Copying 5000 names to blank cells in data column

Try this

• Select from the first person's name down through the last blank cell associated with the last person's name

Select the blank cells
• Press the [F5] key
...Click: [special cells...]
...Check: Blanks
...Click: OK

While only the blank cells are selected...
put a formula in each that references the cell above it
• Type: =
• Press the UP arrow key one time
• Hold down CTRL while you press ENTER

Select all of the name cells
• Select the first person's name
• Hold down SHIFT
...Press END
...Press the DOWN arrow key
...Release the SHIFT key

While still selected...Convert all of those cell formulas to values
• CTRL+C
•• Excel 2007: Home.Paste.Paste_values
•• Excel 2003: Edit.Paste_Special....Check: values

Now you can sort the records

If you wnat the record sorted by name AND in the original order under that name:
• Insert a blank column before the Name data
• In the blank cell to the left of the first name...Enter a 1
• Select from that cell down through the last blank cell next to a name
•• Excel 2007: Home.Fill.Series...Click: OK
•• Excel 2003: Edit.Fill.Series...Click: OK

Now sort by Name and seq num

Does that help?