How To Quickly Combine The First And Last Names In One Cell In Excel?

How to quickly combine the first and last names in one cell in Excel?AuthorKelly•Last modified2025-10-10

When managing data in Excel, it’s common to receive lists where the first and last names are separated into two columns. However, in many cases, such as preparing printouts, mail merges, or reporting, you often need to generate a list where the full name appears in a single cell by combining the first and last names. Manually merging names for large datasets can be tedious and error-prone, so knowing a few efficient methods to combine these columns will save you time and reduce mistakes.

Suppose you have a name roster as shown in the screenshot to the left below, where the first names and last names are in separate columns. Your goal is to have a full name column similar to the screenshot on the right, with both names merged into one cell for each person:

Combine the first and last names using Flash FillCombine the first and last names with functionsCombine the first and last names with Kutools for Excel Split first name and last name into two cells with Kutools for ExcelCombine the first and last names with VBA macro

Combine the first and last names using Flash Fill

Flash Fill is a built-in feature introduced in Excel 2013 and later, which can recognize patterns in your data and fill the rest of a column automatically based on a sample you provide. This method is ideal if you prefer a tool-driven approach without writing formulas or code, suitable for small to moderately sized datasets. It's extremely fast for quick tasks, and helps eliminate possible mistakes caused by dragging or typing formulas.

1. In a new blank column beside your first and last name columns (for example, column C), enter the desired full name for the first item by typing “FirstName LastName” together, such as John Smith in C2, assuming A2 is John and B2 is Smith.

2. While in cell C2, press Enter. In cell C3, type the expected output for the next row (for example, “Jane Miller”).

3. As soon as Excel detects a pattern, it will offer a suggestion to fill the remaining rows. If you see the suggested fill preview, press Enter to accept it. If the suggestion does not appear automatically, with cell C2 selected, go to Data > Flash Fill or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+E.

Flash Fill will quickly fill all cells in the column with the combined full name, using the same structure you demonstrated. This method is especially useful if your data has consistent and straightforward patterns and you want to avoid formulas, but be aware that Flash Fill does not update results if the original data changes later, since it only fills values, not live formulas.

If Flash Fill does not activate, check that it’s enabled in File > Options > Advanced > Editing options > Automatically Flash Fill.

Combine the first and last names with functions

Excel provides various functions to quickly combine first and last name columns into a single cell. This approach is especially practical when you want to keep your formulas dynamic, ensuring that combined names update automatically if the original columns change. However, after combining, you may need to convert formulas to values if you want to delete the original columns.

1. =CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)

1. In a blank cell, such as C2, type the following formula:

=CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)

2. Press Enter. After confirming the formula, select cell C2. Drag the fill handle down to fill the formula for all rows you wish to combine. Excel will return a full name for each row by joining the contents of the First Name and Last Name columns with a space in between.

Note: If your dataset is large or contains blanks or inconsistencies (such as extra spaces), you may want to check the consistency or use the TRIM function within your formula to remove leading/trailing spaces.

2. =A2 & " " & B2

An alternative, more concise formula is:

=A2 & " " & B2

Use the same approach: enter this formula in C2, press Enter, and then drag down the fill handle to combine names for all rows.

This method is easy and direct, especially for users who are comfortable with formulas and want results to update if source data changes. One shortcoming is that you need to copy and paste the results as values before deleting the original columns.

Combine the first and last names with Kutools for Excel

Kutools for Excel offers a fast and intuitive method for merging data from separate columns into one, which is particularly beneficial for those who need to process multiple columns or large datasets without writing formulas. The Combine Rows, Columns or Cells without Losing Data tool enables batch operations, minimizing manual effort and errors.

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After freely installing Kutools for Excel, follow these steps:

1. Select the range that contains the first and last names you want to combine.

2. Navigate to Kutools > Merge & Split > Combine Rows, Columns or Cells without Losing Data.

3. In the Combine Columns & Rows dialog box, set your preferences:

• In the To combine selected cells according to following options section, choose Combine columns.
• Select Space as the separator in the Specify a separator section. You can also choose other separators (such as a comma, semicolon, etc.) as needed.
• Decide on the Options for the combined result — you can choose to keep original contents, delete contents after combining, or merge and overwrite as needed.

4. Click OK or Apply to generate the combined results. The full names will now appear in a single column, either replacing the original first name column or as you specified.

This method is ideal if you want a seamless tool-based approach without formula management. However, it requires the installation of Kutools for Excel.

Split first name and last name into two cells with Kutools for Excel

Sometimes, you might have a list where first and last names are combined in one cell, and your task is to separate them into two columns. This scenario often arises when importing data from external sources or customer lists. Kutools for Excel provides a convenient facility to split names without complex formulas or manual editing.

To split full names, use the Split Names utility from Kutools for Excel.

After installing Kutools for Excel, follow these instructions:（Free Download Kutools for Excel Now!)

1. Select the column to split and go to Kutools > Merge & Split > Split Names.

2. In the dialog box, check First name and Last name. Check Middle name if applicable. This flexibility supports various naming conventions.

3. Click Ok and specify a cell for where you want the output to begin.

4. Click OK to confirm. The names will be separated into two or three columns accordingly.

This feature is especially effective for quick processing of hundreds or thousands of names that need to be split with correct field mapping. The main requirement is that names must consistently use delimiters (like a space) between components for accurate splitting.

Combine the first and last names with VBA macro

If you need to combine first and last names for a large dataset or wish to automate the process to avoid repetitive manual work, using a VBA macro is a practical option. This approach is highly effective for batch processing and can be customized, making it suitable for advanced Excel users or those managing regularly updated data. Before running a macro, always save your work to prevent accidental data loss, and note that changes made by macros cannot be undone with Ctrl+Z.

1. Open the VBA editor by clicking Developer > Visual Basic. In the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window that appears, choose Insert > Module, and paste the following code into the module:

Sub CombineNames() Dim ws As Worksheet Dim lastRow As Long Dim i As Long On Error Resume Next xTitleId = "KutoolsforExcel" Set ws = Application.ActiveSheet ' Detect last used row in columns A and B lastRow = ws.Cells(ws.Rows.Count, "A").End(xlUp).Row For i = 2 To lastRow ws.Cells(i, 3).Value = ws.Cells(i, 1).Value & " " & ws.Cells(i, 2).Value Next i End Sub

2. After entering the code, click the Run button or press F5 to execute the macro. This will combine the first name column (Column A) and the last name column (Column B) into full names in column C, starting from row 2 downward. You can adapt ws.Cells(i,3), ws.Cells(i,1) and ws.Cells(i,2) if your columns are arranged differently.

Tip: Always make sure you are running the macro on the correct worksheet, and consider testing on a sample worksheet before batch processing critical data. This macro will overwrite any existing data in column C starting from row 2 (For i = 2 To lastRow) — adjust the target column to avoid data loss.

This VBA approach is especially efficient for very large lists where manual or formula methods may be slow, or when you need to run the operation frequently.

Related articles:

• Merge cells (combine cells contents) without losing data
• Merge rows without losing data
• Merge columns without losing data
• Split full name to first and last name

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