Assuming the source data is in cols A and B,
Try in say, C1:
=SUMPRODUCT((TRIM(A1:A100)="John")*(LEFT(TRIM(B1:B100),1)="C"))
Adjust the ranges to suit
Note: You can't use entire col references (A:A, B:B, etc) in SUMPRODUCT
--
Rgds
Max
xl 97
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xdemechanik <at>yahoo<dot>com
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"Azhar Arain" <Azhar
(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news

71956AF-48D7-4897-8CB3-(E-Mail Removed)...
> How can I count cells starting with character "C" in second column and
> related with the name John only.
>
>
> John Car
> Steve Bus
> Bush Cycle
> Powell Truck
> Bruce Van
> Bush Car
> Powell Bus
> Powell Cycle
> Bruce Truck
> John Van
> Steve Car
> Steve Bus
> Bush Cycle
> Powell Truck
> John Van
> John Cycle
> John Car
>