Excel #NAME? Error: Unknown Function Fixes
By Szabó Gergő · Updated
#NAME? means Excel does not recognize a name in the formula. A misspelled function or a Hungarian name in an English file is the usual cause.
Syntax and arguments
=IFERROR(known_function, fallback)- known_function
- The function Excel should recognize in this file locale.
- fallback
- Use only after you fix the name. Do not hide #NAME?.
#NAME? examples
Someone typed SZUM instead of SUM.
=SUM(B2:B20)English Excel does not know SZUM. Hungarian Excel uses SZUM and expects semicolons.
A2 should compare to Paid.
=IF(A2="Paid","Yes","No")Without quotes Excel looks for a named range called Paid and returns #NAME?.
The file opened in Excel 2016.
=INDEX(C2:C100,MATCH(G2,A2:A100,0))XLOOKUP is unknown there. INDEX MATCH is the compatible lookup.
Common mistakes
Pasting a Hungarian formula into US Excel
Translate SZUM, HA, FKERES, X.KERES, HAHIBA and switch semicolons to commas.
A missing add-in function
Load Analysis ToolPak or replace the call with a built-in function.
Wrapping #NAME? in IFERROR immediately
Fix the name first. A hidden #NAME? means the workbook is still broken.
#NAME? FAQ
Why is #NAME? so common?
Function names are locale-specific. FKERES is VLOOKUP. HA is IF. A copied formula from another language fails immediately.
Does Sheets show #NAME??
Sheets usually shows #NAME? or Unknown function for the same typo. Guides on this site use English names unless you open the Hungarian pages.
How do I find the English name?
Search the function in the Excel formula guides or generate the formula in English (comma) locale.