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How to Fix SharePoint Column Validation Formulas Changing to #Name?

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where valid SharePoint column validation formulas automatically change to #Name? after being saved and reopened.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding or editing column validation formulas referencing other fields in existing SharePoint lists.
Observed behavior: Valid field references in formulas are overwritten with #Name? after saving. Using internal field names yields an error stating the formula cannot refer to another column, and removing spaces from column names does not resolve the issue.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions for the SharePoint list to modify list settings, create new columns, and test validation formulas.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a New List with Simple Column Names

Since the parsing bug often affects existing lists, creating a brand new list and establishing columns simultaneously can bypass the #Name? error.

This workaround is highly recommended when existing lists become corrupted and refuse to parse valid field references.

Ensure that the new columns are created without any spaces in their names to prevent reference breaking.

Create a new SharePoint List

Navigate to your SharePoint Site contents, click 'New', and select 'List' to create a fresh environment.

Add simple columns

Create your required columns using simple, contiguous names (e.g., use 'ReferralEmail' instead of 'Referral Email').

Apply the validation formula

Go to List Settings > Validation settings, enter your formula using the newly created simple column names, and click Save.

Internal Field Names: Using internal field names on an existing bugged list will likely result in an error stating the formula cannot refer to another column. A new list is the most reliable workaround.

Solution 2

Escalate to Microsoft 365 Support

If recreating the list is not feasible or the bug persists across new lists, you must open a support ticket with Microsoft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint formula change to #Name?

This usually occurs due to a parsing bug in SharePoint where valid field references in existing lists fail to be recognized by the system, often replacing bracketed column names with #Name? upon saving.

Will removing spaces from the SharePoint column name fix the #Name? error?

In most reported cases, simply removing spaces from an existing column name does not resolve the issue once the bug has manifested. You typically need to recreate the list or columns.

Can I use internal field names in SharePoint validation formulas to avoid this?

Using internal field names generally does not fix the #Name? bug. Instead, it often produces a different error message stating that the validation formula cannot refer to another column.

Where do I go to submit a Microsoft 365 support ticket for this bug?

You can submit a support ticket by navigating to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, selecting 'Support' from the left-hand navigation menu, and then clicking 'New service request'.

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