MS-Excel / Functions and Formula

Naming Constants and Formulas

Names that you use in Excel don't need to refer to a cell or a range. You can give a name to a constant or even to a formula. If formulas in your worksheet refer to an interest rate (such as .085, or 8.5 percent), for example, you can define a name for this particular constant and then use it in your formulas. Alternatively, you can create a name that refers to a formula such as =SUM($A$1:$A$10) and use the name in your worksheet formulas.

To define a name for a constant or formula, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Formulas tab on the Ribbon and then click the Define Name button. Excel displays the New Name dialog box.
  2. In the Name text box, type a name for the constant or formula.
  3. If needed, enter a comment in the Comment box. You can enter a comment, for example, to provide a description of the name for future worksheet auditing purposes.
  4. In the Refers To text box, enter the value for the constant or the expression for the formula. Normally, this field holds a cell or range reference, but you can also enter a value or formula.
  5. Click OK.

After performing these steps, you can use the name in your formulas.

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In this tutorial:


  1. Using Ranges names for formulas
  2. Advantages to Naming Cells and Ranges
  3. Introducing Ranges Names
  4. Defining Range Name
  5. Editing Ranges Names
  6. Managing Range Names
  7. Creating a Name from a Selection
  8. Creating a Dynamic Range
  9. Working with Range and Cell Names
  10. Using Names in Formulas
  11. Intersection Operators with Names
  12. Applying Names to Existing Formula
  13. Naming Constants and Formulas
  14. Excel Maintains Cell and Range Names