GENDER Formula for Microsoft Excel – Determines Gender

🎯 Do you work with name data in Microsoft Excel and need to determine gender quickly and accurately? The GENDER formula, powered by GenderAPI.io, is here to help! With a simple Excel Add-in, you can classify names into male, female, or unknown — right inside your spreadsheet.

📊 Whether you're analyzing customer lists, user profiles, or survey data, this tool saves you hours of manual work. Just type:

=GENDER.FROM_NAME("Alex")

And get instant results! ✅

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How to Activate and Use the GENDER Formula in Excel

Getting started with the GENDER formula is quick and easy. Just follow the steps below to activate the add-in and see real results in your spreadsheet.

• First, install the GenderAPI add-in for Microsoft Excel from AppSource — it’s completely free.
• Once installed, open the side panel by clicking on the GenderAPI icon in your Excel ribbon.
• If you don’t already have a GenderAPI account, sign up for free at GenderAPI.io.
• After logging in, you’ll receive a free API key. Enter this key into the side panel in Excel to activate the connection.
• Now you’re ready to go! Simply type a formula like =GENDER.FROM_NAME(A1) into any cell to analyze the name in cell A1.

Once you've done that, your Excel sheet will automatically display gender, confidence score, country, and matched name — just like in the image below:

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Works Seamlessly with Both Desktop and Web Versions of Microsoft Excel

The GenderAPI Excel Add-In is fully compatible with both the desktop version of Microsoft Excel and the web-based version available via Microsoft 365. Whether you're working from your local computer or editing spreadsheets in the cloud, the GENDER formula functions — including GENDER.FROM_NAME, GENDER.FROM_EMAIL, and GENDER.FROM_USERNAME — work exactly the same way. No matter where you are, gender detection is just a formula away.

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Understanding the Optional Parameters in GENDER.FROM_NAME

The GENDER.FROM_NAME formula does more than just return male or female. It offers optional parameters that give you much more flexibility and detail — perfect for those who need high accuracy or want to dive deeper into their data.

By default, if you only enter a name, the formula will return just the gender. But if you enable the second parameter by setting it to 1, you'll get a full array of information: not only the gender, but also the confidence score (probability), the most likely country, and the matched name that was used for the prediction.

You can also specify a country code (like "US", "DE", or "TR") to increase accuracy, especially for international datasets where names may vary in gender depending on the region.

For a full technical breakdown, feel free to visit our official documentation here: GENDER.FROM_NAME Help Page.

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Other Useful Functions: GENDER.FROM_EMAIL and GENDER.FROM_USERNAME

While GENDER.FROM_NAME is the most commonly used formula, the Excel add-in also provides two other powerful functions: GENDER.FROM_EMAIL and GENDER.FROM_USERNAME. These are designed for situations where you don’t have a full name — but still want to estimate gender reliably.

These functions work almost identically to GENDER.FROM_NAME in terms of syntax and output. You can enable extended metadata, specify a country, and receive the same detailed 4-column result if needed.

The only difference is the input type:

• GENDER.FROM_EMAIL analyzes the first part of an email address (e.g., john.smith@example.com) to determine gender based on embedded name components.
• GENDER.FROM_USERNAME tries to detect gender from usernames or nicknames — especially when they contain real names (e.g., emily_rocks, michael1987, queen.sophia).

You can find technical details and examples for these functions in our official documentation:
👉 GENDER.FROM_EMAIL Help Page
👉 GENDER.FROM_USERNAME Help Page

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Alternatively, Use the Sidebar Panel to Bulk Detect Gender

In addition to using formulas like GENDER.FROM_NAME, the GenderAPI Excel Add-In also offers a visual sidebar tool that allows you to detect gender in bulk with just a few clicks. After installing the add-in, click the GenderAPI icon in the Excel ribbon to open the sidebar panel. There, you can select your detection method (by name, email, or username), choose the relevant columns, and hit START — all without writing a single formula.

This method is especially useful for non-technical users or when working with large spreadsheets. For a full walkthrough on how to use the sidebar feature step-by-step, check out our detailed blog post: How to Genderize Names in Excel Using the GenderAPI Add-In.

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GENDER.FROM_NAME vs. Sidebar Method – Pros and Cons

Both the GENDER.FROM_NAME formula and the sidebar panel offer powerful ways to detect gender in Excel — but each comes with its own strengths and trade-offs. Here's a quick comparison to help you choose the right method for your workflow:

✅ GENDER.FROM_NAME – Advantages

• Very practical and fast: just type =GENDER.FROM_NAME(A1) and you're good to go.
• Ideal for technical users and those comfortable with Excel formulas.
• Supports optional parameters for extended metadata and country accuracy.

⚠️ GENDER.FROM_NAME – Disadvantages

• Every time you make structural changes to your table (e.g., delete a column), formulas may recalculate and consume credits unnecessarily.
• If you share your Excel file with someone else who doesn’t have the GenderAPI Add-In installed, the formulas won’t work on their side.

✅ Sidebar Method – Advantages

• Processed results are saved permanently in the sheet — no active formulas required.
• When you share the file, the detected data remains intact, even if the add-in is uninstalled.
• Great for bulk operations and less technical users, thanks to the guided interface.

⚠️ Sidebar Method – Disadvantages

• Interface might feel slightly more complex at first, especially for new users.
• Requires a few configuration steps before processing (e.g., selecting input/output columns).

🎯 Final Recommendation

For the most effective and reliable results, we recommend using the sidebar method — especially when working with large datasets or when sharing Excel files with others. Its ability to save permanent results and avoid credit waste makes it the preferred option for most users.

That said, GENDER.FROM_NAME remains a fantastic alternative when you need quick lookups, lightweight sheets, or automation inside formulas. It can be especially handy in dashboard-like reports or for personal use in dynamic Excel environments.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)