title: How to make a function read a string as a named range on Google Sheets
body: <p>Let's say I have a long list of twelve different names in one column and a value to the right column for each name. I already assigned a value to each of the twelve names by using the Named Range in Google Sheets, so I want to create a third column which adds the two columns together like A1+B1. The problem I am having is that when I put that in for the formula, I get an error message that I can't add a string and an integer together, so Google Sheets doesn't recognize when I reference a cell that I assigned a number to that string. </p>
  
  <p>Here is an example of what I want my Sheet to do:</p>
  
  <pre><code>A1: Mike  
  
  (I put the named range Mike = 10)
  
  B1: =20
  
  C1: =(B1+A1). And I want it to give me 30.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If I do this it works:</p>
  
  <pre><code>C1: =(B1+Mike) then it recognizes Mike as equal to 10.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So I want Google Sheets to recognize A1 as Mike then know that Mike is a defined range which is equal to 10. But as of now Google Sheets only acknowledges A1 as a string named "Mike." </p>
  
  <p>I hope I made myself clear. 
  Thank you so much for helping me.</p>