Finding the MAX number while considering similar names

[Ninjapowa]

Hello!
I have a list of names associated with hours. I want to get the maximum hour
number while adding whatever hours of the same names. Here is an example of a
sheet:

a 2
b 5
a 1
a 6
d 3

Visually, I know my answer is:
9
Because since "a" is the same person, that persons hours gets added. And so
the maximum number is no longer 6, but an addition of all the similar names.
In this case, "a" which gives me 9.

I hope I wasn't too confusing...
thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[Biff]

Try this:

=SUMIF(A1:A5,"A",B1:B5)

Biff

 

[JMB]

Perhaps
=MAX(SUMIF(A1:A5,A1:A5,B1:B5))

array entered with Cntrl+Shift+Enter (or you get #VALUE)

 

[JMB]

small correction - if it's not array entered you get 0 (although normally I
get and have come to expect #VALUE)