Here, you’ll notice a column ‘Scope’ which tells you the scope of a named range. The thing is, you can set the scope of a named range by pressing Ctrl + F3. This includes named ranges with local scope referenced in a different worksheet. Remember, every time Excel processes something that it doesn’t recognize, it returns a #NAME? error. However, it’s not just the spelling of a named range that can give you a #NAME? error. Since it doesn’t recognize the function you’ve written, it returns a #NAME? error, but fixing it is just as simple.įor instance, say you’ve tried to sum a cell range using the SUM function like so: When you misspell a function name, Excel can’t simply guess what you mean and apply that function. Fixing #NAME? error when function name or cell range are entered incorrectly Let’s walk through a few examples and look at how you can solve a #NAME? error. Excel doesn’t recognize smart quotes, and so it will again think of the text string as a formula or named range, and give you a #NUM? error.Įven though there are so many reasons that can cause the #NAME? error, fixing it usually is a mechanical exercise rather than a logical one. The seventh reason is that you’ve used smart quotes for a text string. This is why skipping quotes can give you a #NAME? error.ħ. Skipping quotes when entering a text string makes Excel think that it’s a formula or a named range. The sixth reason is that you’ve entered a text string without quotes. The fifth reason is that you’ve referenced a named range with local scope in a different worksheet than where it’s defined.Ħ. For instance, say you’ve named the range ABC, but you’ve referenced it as ACB.ĥ. The fourth reason is that you’ve misspelled a named range. For instance, you’ve incorrectly referenced a cell range as A2A10, which will give you a #NAME! error.Ĥ. The third reason is that you’ve forgotten to add a colon between a cell range. For instance, say you were trying to reference the cell range A2:A10, but instead you’ve entered the range as AB:A10. The second reason is that you’ve entered a cell range incorrectly. Since Excel wouldn’t know which formula you’re trying to use, it will tell you that you need to fix the name of the formula with a #NAME? error.Ģ. The first reason is that you’ve misspelled the name of the formula. There are 7 reasons that can cause the #NAME? error.ġ. Once you’ve managed to correct the input or formula, the #NAME? error should disappear. One of the most common instances where you’ll encounter a #NAME? error is when you misspell a formula, but there are several other reasons as we’ll discuss in the next section. The #NAME? error occurs when you’ve entered an input or formula that Excel doesn’t recognize. Fix #NAME? error resulting from quotes used for text strings Fix #NAME? error when referencing named ranges