In the current version of Excel, the easiest solution is to use the TEXTBEFORE function.

Both approaches are explained below.

TEXTBEFORE extracts text that occursbeforea given delimiter.

Excel formula: Get first name from name with comma

In this configuration, the TEXTBEFORE function simply returns all text that occursbeforethe comma.

TEXTBEFORE has many other options that you’re able to read .

This is done with theFIND functionlike this:

FIND returns the location of text as a numeric position.

Excel formula: Get first name from name

Because the comma appears as the 6th character in the text, the FIND function returns 6.

To extract thefirstname from names in column Bsee the formulas on this page.

For example, =LEFT(“apple”,3) returns “app”.

Excel formula: Get last name from name

When the text is not found, FIND returns a #VALUE error.

Excel formula: Join first and last name

Excel TEXTBEFORE function

Excel LEFT function

Excel FIND function