Gender Formula =GENDER(A1) in Google Sheets: Detect Gender from Names Easily

Understanding your customers better starts with knowing who they are — and that includes their gender. Whether you're personalizing email campaigns, segmenting your audience, or simply analyzing your data, identifying gender can unlock powerful insights.

Previously, we showed you how to determine gender in Google Sheets using the Gender API Add-On in our step-by-step guide — a powerful solution for bulk analysis with a visual interface.

Now, we’re excited to introduce a simpler, formula-based method: the =GENDER(A1) function.

This smart custom formula allows you to detect gender not only from names, but also from email addresses and usernames, right inside your spreadsheet — no add-ons or scripting required.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to use =GENDER(A1) and its optional parameters to enrich your customer data quickly and automatically.

Tutorial Video for GENDER(A1) Formula for Google Sheets

Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions, make sure you have the Gender API Google Sheets Add-On installed — it's required for the =GENDER(A1) formula to work.
You can download the add-on here and follow the quick setup.

🧩 How to Use the =GENDER Formula in Google Sheets

Before you can start using the =GENDER() formula, a few quick setup steps are required. Here’s how to get everything ready:

✅ 1. Open the Gender API Sidebar

  • In Google Sheets, go to the Extensions menu.
  • Select Gender API → Determine Gender to open the sidebar.

This will open the Gender API panel on the right-hand side of your spreadsheet.

✅ 2. Access the =GENDER Formula Page

  • From the sidebar, click the menu icon in the top-left corner.
  • Here, you’ll find a guide on how the formula works, along with the ability to save your API key.

✅ 3. Set Your API Key

  • In the =GENDER Formula section, select or paste your free API key.
  • Click SAVE to activate it.

💡 You can get a free API key from your Gender API dashboard.

✅ 4. Use the Formula in Your Sheet

Now you're ready to start! You can use the =GENDER() formula directly in any cell. For example:

=GENDER(A2)

This will detect the gender based on the value in cell A2.

You can also pass additional options:

=GENDER(A5, "email", "", true)

🛠️ Formula Parameters

Parameter Description
input A name, email address, or username
method "name" (default), "email", or "username"
country_filter Optional – Two-letter country code like "US", "DE", or "TR"
additional_info Optional – If set to true, returns gender plus: probability, country, and normalized name

When additional_info is enabled, the output will automatically fill the next columns to the right of the cell.

📸 Example Output

Here’s what it looks like in action:

Using =GENDER(A1) Formula to Detect Gender in Google Sheets

✅ Advantages of Using the =GENDER() Formula in Google Sheets

  • Simple and Practical

    • No coding or complicated setup is required. Just enter the formula in a cell and start detecting gender instantly.

  • Fast Implementation

    • Ideal for quick checks and small to medium-sized datasets. You can integrate it seamlessly with existing spreadsheet workflows.

  • Flexible Input Support

    • It can detect gender not only from names, but also from emails and usernames, making it suitable for a variety of use cases.

⚠️ Limitations and Considerations

  • Not Recommended for Large Datasets

    • Google Sheets has daily quota limits on custom functions using UrlFetchApp.
    These limits vary by account type:

    • Gmail.com personal accounts: 20,000 requests/day
    • Education accounts: 30,000 requests/day
    • Google Workspace / Business: 100,000 requests/day
  • Requires the Add-On to Function

    • If you share the spreadsheet with someone who hasn’t installed the Gender API Add-On, the formula will not work for them.

  • No Data Persistence

    • If the Gender API Add-On is uninstalled, the formula-based results will disappear, since they are not stored as static data.

🎯 When to Use This Formula

The =GENDER() formula is ideal for short-term analysis, lightweight use cases, or personalized spreadsheets where quick implementation matters more than long-term reliability or large-scale performance.

However, for larger datasets or more persistent workflows, we recommend using the full Gender API Add-On features, which allow for bulk processing and permanent data storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

🗒️ Why do result cells have a note with JSON content?

If you hover over a result cell, you’ll notice a small triangle with a note showing something like:
{"formula":"=GENDER(\"Name\",...)", "value":"male"}

This note is automatically added to help preserve your API credits. Google Sheets may re-evaluate formulas when columns or rows are added, removed, or shifted — even if the data hasn’t changed.

To prevent unnecessary API calls and credit usage, the result and formula are cached in the note. When the same formula is triggered again, the system checks the note first and reuses the saved value instead of making a new request.

This makes the solution more efficient and protects your daily quota from being wasted on redundant operations.

🔌 Do I need to install the Gender API Add-On to use the =GENDER() formula?

Yes, the formula works only if the Gender API Google Sheets Add-On is installed and authorized in your spreadsheet.

📧 Can I use email addresses or usernames instead of names?

Absolutely! The =GENDER() formula supports detection based on names, email addresses, and usernames. Just adjust the second parameter accordingly (e.g., "email" or "username").

🧩 What happens if I uninstall the Add-On?

If the add-on is removed, the formula-based results will no longer appear, as they are dynamically generated and not saved as static data.

📊 What are the daily usage limits for the formula?

Google imposes daily quota limits for custom functions using UrlFetchApp:
• Gmail users: 20,000 requests/day
• Education users: 30,000 requests/day
• Workspace/Business users: 100,000 requests/day

💾 Is the data generated by the formula saved permanently?

No, the data is not persistent. If the formula is removed or the add-on is disabled, the values will disappear unless copied manually as static data.

🔑 Where can I get my free API key?

You can register and get your free API key from the official Gender API dashboard at app.genderapi.io.