=SUMIF(A1:A10,"John",B1:B10)

Adjust as necessary.

HTH,
Paul

"Isaiah I" <Isaiah wrote in message
...
good afternoon.

here is what im trying to do

column A has 3 names in colum b there is a number for each name, i want to
get the sum of the column b for the first name, then the sum of the second
and so one
A B
john 15
jack 7 john 17
jill 9 jack 16
john 2 jill 11
jack 9
jill 2

thanks for the help.