Combine First and Last Name in Excel (3 Easy Ways)
Combine first and last names in Excel with &, CONCAT or TEXTJOIN, add initials, format as Last, First, and fix capitals and extra spaces.
By Ayoub Farid · · 1 min read
First names in column A, last names in column B, and you need "Sam Lee" in column C. Here are three formulas, plus clean-up tricks.
1. The & operator
=A2&" "&B2The " " is the space between the names. Fill down.
2. CONCAT
=CONCAT(A2," ",B2)Same result. (CONCATENATE works in older versions.)
3. TEXTJOIN (skips blanks)
With an optional middle name in B and last name in C:
=TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:C2)If there's no middle name, you don't get a double space.
Other formats
| Want | Formula |
|---|---|
| Lee, Sam | =B2&", "&A2 |
| S. Lee | =LEFT(A2,1)&". "&B2 |
| Sam L. | =A2&" "&LEFT(B2,1)&"." |
| sam.lee@company.com | =LOWER(A2&"."&B2)&"@company.com" |
Clean as you combine
Messy data? Fix spacing and capitals in the same formula:
=PROPER(TRIM(A2)&" "&TRIM(B2))" SAM" and "lee " become "Sam Lee". See TRIM and TEXT and PROPER.
Flash Fill (no formula)
Type the full name for the first row yourself, then press Ctrl + E. Excel spots the pattern and fills the rest. Fast, but it doesn't update if the names change.
Keep values, drop formulas
To delete the original columns, first copy column C and Paste Special > Values. Otherwise your combined names turn into #REF!.
The reverse
To split "Sam Lee" into two columns, see split text. More joining options in CONCATENATE and TEXTJOIN.
Frequently asked questions
How do I combine first and last name in Excel?
=A2&" "&B2, then fill down.
How do I combine names with a comma?
=B2&", "&A2 for "Last, First".
How do I merge names without losing data?
Use a formula in a new column; don't use Merge Cells, which keeps only the first value.
Does this work in Google Sheets?
Yes, all three formulas work in Google Sheets.