Excel Chart Series Name: Change It and Fix Series Labels

To change an Excel chart series name in Microsoft 365 for Windows, select the chart, choose Chart Design > Select Data, select the series under Legend Entries (Series), and click Edit. Enter a new name or select a cell containing the name, then click OK; the chart legend updates to use it.

Change a series name with the Select Data dialog

The Select Data Source dialog is the most direct way to edit a chart’s series name without changing the worksheet data. Use these steps for a standard chart:

Click the chart to show the chart tabs on the ribbon.
Choose Chart Design > Select Data.
In Legend Entries (Series), select the series you want to rename. If the chart contains several series, check the selected name and preview before editing.
Click Edit to open the Edit Series dialog.
In Series name, type a label such as Revenue or select a worksheet cell that contains the label.
Click OK, then click OK again to close Select Data Source.

The new name generally appears in the chart legend and in places where Excel displays the series name, such as some chart data labels. It does not change the values being plotted or the underlying worksheet data. If the chart has no legend, the name may not be visible until you add one, but the series is still named.

To add or show a legend, select the chart and use Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Legend, then choose a position. The precise available options depend on the chart type.

What a chart series name means

A data series is one set of related values plotted in a chart. For example, a monthly sales table might have months in the first column and sales for three regions in the next columns. Each region’s sales values form a separate series; the month names supply the category labels along the horizontal axis.

Excel commonly takes each series name from the heading above its values. If a chart is based on a table with columns labeled North, South, and West, those headers can become the legend entries. A series name is not the same as:

The chart title: the overall heading for the chart, such as Quarterly Sales.
Category labels: labels for individual positions or points, such as January, February, and March.
An axis title: a description of an axis, such as Units Sold.
A data label: text or a number displayed next to a particular bar, point, or slice.

Changing one of these other chart elements will not necessarily rename a series. If the legend entry is the part that needs changing, edit the series name rather than the chart title or axis title.

Rename the source header or only the chart label

There are two useful approaches, and the right one depends on whether the new wording should also appear in the worksheet. If the column heading itself is inaccurate, edit the heading cell in the source data. A chart that uses that heading as its series name will commonly update to match. This keeps the table and chart consistent and is usually best when the new name is the correct, lasting label.

If the heading should remain unchanged—for example, because it is used in a report, imported data, or another formula—change the name in Select Data instead. This changes the chart’s series label without renaming the source column. It is useful for a shorter legend entry or a chart-specific explanation, but it can leave the chart and table using different names. Make a note of that difference if other people maintain the workbook.

A chart series name can also refer to a cell. In the Edit Series dialog, click in Series name and then select the cell containing the desired text. This is often preferable to typing a fixed label: when the cell’s text changes, the chart name can follow it. Use a cell on the same worksheet or another worksheet in the workbook as appropriate, and confirm that the selected reference is correct before closing the dialog.

Use a cell-based name that updates

A cell-based series name is useful when a chart heading changes periodically, such as a reporting period or a product name maintained in a control cell. Select the name cell through the dialog rather than typing its text as a permanent label. Excel records a reference for the series name, so the displayed name can change when the referenced cell changes.

When selecting a cell, choose one containing the label itself, not one of the numeric values in the series. A blank cell can produce a blank or unhelpful legend entry. If the source heading is in a table header, selecting that header is often a straightforward way to keep the chart tied to the data label. If a name reference breaks after moving or restructuring data, reopen Select Data and choose the correct cell again.

Typing a literal name is appropriate when the wording should stay fixed regardless of worksheet edits. Selecting a cell is better when the chart should reflect changes to a label. Neither method changes the plotted numbers, category labels, or the source range for the series.

Choose the right series in a chart with several

For charts with multiple series, the list under Legend Entries (Series) is where you choose which one to edit. Select each entry in turn if you are unsure which color or group it represents; Excel highlights the selected series in the chart in many standard chart types. Rename only the intended entry, then verify that the other legend labels remain as expected.

For example, if a chart compares 2024 and 2025 sales across months, the series may be named 2024 and 2025, while January through December are category labels. Renaming the 2025 series to Current year changes the legend entry, but it does not rename any month or alter the plotted sales figures. If the chart instead plots one series per month, its series list will be different; the data orientation determines what Excel treats as a series.

If the wrong items appear in the series list, the issue may be the chart’s source range or row-and-column orientation rather than the name. In Select Data Source, use Switch Row/Column when appropriate and inspect the Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels and series entries. This changes how Excel groups the selected data, so check the chart carefully before keeping the change.

Common problems and how to fix them

The series name field is unavailable or unclear: Make sure the chart itself is selected and that you clicked a series in Legend Entries (Series) before choosing Edit. Some chart types and chart sources have different controls.
The legend does not change: Confirm that you edited the intended series, click OK in both dialogs, and check that a legend is actually displayed. If the chart uses a PivotTable or PivotChart, its fields and filters may control the labels; see the next section.
The name changes back after an edit: Check whether the chart is linked to a source header or a PivotTable field. Editing the source label may be more appropriate, and a refresh or change to the source can restore a field-based label.
The legend shows an unexpected value: The series name may point to the wrong cell. Reopen Edit Series and select the intended heading cell, or enter the desired fixed text.
The chart title changes instead: Click the specific chart element you want to edit. A chart title is separate from the series name, and selecting its text box will not rename a legend entry.
The name is missing from a data label: Data labels have their own display settings. A label may show a value or category rather than the series name; edit the data-label options if the goal is to change what appears beside each point.

One common misconception is that changing a series name also changes the numbers or the source data. It does not. If a chart is plotting the wrong values, inspect the series’ values range in Edit Series or adjust the chart data range; renaming the series only changes its descriptive label.

PivotCharts and other chart types

A PivotChart is connected to a PivotTable, so its series and category labels are typically governed by PivotTable fields. You may be able to change the displayed field name through the PivotTable or field settings, but the ordinary Select Data editing workflow can be restricted or behave differently for a PivotChart. If the label is controlled by a field, change the field caption or source heading in the PivotTable context, then check the chart after refreshing if needed.

Pie charts are a useful contrast: a pie chart usually has one data series, with categories identifying the slices. Renaming that series may have little practical effect on the visible chart if no legend or series name is shown. If the goal is to identify each slice, edit category labels or data labels instead. In a line, column, or bar chart with several groups, series names are much more likely to be the legend entries readers rely on.

Some charts built from external data, specialized chart types, or linked sources also have restrictions. If the expected series controls are missing, identify how the chart was created and whether it is a PivotChart or otherwise linked. Editing the source table or using the chart’s specific field controls may be necessary.

Windows, Mac, and Excel for the web

These directions are for Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. On Mac, select the chart and look for the Chart Design tab and Select Data command; then choose the series and edit its name in the dialog. Ribbon placement and dialog appearance can vary slightly by Excel release, but the basic distinction between the series name and the chart title is the same.

Excel for the web has a different interface and may not expose every chart-editing control available in the desktop application. If you cannot find a way to edit a particular series name in the browser, open the workbook in the desktop Excel app and use Chart Design > Select Data. Changes made in the desktop app can then be saved to the workbook for other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change a legend name in Excel?
Select the chart, choose Chart Design > Select Data, select the series under Legend Entries (Series), and click Edit. Enter a name or select a cell, then confirm the dialogs.

Can I rename a chart series without changing the worksheet heading?
Yes. Use the series Edit dialog to enter a chart-only name. The worksheet heading stays as it is, although the chart label and source heading will then differ.

Why does my Excel chart series name change back?
The chart may be using a source header or PivotTable field as its label, or a refresh may restore a field caption. Check the source heading and whether the chart is a PivotChart; changing the controlling label may be necessary.

How do I change the chart title instead of the series name?
Select the chart title itself and edit its text. The chart title describes the whole chart, while a series name identifies one plotted group and commonly appears in the legend.

Can a chart series name come from a cell?
Yes. In the Edit Series dialog, select the cell containing the label in the Series name box. This lets the chart name follow changes to that cell.

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