# How to fix the #NAME? error in Excel

#NAME? means a word in the formula isn't recognized, usually a misspelled function: =AVERGE(B2:B9) fails, =AVERAGE(B2:B9) works.

**Excel:** `=AVERAGE(B2:B9)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Student | Score |  | Class average |
| Ava | 78 |  |  |
| Ben | 64 |  |  |
| Cleo | 91 |  |  |
| Dan | 85 |  |  |
| Eve | 57 |  |  |
| Finn | 72 |  |  |
| Gia | 88 |  |  |
| Hal | 69 |  |  |

Formula in D2: `=AVERAGE(B2:B9)`

Result: 75.5

## How it works

Every word in a formula has to be a function, a named range or a cell reference. AVERGE is none of these, so the formula stops with #NAME? before calculating anything. Spelled correctly, AVERAGE returns 75.5. Picking the function from the list that appears as you type avoids most typos.

## Other ways

- `=SUM(B2:B9)/COUNT(B2:B9)`: The same average from SUM and COUNT.

## Common mistakes

- Text without quotes is read as a name too: `=COUNTIF(A2:A9,Paid)` needs "Paid".
- A function your version doesn't have, such as XLOOKUP in Excel 2016, also returns #NAME?.
- A range missing its colon (`B2B9`) or a named range that was deleted gives the same error.

## Questions

**How do I find the part Excel doesn't recognize?**

Use Formulas, Evaluate Formula to step through it, or retype the function names and watch for the tooltip that appears for real functions.

**Why does Google Sheets show #NAME? for a formula that works in Excel?**

Some functions exist in only one app, such as TEXTSPLIT in Excel and QUERY in Google Sheets. Use the other app's equivalent.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/name-error-misspelled-function