Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Reversing Names In Place.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 28, 2018)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
George often has to work with data provided by other people. In working with this data he may need to convert a name, say Joe Bloggs, so that the last name is first, as in Bloggs, Joe. George understands that he can use a formula to do the name reversal, but he needs to do it in the same cell in which the name resides. He wonders if there is a built-in command that will perform this task.
No, there isn't a built-in command to do it. You can, however, create a macro that will do the switching for you. This macro could then be assigned to a shortcut key or placed on a toolbar so it can be easily accessed. Here's a simple macro that will do the switching:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Sub ReverseNames()
Dim x As Integer
Dim sCell As String
Dim sLast As String
Dim sFirst As String
Dim rCell As Range
For Each rCell In Selection
sCell = rCell.Value
x = InStr(sCell, " ")
If x > 0 Then
sFirst = Left(sCell, x - 1)
sLast = Mid(sCell, x + 1)
rCell.Value = sLast & ", " & sFirst
End If
Next
Set rCell = Nothing
End Sub
To use the macro, just select the range of cells you want to affect and then run it. The macro searches for a space within the cell and considers everything in front of the space to be the first name and everything after the space to be the last name. These two elements are reversed, a comma put between them, and stuffed back into the cell.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3812) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Reversing Names In Place.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2013 For Dummies today!
The Text-to-Columns tool is an extremely powerful feature that allows you to divide data in a variety of ways. Excel even ...
Discover MoreWhen writing a macro, you may want to fill a range of cells with different values. The easiest way to do this is to use ...
Discover MoreYou may need to automatically generate unique numbers when you create new worksheets in a workbook. Here's a couple of ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2018-07-28 14:02:34
Rick Rothstein
As long as the selected cells are contiguous, you can use this one-liner to produce the same results as this article's code does...
Sub ReverseNames()
Selection = Evaluate(Replace("IF(@="""","""",MID(@&"", ""&@,FIND("" "",@)+1,LEN(@)+1))", "@", Selection.Address))
End Sub
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments