The aim is to find the value at the intersection of a row and a column and designate them by a common name to perform this search.

So let's take a table with distances between cities, the columns are called "lyon" and marseille and the rows are "paris" and lille", and we want to get the distances between two towns simply by writing their name.

In our example, the table occupies the range A3:C5.

Select the range and go to "Formulas / Define Names".

Choose "From Selection" keeping the default options: "Top Line" and "Left Column".

On Excel (all versions), the intersection operator is a space.

Distance for Lille Marseille, simply enter the formula in B7

=lille marseille

or this formula

=marseille lille

Simply seperate the name of the line and that of the column with a space.

The previous technique is suitable for small tables.

So for large tables, use a formula that includes the INDEX function

The arguments of this function (the reference row and the column) will be provided by the MATCH function, which will refer to:

- The titles column for the concerned rows.

- The titles row for the concerned column.

With the title of the (lille) row in A1 2 and the one for the (lyon) column in B12, the formula is:

=INDEX($B$4:$C$5,MATCH(A12,$A$4:$A$5,0),MATCH(B12,$B$3:$C$3,0))

When creating names , you shouldn't start with a number, use a space or a special character as / # ! ? : * @.

In older versions of Excel, click "Insert / Name / Create ..." and check "top line" and "left column".

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Thank you to Eric (pseudo eriiic) who proposed these methods via the Office forum - 14/10/2012: