Random name generator?

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Hi, all. Using Office 2013.

I’m wondering if there is a function in Excel that will generate random names instead of random numbers? As I teacher, I’m often creating exercise files and get really tired of cartoon character names, fictional-character names, etc. (both inventing and typing). Not hopeful, but wondering??

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Have you tried Googling ‘random name generator’? You could use one of the results to generate a text file of names and use a random number in Excel to pick one out. Unless someone knows there’s such a generator in Excel of course.

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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Hi

I agree – it’s a pain creating sample data.
I have sample data files for 500, 5,000 and 500,000 records with names, addresses, zip codes, email addresses, company names etc. etc.
I will try and find where I got them from and post a link.

zeddy

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I would think that a random number could be generated between certain values then use a VLookup to return the name next to it. Would not be difficult to construct if you have a large available list of names.

Maud

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I would think that a random number could be generated between certain values then use a VLookup to return the name next to it. Would not be difficult to construct if you have a large available list of names.

Maud

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That’s the thing – I don’t have the list of names.

Googling just gave me ideas for choosing random names from a list. I actually wanted to CREATE the names. I ended up doing a google search for .xls files and found a couple of different lists that contained names. Copied and pasted into a single Excel file. Viola! 500+ names.

Thanks for the ideas.

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Here is a way to generate your own random names.

39920-Name-Generator

Code:

Public Sub MaleName()
Randomize
num = Int((200 * Rnd) + 1)
x = WorksheetFunction.VLookup(num, Range(“A2:B201”), 2)
MsgBox x
End Sub

Public Sub FemaleName()
Randomize
num = Int((200 * Rnd) + 1) + 200
x = WorksheetFunction.VLookup(num, Range(“C2:D201”), 2)
MsgBox x
End Sub

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Hi

..here are three zip files containing 500, 5000, and 50000 sample records.
When extracted, the sample files are 550.csv, 5000csv and 50000.csv
These csv files can be opened directly in Excel.

When I need sample data, I can copy and paste from these files.
For sample numeric data, I often use the =RANDBETWEEN function etc etc.

zeddy

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Do you need full names or just first names. You can extend the ideas above with the vlookup function to randomly select a first name and a surname from a column of first names and a column of surnames.

I used to work in software testing and we had a vlookup function generatign full names and adddress from columns of data and random numbers

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