Joining Names. How to Combine First and Last Name in Google Sheets

Instructions to Combine First and Last Name Manually in Google Sheets #

Combining the first and last name in Google Sheets can be done manually using a formula in a separate column. Here are the steps to do it:

  1. Open Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet or open an existing one.
  2. In the first row, enter the column headers "First Name" and "Last Name" in separate cells to indicate the data you will be working with.
  3. In the subsequent rows, enter the first names and last names in the respective columns.
  4. In an empty cell next to the last name column (e.g., column C), enter the following formula: =A2&" "&B2. This formula concatenates the values from the first name column (column A) and the last name column (column B) with a space in between.
  5. Drag the formula down to the subsequent rows to apply it to all the other names.

The values in the new column will now display the combined first and last names.

Google Apps Script to Combine First and Last Name #

If you have a large data set or regularly need to combine first and last names in Google Sheets, you can use Google Apps Script to automate the process. Here's an example of how to write a script for this task:

  1. Open Google Sheets and create a new or open an existing spreadsheet.
  2. Click on "Extensions" in the top menu, and select "Apps Script" to open the Apps Script editor.
  3. Delete the default code provided and replace it with the following script:
function combineNames() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  var firstNames = sheet.getRange("A2:A").getValues();
  var lastNames = sheet.getRange("B2:B").getValues();
  var combinedNames = [];

  for (var i = 0; i < firstNames.length; i++) {
    var fullName = firstNames[i][0] + " " + lastNames[i][0];
    combinedNames.push([fullName]);
  }

  sheet.getRange("C2:C" + combinedNames.length).setValues(combinedNames);
}
  1. Save the script by clicking on "File" and then "Save".
  2. Close the script editor and return to the spreadsheet.
  3. In the spreadsheet, click on "Extensions" in the top menu, and select "Combine Names" (or any name you gave to the script) under "Custom Functions".
  4. The script will run, and the combined names will be displayed in column C.

Use Case Examples #

Here are a few scenarios where combining first and last names can be useful:

  1. Mailing lists: When creating mailing labels or personalized emails, having the full name in one column simplifies the task.
  2. Database merging: If you have two separate databases with first and last names, combining them into one column can aid in data consolidation.
  3. Form responses: When collecting form responses, combining first and last names makes it easier to analyze and sort the data.
  4. Personalization: Combining the first and last names can be useful for generating personalized documents, such as certificates, letters, or ID cards.

By utilizing the manual method or the Google Apps Script provided, you can effortlessly combine first and last names in Google Sheets and streamline your data management tasks.

Join tables in Google Sheets: To combine first and last names in Google Sheets, you can follow this guide on joining tables in Google Sheets.

Join two cells in Google Sheets: Learn how to combine the first and last name into one cell by joining two cells in Google Sheets.

Join two columns in Google Sheets: Combine the first and last name in Google Sheets by joining two columns using this tutorial.

Split first and last name: If you need to split the first and last name from a single cell, follow this guide to separate them in Google Sheets.

Split cells: Splitting cells into first and last names can be achieved by following this tutorial in Google Sheets.

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