Excel 2000

I must have something set wrong. Three things may happen with this formula
in column C:

=IF(A1<A2,A1,"") - either the whole formula (including the =) appears in
the cell and does not increase cell #s when drawn down), or I get blanks -
even though A1 and A2 are different, or the contents of A1 is also put in
C2,C3,but the formula says =IF(A2<A3,A2,""). The contents of A are names
imported from another file. There is no ' in front of the name. Column A is
formatted as 'general'. The options show formula is not set.

What I want is a formula that will show the name on the first occurrence of
the name, and if it is repeated in succeeding cells, will not show the name.

TIA,
CaroleO