Are you trying to figure out how to delete defined names in Excel? If so, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide you with the step-by-step instructions you need to remove these names from your spreadsheets. With just a few simple clicks, you’ll be able to delete the names and regain control of your Excel documents. So let’s get started! Deleting a Defined Name in Excel is easy, and can be done in a few steps. Open the Formulas tab. Go to Name Manager. Select the defined name you want to delete. Click the Delete button. Click OK to confirm. Understanding What Defined Names Are in Excel Defined names in Excel are user-defined names that can be used to refer to specific cells or ranges of cells in a worksheet. They are especially useful when creating complex formulas that refer to multiple cells. For example, if you have a worksheet with sales data for each month, you could create a defined name that refers to the range of cells containing the sales totals for each month. This allows you to easily reference the data without having to remember the exact cell addresses. Defined names can also be used in formulas and functions to refer to specific cells or ranges. This can make it easier to read and understand complex formulas. For example, if you have a formula that sums the sales totals for each month, you could use a defined name to refer to the range of cells containing the sales totals. This allows you to easily see which cells are being used in the formula. Defined names can also be used for other purposes, such as creating custom views of data or creating custom functions. Deleting Defined Names in Excel Deleting defined names in Excel is a simple process that can be done in a few steps. In order to delete a defined name, you will first need to open the Name Manager. This can be accessed by clicking Formulas > Name Manager in the ribbon. Once the Name Manager is open, you will see a list of all the defined names in the workbook. To delete a name, simply select it from the list and click the Delete button at the bottom of the window. This will permanently remove the defined name from the workbook. If you need to delete multiple names at once, you can also select multiple names in the list and click the Delete button. This will delete all the selected names in one action. Using the Name Box to Delete Defined Names The Name Box is a feature in Excel that allows you to quickly access and delete defined names. To open the Name Box, simply click the Name Box icon in the top left corner of the window. Once the Name Box is open, you will see a list of all the defined names in the workbook. To delete a name, simply select it from the list and press the Delete key on your keyboard. This will permanently remove the defined name from the workbook. If you need to delete multiple names at once, you can also select multiple names in the list and press the Delete key. This will delete all the selected names in one action. Using VBA to Delete Defined Names Using VBA, you can write a macro to delete defined names in Excel. This can be useful if you need to delete a large number of names in one action. Writing the Macro To write a macro to delete defined names, you will first need to open the Visual Basic Editor. This can be accessed by clicking Developer > Visual Basic in the ribbon. Once the Visual Basic Editor is open, you can create a new macro by clicking Insert > Module. This will open a new window where you can write the code for the macro. The code for the macro should look something like this: Sub DeleteNames() Dim Name As Name For Each Name In ActiveWorkbook.Names Name.Delete Next Name End Sub Running the Macro Once the macro is written, you can run it by clicking Run > Run Sub/UserForm in the Visual Basic Editor. This will execute the macro and delete all the defined names in the workbook. Related Faq Q1. What are Defined Names in Excel? Defined Names in Excel are used to give a specific range of cells an easily remembered name. This name can be used in formulas instead of a cell range reference. For example, if you have a range of cells with sales figures, you could give it the name “sales”, and then use “sales” in any formula instead of typing out the cell range. Defined Names can also be used as a way to quickly navigate to a specific range of cells. Q2. How do I Create a Defined Name in Excel? Creating a Defined Name in Excel is easy. First, select the range of cells that you want to name. Then, go to the “Formulas” tab and click “Define Name”. In the “Name” field, type the name you want to use for the range of cells. Finally, click “OK” and the name will be created. Q3. How do I Delete a Defined Name in Excel? To delete a Defined Name in Excel, go to the “Formulas” tab and click “Name Manager”. In the Name Manager window, select the name that you want to delete and click “Delete”. Then, click “OK” and the name will be deleted. Q4. What Happens if I Delete a Defined Name by Mistake? If you delete a Defined Name by mistake, you can use the “Undo” command to restore it. To do this, simply press “Ctrl + Z” on your keyboard, or go to the “Edit” menu and click “Undo”. This will restore the name that you deleted. Q5. Is it Possible to Delete Multiple Defined Names at Once? Yes, it is possible to delete multiple Defined Names at once in Excel. To do this, go to the “Formulas” tab and click “Name Manager”. In the Name Manager window, select the names that you want to delete and click “Delete”. Then, click “OK” and the names will be deleted. Q6. How can I Prevent Accidentally Deleting Defined Names? To prevent accidentally deleting Defined Names in Excel, you can use the “Protect Workbook” feature. To do this, go to the “Review” tab and click “Protect Workbook”. This will prevent any changes to the workbook, including deleting Defined Names. Deleting defined names in Excel is a simple task that can save you time and prevent frustration. With just a few easy steps, you can quickly and easily delete defined names in Excel so that you can get back to focusing on the task at hand. With this helpful guide, you now have the tools to make any changes to your Excel spreadsheets and keep them up-to-date. So go ahead and take control of your Excel spreadsheets with this helpful guide and make sure to delete any defined names that you no longer need.