=LOOKUP assistance (return initials)

[Destyn]

I am looking for a formula to return Initials for a name that resides in a cell. As usual I can upload a test file, however it will be quite hard to slim down the data fields.

I have name that is loaded into another cell, in this case "N29"

The formula needs to search the entire column "AN" for the contents of (lets use N29 for example) and return the initials from corresponding row of column "AK"

So for instance/Example:

Row 42 contains "Mary Smit" in cell "AK42", which is also in "N29" and cell AK29 contains the name "Luis Allen".
I need the formula to search All of "AK" for the contents of "N29" and return the result of "LA" (initials of column "AK")

This will only return ONE unique value as the contents of "AN" are unique and will not be duplicated within that column so no worries of multiple results from the search.

First, is this even possible (I think it's Lookup but not sure, more concerned w/ the result of initials only), and I know it is hard w/o a test sheet. If this is possible, I also need the formula to leave a blank cell if nothing is in Column "AN" which I can do on my own which I can do on my own if needed.

Thank you in advance.

[6StringJazzer]

Row 42 contains "Mary Smit" in cell "AK42", which is also in "N29" and cell AK29 contains the name "Luis Allen".
I need the formula to search All of "AK" for the contents of "N29" and return the result of "LA" (initials of column "AK")

I am getting the idea that maybe you have a name in one cell, you want to find that name in another column, and the get the initials on the same row in yet another column. But the way your description reads is contradictory--you say you are looking for one name in column AK, but you want to return a different name from a different row in the same column. If you search AK for the contents of N29 ("Mary Smit") you are going to get the match in AK42. I do not see how you are going to get the result of AK29 ("Luis Allen").

So I'm not going to even try until I see a mock-up sample file. It will be a worthwhile investment.

The strategy is probably going to be some combination of XLOOKUP to find the name, and TEXTSPLIT, LEFT, TEXTJOIN to pull out the initials.

[MarvinP]

Hi Destyn,

Something like?

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