Have an alphbetical list need to count how many names start with A, B, C etc.

[cadonn]

Have an alphbetical list need to count how many names start with A, B, C etc. I know I can use the =COUNTIF(A1:A50, "*A") but I do not want to have to do this for each letter of the alphabet. Is there another option. I am using Excel 2010. Thank you.

Cat

[jolivanes]

Would this work?
Names are in Column B and Columns C and D are free to use.
Change references as required.

Sub Try_This()
    Dim lr As Long, j As Long
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    lr = Cells(Rows.Count, 2).End(xlUp).Row    '<----- Column B with names
    For j = 1 To 26
        Cells(j, 3).Value = Chr(64 + j)    '<----- Column C is temporary used
        Cells(j, 4).Formula = "=COUNTIF(RC[-2]:R[" & lr & "]C[-2],RC[-1] & ""*"")"    '<----- Column D has formula
        Cells(j, 4).Value = Cells(j, 4).Value
    Next j
    'Range("C1:C" & Cells(Rows.Count, 3).End(xlUp).Row).ClearContents
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

[jolivanes]

Or this. Same goes for the Columns as in the previous post.
For some reason, the previous post misses one word with a C when testing and I have not been able to find out why it does that.

Sub Another_Way()
    Dim j As Long, Counter As Long, c As Range
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    For j = 1 To 26
        Counter = 0
        Cells(j, 3).Value = Chr(64 + j)
        For Each c In Range("B1:B" & Cells(Rows.Count, 2).End(xlUp).Row)
            If Left(c, 1) = Cells(j, 3).Value Then Counter = Counter + 1
        Next c
        Cells(j, 5) = Counter
    Next j
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

[cadonn]

Hi. Since I am a newbie at formulas and code I am not sure what to do with the information you have provided is this a macro. I certainly appreciate the effort.

Cat

[jolivanes]

See if you can make any sense out of the attached workbook.
Save it and open it (allow macros to be used).
If something is not clear, come back and ask.
Good luck.

[cadonn]

That works great - when you say copy the macro do you mean from your post above. I can't believe how more of an explanation you gave me - awesome and thank you.

Cathy