I found a solution. Define a named range on another sheet. Then in
the Data Validation dialog, enter as the data validation source:

=namedrange

changing "namedrange" to the name of your data validation range.

Note that data next to blank cells in the named range will still cause
the blank lines to appear. To prevent this, use that sheet only for
data validation tables and put the tables in a single column so that
there is no data next to them. (This may be why I've never seen this
behavior before. All my validation tables in the few spreadsheets in
which I use them happen to be in single columns.)

confused wrote:
Hi,

I am uing data validation on cell A1 and choosing to allow from a list.
In the source box, I am clicking on column L (source =$L:$L). I have
selected the 'ignore blank' checkbox.

column L has 13 names. If there is something in columns A, B, C....etc in
rows 14 or greater then the dropdown list in cell A1 shows blanks along with
the names from column L.

does anyone know how I stop this happening?

Thanks for any help you cangive