How to Name a Cell in Excel (2 Easy Ways)

In our dataset, we have multiple Products with the sold Quantity, Unit Price, and Total Price. Here’s an overview of naming cell D5 using the Name Box.

Overview image of How to Name a Cell in Excel


2 Ways to Name a Cell in Excel

Method 1 – Using the Name Box Feature to Name a Cell

The Name Box in Excel is a small, rectangular box located to the left of the formula bar.

  1. Select a cell that you want to assign a name to.
  2. Go to the Name Box.
  3. Type any name and press Enter.

Name Box-How to Name a Cell in Excel

  • We assigned Unit_Price_carrot as the Name for cell E5.
  • You can use the cell name in an Excel formula, like: =PRODUCT(Quantity_carrot,Unit_Price_carrot)

Names used as formula

  • You can assign names to a range of cells following the same process.

Method 2 – Using the Defined Names Command

Case – 2.1 Using the “Define Name” Option

  • Select a cell.
  • Go to the Formulas tab.
  • Select the Defined Name drop-down.
  • Click on Define Name.

Define Name-How to Name a Cell in Excel

  • The New Name dialog box will appear.
  • Type any name in the ‘Name‘ designated box.
  • Select the worksheet name as Scope.
  • Click OK.

Assigning name in the New Name dialog box

  • The name has been assigned to the selected cell.

Final image after applying the Define Name option

Alternatively, you can get the New Name dialog box by following the below steps:

  • Go to the Formulas Tab, select the Defined Names drop-down, and go to Name Manager.

Name Manager-How to Name a Cell in Excel

  • Click on the New tab from the Name Manager dialog box.

Name Manager window

You can apply a name to a cell like the “Define Name” method.

Note: You can use keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + F3 and ⌘ + Fn + F3 to bring up the Name Manager dialog box in Windows and Macs respectively.

Case 2.2 – Using the “Create from Selection” Option

  • Select a range.
  • Go to the Formulas tab, select the Defined Names drop-down, and choose Create from Selection.

Create from selection-How to Name a Cell in Excel

  • In the Create Names from Selection dialog box, check a box according to your preference. We have checked the Left column box.
  • Press OK.
  • The entries in the Quantity column will get the Product names as their assigned names.

Create names from selection window

  • You can click on the Name Box to see all the assigned names. You’ll find all the Product Names assigned as names for the quantities.

Names in Name box

  • You can use them in a formula like this: =PRODUCT(Carrot,E5)

Names in formula

Note: Keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Shift+ F3 make the Create from Selection dialog box appear in Windows.


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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit or delete a cell name later?

Yes, you can edit or delete cell names. Use the “Define Name” option to manage existing names. Simply select the name you want to modify or remove and make the necessary changes

Can I use named cells across multiple worksheets?

Yes, you can use named cells across multiple worksheets within the same workbook. Simply refer to the named cell with the syntax “SheetName!NamedCell.”

Can I use spaces or special characters in cell names?

Yes, you can use spaces and certain special characters in cell names.


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Maruf Islam
Maruf Islam

MARUF ISLAM is an excellent marine engineer who loves working with Excel and diving into VBA programming. For him, programming is like a superhero tool that saves time when dealing with data, files, and the internet. His skills go beyond the basics, including ABACUS, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Maxsurf, and Hydromax. He got his B.Sc in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET, and now he's switched gears, working as a content developer. In this role, he creates techy content... Read Full Bio

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