Separate names in Google Sheets

This one-step add-on will divide the selected full names in your sheet into different columns with the name parts you choose to see.

Video: How to split names in Google Sheets

How to use the Split Names add-on

Start Split Names

Select the column with multipart names you want to split and open the tool in Extensions > Split Names > Start:
Run the add-on from the Google Sheets menu.

Note. If you select more than one column, only the names from the leftmost one will be processed.
Tip. You can change the range to split any time before you click the Split button — simply highlight the necessary column or cells in your spreadsheet.
Tip. You can also find Split Names in the Split and Text groups of Power Tools:

  1. Run the collection first:
    The Split group in Power Tools.
  2. Go the Split or Text group:
    Access Split or Text in Power Tools.
  3. And then open Split Names by clicking on its icon:
    The Split Names group in Power Tools.

How to separate names in Google Sheets

You will see the add-on window with a couple of settings:
How would you like to separate names?

  1. If your column with names has a header row, tick off this checkbox. This option perceives the top value in your column as a header, and therefore will not split it. It will also add headers with the corresponding name parts to the created columns.
  2. Check the boxes next to the name units you want to have in the new columns: First name, Middle name, Last name, Salutation / title, and/or Name suffix / post-nominal letters.
Tip. Those name parts that you choose not to add will be ignored even if they are present in your original column.

Once you have the range and columns set, click on the Split button to get the selected name parts in a new column to the right of the original one:
Split names from one column to multiple columns.

Responses

Aaliyah says:
September 24, 2020 at 8:07 pm

Can I use this to split 2 names in the same column? Example: Delvy Doe & Martine Doe

Mary V McClain says:
May 9, 2020 at 10:29 pm

I could not get this to work... it said it had no access and I specifically did give it access. I hesitate to buy the paid version if I can't even try it out! Guess I have to use an old excel version to accomplish what I'm trying to do

Adam says:
October 14, 2019 at 8:42 pm

How can I go about split the name like 'Barns, C.J.'
I would just need C.J. to get put into the first name column so the name would read C.J. Barns.
This doesn't work with this add on. Apparently initials like this is ignored.

Natalia Sharashova (Ablebits Team) says:
October 15, 2019 at 8:32 am

Hello Adam,

Thank you for your question.

Our Split Names treats C.J. as a suffix since it also stands for chief justice. I'm afraid it's technically impossible to recognize when this contraction is a first name and when it's a post-nominal. So currently it is set to be recognized as the latter one.

We'll definitely update the add-on if we find a better solution.
Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience.

payet pierre says:
December 1, 2018 at 12:56 pm

payet pierre dominique
12 rue de la gironde
97418 a la plaine des cafres

Natalia Sharashova (Ablebits Team) says:
December 3, 2018 at 9:14 am

Hello, Payet,

Thank you for contacting us.

I'm sorry but your task is not entirely clear.
For us to be able to help you better, please share a small sample spreadsheet with us (gapps.ablebits@gmail.com) with your source data and the result you expect to get. I kindly ask you to shorten the table to 10-20 rows.
Please don't worry if you have confidential information there, we never disclose the data we get from our customers and delete it as soon as the problem is resolved. Or you can replace any important information with some irrelevant data, just keep the format.

We'll look into your task and see if our software can help.

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