & Filter group, click on the Options tab.
• Select Sort left to right.
• Press OK.

Step 2:

• From the Sort by menu, choose Row 4.

Step 3:

• Press Enter to see the results.

Read More: How to Sort Numbers in Excel

Example 3 – Apply Formula to Sort by Name

3.1 Apply Formula to Sort Each Row by Name

Steps:

• In the desired cell, enter the following formula for the first row in range C4:G4.

• The COUNTIF function will return by counting serially the match between C4:G4.
• The MATCH function provides the match between columns.
• The INDEX function will give us the matched result serially.
• To make it work as an array, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter
• Use the AutoFill tool to fill up the required cells.

• The rows will be sorted individually as shown in the image below.

3.2 Apply Formula to Sort Each Column by Name

Steps:

• In F5, enter the following formula for the range B5:B9.

• To make it work as an array, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter 
• Use AutoFill for the remaining cells.

• The data in each column will be sorted alphabetically by names.

3.3 Apply Formula to Sort by Last Name

Step 1:

• To separate the First Names from the Names, enter the following formula.

• The SEARCH function finds the space in B5.
• The LEFT function returns the remaining value after space found from the SEARCH.

Step 2:

• To separate the Last Name, enter the following formula.

Step 3:

• To add the Last Name first and the First Name last, enter the following formula.

Step 4:

• In the desired cell, copy the cells and paste them as Value & Number Formatting.

Step 5:

• From the Data tab, click on the icon shown in the image below.

• The data will be sorted by their last names.

Step 6:

• Enter the following formula to keep only the First Name.

• In cell C12, the RIGHT function provides the value from the B12 cell with the number of characters left from applying the SEARCH function after space.

Step 7:

• Enter the following formula to keep the Last Name.

Step 8:

• Combine both cells with the following formula.

• The data will be sorted by their last names.

Read More: How to Sort in Excel by Number of Characters

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• How to Put Numbers in Numerical Order in Excel
• How to Arrange Numbers in Ascending Order in Excel Using Formula

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