How to find and highlight the duplicate names which both match first name and last name in Excel?
In this article, I talk about how to find the duplicate names which both match first name and last name in two cases.
Case 1 find duplicate names while the first name and last name in separate columns 
Case 2 compare two ranges and find duplicate names while the first name and last name in separate columns
Case 1 find duplicate names while the first name and last name in separate columns
If the first name and last name in separate columns, you need to combine them first, then find the duplicate names.
In the next column of the first names and last names, type this formula =E2&" "&F2, drag fill handle down to combine all names.
Now you can find the duplicate names.
Method 1 Conditional Formatting
Select the combined names, then click Home > Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Duplicate Values.
Select the format you want to highlight duplicates from the values with list.
Click OK.
Method 2 Select Duplicate & Unique Cells
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Select the combined names, click Kutools > Select > Select Duplicate & Unique Cells.
In the popping dialog, check Duplicates (Except 1 st one), or All duplicates (Including 1st one) as you need, then check Fill backcolor or Fill font color to select a color to highlight the duplicate values. You can check Select entire rows option to select the entire row.
Click Ok, dialog pops out to remind you the number of duplicates. Click OK to close it.
| Duplicates (Except 1st One) | All duplicates (Including 1st One) |
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Case 2 compare two ranges and find duplicate names while the first name and last name in separate columns
If you want to compare two ranges as below screenshot shown, you can do as these
Method 1 Array formula
In Sheet 6, select the cell next to the names, type this formula =IF(ISNUMBER(MATCH(A2&B2,Sheet7!A$2:A$100&Sheet7!B$2:B$100,0)),"","X"), press Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys. Then drag fill handle down to fill the formula to cells.
As below screenshot shown, the blank results indicate duplicate values, X’s are the unique values.
Tip: In the formula, A2, B2 is the first name and last name, Sheet7 is the sheet you want to compare to.
Method 2 Select Same & Different Cells
After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as below:（Free Download Kutools for Excel Now!)
Click Kutools > Select > Select Same & Different Cells.
In the popping dialog, select the two ranges in the Find values in and According to boxes, check Each row option and Same values option, go to specify the Fill backcolor and Fill font color as you need.
Click Ok, a dialog pops out to remind you the number of selected rows, click OK to close it. Now the duplicate names are highlighted.
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