How to Combine Names in Excel with Space (6 Approaches)

We are going to use a dataset containing the First Name and Last Name of Hollywood actors. We will combine the First Name and Last Name cells to have the Full Name of those actors.

Method 1 – Applying the Ampersand (&) Symbol to Combine Names in Excel with a Space

Steps:

Select the cell where we want to get the desired result. We selected D5.
Insert the following formula:

=B5&" "&C5

The Ampersand (&) symbol is used to combine strings. A space between two quotes is a string with only a space in it.

Press Enter.

Use the Fill Handle to AutoFill till the required cells.

Read More: How to Concatenate Names in Excel

Method 2 – Using the CONCATENATE Function to Combine Names with a Space

Steps:

Insert the following formula in D5:

=CONCATENATE(B5," ",C5)

Hit Enter.

Use the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the values.

Note: CONCATENATE Function is applicable only for cells, not for range.

Method 3 – Inserting the CONCAT Function for Joining Names with a Space in Excel

Steps:

Insert the following formula in D5:

=CONCAT(B5," ",C5)

Press Enter.

Use the Fill Handle to AutoFill down.

Method 4 – Using the Flash Fill Command to Concatenate Names with a Space

Steps:

Insert the first desired value in D5.

Select the next cell that you need to fill (D6).
Go to Home, then to Fill, and choose Flash Fill. Alternatively, from the Data tab, select Flash Fill.

Press Enter.

Method 5 – Combining Names in Excel with a Space Using the TEXTJOIN Function

Steps:

Insert the following formula in cell D5.

=TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,B5,C5)

Press Enter.

Use the Fill Handle to AutoFill down.

Method 6 – Using Excel Power Query to Combine Names with a Space

Steps:

Select any cell from the Table. We selected the C5 cell.
Select From Table/Range from the Data tab.

A dialog box will appear.
Select the cell range where you want to apply Power Query. We selected the range B4:C14.
Mark the box My table has headers and press OK.

A new Power Query window will appear containing the selected columns.

Select both columns using the Ctrl key.
Right-click on the selection and choose Merge Columns.

A dialog box will appear.

Select Space as the Separator and name the New column which will contain the result. We have given the New column name “Full Name”.
Press OK.