METHOD OF INPUTTING NAME

A method of inputting a place name that reduces the necessary memory capacity for input processing. A name list in which a plurality of names are registered in alphabetical order is prepared. A table is also prepared by storing sequences of n leading characters and data related to each sequence of n leading characters. The data represents information as to whether some of the registered names in the name list have the corresponding sequence of n leading characters. When a user inputs one of the sequences of n leading characters, a processor examines whether registered names in the name list have the same sequence of characters as the input sequence of n characters by referring to the table. If none of the registered names have the same sequence, the processor requests the user input a name again. If some of the registered name have the same leading characters as the input sequence of n characters, the processor searches for them from the name list, identifies, from the names searched out, characters each probable to be input as (n+1)th character and characters improbable to input, and displays the two groups of characters so that they are discriminable from each other.