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As you may have noticed, Google Sheets columns already have their default headers. We’re talking about the first cell in each column that will always be visible, no matter how far you scroll down. That’s very convenient, right? However, there is a problem. Their default names range from A to Z and there is no way to change them.
But do not worry. There is another trick you can use to name columns in Google Sheets. In this article we will explain how to name them whatever you want and make everything more comfortable.
How to name columns in Google Sheets
You always see columns AZ because they are frozen; They don’t disappear even when you scroll down and all other cells disappear. You can’t change their names, but you can freeze cells in another row and give them whatever name you want. That’s the way to change the default column headers and add your own names.
If you are using Google Sheets in your browser, here is what you need to do:
- Open the sheet you want to edit.
- Click on the number in front of the first row.
- Click “Insert.” and select “Top row”. A new blank row should now appear at the top of the document.
- Enter the name of each column in the cells of the first row.
- To highlight this row, click the number in front of it.
- Click “View.”
- Select “Freeze.”
- When the “Freeze” menu opens, select “1 row.”
There you go. The row with the column names is now frozen, meaning you can scroll down as much as you want, but you will still be able to see the column names at the top. These are actually your new headings.
You can also sort and filter data by simply clicking the column header. However, you must first enable this feature. That is how:
- Go to the top menu and click “Data”.
- Select “Filter” and activate it.
You will see the green icon on each header and you can simply click on it to sort and filter data.
How to name columns in Google Sheets on iPhone
You can also name columns using your iPhone, but you need to have the Google Sheets app. It is not possible to do it from the mobile phone browser. Download the app and we’ll show you how to name columns by changing the headers and freezing them. The process is similar to what you do on your computer, but the steps are a little different.
This is what you have to do:
- Open the Google Sheets app.
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Press and hold the first row.
- When the menu appears, tap three dots to see more options and select “Freeze.”
Freezing rows in the iPhone app is even easier than on a computer, as you’ll see a gray line piding the frozen row from the rest of the document. It means you did everything correctly. That’s your new header. Now, simply enter the name of each column. When you scroll down, you’ll notice that the title doesn’t move, so you can always see the column names. How convenient!
How to name columns in Google Sheets on Android
If you have an Android phone, there are two ways to name columns. While the first way is similar to the iPhone process, the second is a little different. It consists of naming a range of cells. We will show you both ways so you can decide which is most convenient for you. Before you begin, be sure to download the Google Sheets app for Android.
Here is the first method:
- Open the app.
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Press and hold the number in front of the first row. This should highlight the entire row and open a toolbar.
- Click the three dots sign in the toolbar.
- Select “Freeze.”
- Double-tap a cell in the first row.
- Enter the column name.
- Tap the blue check mark to save.
- Repeat the process for the first cell in each column.
There you have it. You’ve just created headers with column names that are frozen and don’t move even if you scroll to the end of the document. However, if you also want to try another method, here’s what you should do:
- Open the app.
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Tap the three dots for more options.
- Select “Named Ranges”.
- Tap a named range to see it on your sheet.
Unfortunately, you can’t edit named ranges in the Google Sheets app. To do this, you may need to open the spreadsheet on your computer.
How to name columns in Google Sheets on iPad
Naming columns using your iPad is very similar to naming columns using your iPhone. Of course, it can all depend on the model you have, but the process is generally similar. Download the Google Sheets app for iPod and let’s get started. This is what you have to do:
- Open the app.
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Press and hold the first row to highlight it.
- Now you will see a menu. Depending on your iPad model, you will need to tap “More options” or the three-dot sign.
- Choose “Freeze.”
- Select “1 row”.
- Now, double-tap each cell in the first row and enter the names.
There you go. You’ve just created a custom header with column names that will always remain at the top of your document. The best thing is that Google Sheets syncs automatically, so when you open the spreadsheet on your iPhone or Mac, you’ll still be able to see the headers you created.
How to name cells in Google Sheets
We’ve explained all about naming columns, but what if you simply want to name a range of cells? There’s an easy way to do it and we’ll explain everything you need to know. This can be very useful, especially if you are dealing with many formulas. Instead of typing “A1:B10” each time, you can simply type your custom name, such as “budget” or “expenses.”
Here’s how to name cells in Google Sheets:
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Select all the cells you want to name.
- Click “Data.”
- Select “Named Ranges”.
- Enter the name you want to use.
- Click “Done.”
That’s all. If you want to name more cells, simply select another range of cells in your spreadsheet. If the field is too large to select with the mouse, you can select it by typing the range of cells in the text box.
Please note that the name cannot contain spaces or punctuation. Also, it cannot start with a number, although it can include numbers.
How to change column names in Google Sheets
The most challenging part is naming columns and creating new headers. Once you’ve done this, changing the column names will be easy. This is what you have to do:
- Open your spreadsheet.
- Click the cell in the first row that contains the column name.
- Go to the text bar, delete the old name and enter the new name.
- Press “Enter” to save.
There you go. No matter how you rename it, this cell should still be your header. However, Google Sheets sometimes has problems with some headers and you can change their settings. But there is nothing to worry about and if this happens, all you have to do is freeze that row again.
Additional FAQs
How to alphabetize Google Sheets columns
If you want to sort the columns alphabetically, first select all the columns you want to sort alphabetically. Then, open the top menu and click “Data”. Click “Sort sheet from A to Z.” Alternatively, you can also select “Sort sheets from Z to A” if you want to sort them alphabetically in reverse.
If you want to keep your headers and sort all other cells, be sure to select the “Data has header row” option. That way, Google Sheets will exclude your titles from sorting and treat them as a separate row, just as it should be.
How do I make a column header in Google Sheets?
Creating custom headers in Google Sheets is very easy. All you have to do is add a blank row to the top of your document. Enter the name of each header and then freeze that row. If you’re using the Google Sheets app, you’ll see a gray line now separating the column header from the rest of the cells.
The cells in the frozen row will function as column headers since they will remain at the top. You will always be able to see them, even if you scroll to the end of the document. You can also exclude your headers from formatting and format all other cells in your spreadsheet.
Personalize
Many people don’t really like the default column names in Google Sheets. They are not very useful when dealing with a large amount of data and the letters AZ will probably not be useful to you. Fortunately, there is a way to name the columns whatever you want and have the names stick. We hope you found this article useful and that you learned something new.
