Maximum Named Ranges in Excel?

[Sarang Bapat]

Hello all,

I am using the Named ranges in excel to store metadata about each cell
in excel that can persist with the excel file. So 1 cell = 1 Named
Range.Advantage of using this approach is excel automatically updates
the name references, even if we cut-and paste cells.

As per this link(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/
HP051992911033.aspx), the amount of named ranges is limited only by
the amount of available memory.

I wrote a small macro that adds names to each cell in excel,
considering an average data of 10000 rows into 10 columns.
like this:

Sub addNames()
Dim objRange As Range
Dim actSheet As Excel.Worksheet
For r = 1 To 10000
For c = 1 To 10
Set actSheet = Excel.ActiveSheet
Set objRange = actSheet.Cells(r, c)
Set nm = ActiveWorkbook.Names.Add("NMR" & r & "C" & c,
objRange)
Next
Next
End Sub

After 65472cells, excel does not allow me to add more than the
specified amount of names. This is regardless of whatever RAM,
whatever amount of memory is on user's machine.

My question is:
a. Is there a limit on number of names(named ranges) we can add to
excel?
b. Is there some other property that is attached to a cell in excel
that can serve as a metadata holder, and will persist across sessions.
I tried with ID property, but it does not persist across excel session.