Table of Contents
Introduction
We have seen many Google Sheets docs where the name and surname are written in two separate cells. However, sometimes you might need your spreadsheet to have a single name field before some bulk actions. This article will act as a complete guide on how to combine the first and last name in Google Sheets.
If you’re a course provider just like our lovely customers and you’re sending digital badges and certificates to your customers, and you have a big chunk of data with first and last names stored in two separate cells, you’ve come to the right place. Keep in mind that this guide will be helpful for anyone who needs to merge two cells in Excel!
Some organizations possess a substantial amount of data, and even though this data is beneficial to them, it’s a big challenge to manage it. That’s why companies usually outsource their data management or hire Excel/data experts to manage their data. When you must transfer data, you always encounter problems. This guide will be helpful for any company or individual trying to transfer data from Google Sheets to a third-party tool.
This article will be a complete guide for you and teach you how to combine first and last name in Excel & Google Sheets. We will recommend 4 different methods to combine first and last names in Excel, ensuring you never encounter this issue again.
Method 1: Combine First and Last Name Using the Ampersand Operator
What many people appreciate about Google Sheets is the presence of user-friendly operators, and one of these is the ampersand (&). This operator is designed to effortlessly merge two or more cells, regardless of their data types.
Step 1 Open your Google Sheet file
Select the file that contains the first and last name you wish to merge.
Step 2 Choose an empty cell Where you Want to have the combined name
You can use the ampersand operator (&) to merge the spreadsheet’s first and last name listed in column C. To do this, input the provided formula into cell C4 and press the Enter key to apply it.
Step 3 Type the formula & Press Enter
In cell C4, enter the ampersand function: =A4 & ” ” & B5. It’s important to include the space character to insert a space between the first and last name.
Step 4 Apply the formula to each column
To apply this formula to the entire column, combining all names in the list, you can do one of the following:
- Double-click the bottom-right corner of cell C4.
- Click and drag the small square in the bottom-right corner of cell C4 through the range of cells where you want to combine the name.
Method 2: Use the TEXTJOIN Function
Another useful function for combining text is the TEXTJOIN function. This function accepts two or more text values as arguments and lets you merge them using a specified delimiter.
What sets it apart is its ability to disregard blank cells in your data, making it a valuable choice for certain situations.
Step 1 Open your Google Sheet file
Select the file that contains the first and last name you wish to merge.
Step 2 Choose an empty cell Where you Want to have the combined name
You can use the textjoin Function to merge the spreadsheet’s first and last names listed in column C. To do this, input the provided formula into cell C4 and press the Enter key to apply it.
Step 3 Type the formula & Press Enter
- In cell C4, input =TEXTJOIN. Google Sheets will provide the complete formula as a suggestion.
- Enter the formula =TEXTJOIN(” “, TRUE, A4, B4). The ” ” serves as the delimiter (a space), and the TRUE option instructs Google Sheets to disregard any empty cells.
This formula will merge the first and last names, separated by a space while ignoring empty cells.
Step 4 Apply the formula to each column
To apply this formula to the entire column, combining all names in the list, you can do one of the following:
- Double-click the bottom-right corner of cell C4.
- Click and drag the small square in the bottom-right corner of cell C4 through the range of cells where you want to combine the name.
Method 3: Use the CONCATENATE Function
The concatenate function in Google Sheets enables you to merge multiple strings or cell values. It’s a straightforward yet effective way to combine first and last names. Here’s how to use the concatenate function:
Step 1 Open your Google Sheet file
Select the file that contains the first and last name you wish to merge.
Step 2 Choose an empty cell Where you Want to have the combined name
You can use the Concatenate Function to merge the spreadsheet’s first and last names listed in column C. To do this, input the provided formula into cell C4 and press the Enter key to apply it.
Step 3 Type the formula & Press Enter
In cell C2, begin typing the CONCATENATE formula: =CONCATENATE. Google Sheets will offer formula suggestions. To use the CONCATENATE formula to combine the first and last names:
- Type =CONCATENATE in cell C4.
- Google Sheets will show formula suggestions. Click on A4 to add it to the formula.
- Then type a space within double quotes, followed by clicking on B4.
- The result should be =CONCATENATE(A4, ” “, B4).
Step 4 Apply the formula to each column
To apply this formula to the entire column, combining all names in the list, you can do one of the following:
- Double-click the bottom-right corner of cell C4.
- Click and drag the small square in the bottom-right corner of cell C4 through the range of cells where you want to combine the name.
Method 4: Use the Google Sheets AI feature (Smart Fill)
Since its introduction in Google Sheets, Smart Fill has gained immense popularity among users. It’s a robust AI feature that identifies patterns, generates corresponding formulas, and automatically applies them throughout a column.
This feature has revolutionized data entry by using AI to learn your data input patterns and suggesting more efficient ways to complete tasks, either by offering formulas or autocompleting remaining cells.
Step 1 Open your Google Sheet file
Select the file that contains the first and last name you wish to merge
Step 2 Manually merge two name
Manually merge two names in the active cell by combining a first name from column A and a last name from column B, such as “Kanye West”. Continue this process for the next row in cell C5, creating a name like “Taylor Swift”. This will assist Google Sheets in recognizing your pattern.
Step 3 Utilize the Smart Fill pop-up
- In cell C4, manually type the first name and last name together as you want, here it should be “Lionel Messi”.
- In cell C5, also type the same way. For example, the second name will be “Taylor Swift”.
These two entries should be sufficient for Google Sheets to recognize the pattern and suggest the merging of names using Smart Fill.
Step 4 Accept AI smart Fill Suggestions, and make sure that you have enabled Smart Fill
To accept Google Sheets’ AI suggestion:
- Click on the checkbox in the pop-up.
After doing this, the autofill function will begin, and the adjacent cells in column C will automatically be populated with the combined first and last names.
Why do you need to combine first and last names in Excel?
There may be thousands of different reasons why we would need to combine first and last names in Excel. In our case, digital education companies are no different. They need to transfer their data to different tools. The main two reasons to combine cells are to transfer data more accurately and to make the spreadsheet visually more appealing.
In some situations, you might need to extract data from a CSV file or import it into external tools. This becomes necessary when performing bulk operations like generating certificates or compiling a mailing list. To ensure a smooth process without errors, it’s crucial to prepare the spreadsheet meticulously, adhering to specific requirements. Otherwise, you risk having incomplete or mismatched data.
In the case of our company, Sertifier provides software for educational companies who need to send online certificates to their course attendees. It’s no surprise that these educational course providers save all their attendees in an Excel spreadsheet. However, when they try to transfer the data they saved in Excel, they encounter a problem where the first and last names are written in two different cells.
At this point, we all know that Excel formulas can combine two cells into one. However, there are many different methods to combine two cells. Below, we will examine 5 different methods on how to exactly combine first and last names in Google Sheets.
Note: Sertifier requires a single name field to automatically generate certificates. If your spreadsheet has first and last names in separate cells (for example, after collecting data from forms), you need to combine them using one of the methods provided below. Plus, for the full name to be captured, the cell must possess the recipient. name attribute
How to connect Sertifier to Google Sheets?
Great! You’ve effectively combined the first and last names of your recipients, and your file is now prepared for integration with Sertifier. Here are the straightforward steps you should adhere to when uploading the spreadsheet to Sertifier.
We have two different options when connecting Sertifier with Google Sheets.
- Zapier Integration. Here you can find more information on how to integrate Sertifier with Zapier.
- Downloading the Google Sheets document as an Excel file, and uploading the Excel file to Sertifier’s app.
FAQ: Combine First and Last names in Google Sheets
If you’re experiencing challenges when combining first and last names in Google Sheets, we have prepared a list of frequently asked questions that should provide you with the answers you need. Feel free to leave the page and come bacK whenever you need assistance from us!
- I attempted to use the Ampersand Operator (&) to merge names in a single cell, but there’s no space between the names. How can I add spaces between the names?
Make sure you incorporate a white space or blank space between names. For instance, if you’re referencing cell A2 for the first name and cell B2 for the last name, your formula should appear as follows: A2 & ” ” & B2.
- Can Google Sheets provide formula suggestions for combining names, particularly when working with intricate formulas or unique character separators?
Indeed, the Smart Fill feature frequently offers formula recommendations by recognizing patterns it detects. This proves especially useful for straightforward concatenation techniques or even more complex concatenation operations.
- How do I include the middle name which is in a separate column to the combined result?
To address a situation where the middle name is in a separate column and needs to be included in the combined result, you can expand the formula to incorporate the extra cell range. If the middle name resides in column B and the last name in column C, your formula with the ampersand character should read: A2 & ” ” & B2 & ” ” & C2. This ensures that all three names are merged with spaces in between.
Conclusion
In conclusion, combining first and last names in Google Sheets is a versatile and essential skill, especially for tasks like preparing digital badges and certificates. We’ve explored five effective methods: the Ampersand Operator, TEXTJOIN Function, CONCATENATE Function, and the innovative Smart Fill feature of Google Sheets.
Whether you’re managing large datasets or ensuring seamless integration with tools like Sertifier, these methods provide efficient solutions for merging names. Remember, the choice of method depends on your specific requirements and the complexity of your data.
