How to Combine Two Columns in Excel

First names sit in column A and last names in column B, and the report needs one Full Name column. Merging the cells is the wrong tool: Merge & Center keeps only the top-left value and throws the other away. Joining the text with a formula keeps both.

Join the cells with an ampersand

In C2, next to the first row of data, enter:

=A2&" "&B2

• A2: the first value.
• " ": the separator, a space in quotes. Use ", " for a comma and a space.
• B2: the second value.

With Ana in A2 and Silva in B2, C2 shows Ana Silva.

Use CONCAT or TEXTJOIN instead

=CONCAT(A2,B2) does the same join with no separator. TEXTJOIN is better when there are several columns or possible blanks. With a middle name in column B and the surname in column C, put this in D2:

=TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2,B2,C2)

• " ": the delimiter, stated once instead of between every pair.
• TRUE: skip empty cells, so a missing middle name leaves no double space.

Fill the formula down the column

Double-click the small square at the bottom-right corner of C2. The formula copies to the end of the adjacent data, and each row picks up its own A and B values.

Convert the results to values

Select the new column, press Ctrl + C, then right-click the same cells and choose Paste Special, Values (Cmd + C and Paste Special on Mac). The formulas become plain text, which is what lets the source columns be deleted.

Let Flash Fill do it without a formula

Type the finished result by hand in the first cell, such as Ana Silva, then press Ctrl + E or choose Data, Flash Fill. Excel reads the pattern from that one example and fills the rest. The output is text, not a formula, so it will not update if A or B changes later.

Paste values before deleting the source columns. A formula still pointing at a deleted column returns #REF! in every row, and the names are unrecoverable from that point.

Wrap dates in TEXT. A date joined directly turns into its serial number, so use =A2&" "&TEXT(B2,"mm/dd/yyyy") to keep it readable.

Sources. CONCAT function, TEXTJOIN function, Using Flash Fill in Excel.