Format
GET_INITIALS
Returns initials from parsed first, middle, and last names.
Syntax
=GET_INITIALS(full_name)Parameters
full_nameReturns
Initials as text. Range input spills results.
Example
=GET_INITIALS("John Ronald Reuel Tolkien")Result: JRT
Uses the first character of each parsed first, middle and last component. Multiple middle names form one middle component.
Notes
Use bounded ranges. SPLIT_NAME flattens the input range row by row into one output row per name; component and formatting functions preserve the input row and column shape.
The parser handles titles, suffixes, comma-formatted names, and common surname particles such as van, von, de, del, and de la.
Parsing uses Western-order and explicit Last, First heuristics. It cannot infer every cultural naming convention. Review ambiguous names; confidence is a rule-based score, not a probability of correctness.
Blank names stay blank. Non-text names, empty comma components and invalid header or metadata options throw native spreadsheet errors with an NS_ERROR message. Use ISERROR, ISERR or IFERROR to handle them.
Parsing runs in Google Apps Script™. Limited usage events sent to Amplitude exclude formula inputs, results, spreadsheet contents and account email. Optional feedback sends only the message and optional email you enter. See the privacy policy.