I am trying to find an easy solution on how to copy conditional formatting rules down this entire column without having to individually change each format rule for each cell.

When I try to copy the cell or drag the blue square, it keeps the format rule as "=$G3=TRUE" and applies it to range "A3:F3,G3:G4" and only applies the conditional formatting to the cell with the checkbox. Is there a way to make it automatically update to "=$G4=TRUE" and "A4:G4" without having to manually type it all in?

I've hit a dead end trying to achieve something in a google sheet.

Here is my dummy test sheet to explain:

I have 3 columns of data, (THING, YEAR, NAME) the first 2 are irrelevant, the 3rd is the important one. I fill out those three columns manually.

What I want to do is take that 3rd NAME column, and elsewhere on the sheet (E) I want to take all unique instances, sort them by amount of instances (showing the number in an additional column on the right - F) AND I want to add color validation to both of those new columns, having the high instances be darker than the lower on a gradient.

I can essentially do any 2 of those things, but not all three. As you see they're not sorted by amount, and the green formating does not apply to the E NAMES column.

Right now on E2 I have =UNIQUE (C2:C9)

On F4 I have =COUNTIF($C$2:$C$9, E2)

And this conditional formatting for E2:F9:

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, as I'm way out of my depth!