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Get only rows with the latest date for each name

I'm trying to write a query that returns only those rows that contain the latest date for each name.
So for example, this data:
Name
Date Sold
More Columns...
Bob
2021-01-05
Mike
2021-01-18
Susan
2021-01-23
Bob
2021-02-04
Susan
2021-02-16
Mike
2021-03-02
Would produce this result:
Name
Date Sold
More Columns...
Bob
2021-02-04
Susan
2021-02-16
Mike
2021-03-02
It's sort of like a GROUP BY, but I'm not aggregating anything. I only want to filter the original rows.
How could I write such a query?
NOTE: In the end, this will be a SQL Server query but I need to write it using Entity Framework.
UPDATE: In reality, this is part of a much more complex query. It would be extremely difficult for me to implement this as a raw SQL query. If at all possible, I need to implement using Entity Framework.

Two options
Select top 1 with ties *
From YourTable
Order by row_number() over (partition by Name order by Sold_Date desc)
or slightly more performant
with cte as (
Select *
,RN = row_number() over (partition by Name order by Sold_Date desc)
From YourTable
)
Select *
From cte
Where RN=1

Adapted from
Error while flattening the IQueryable<T> after GroupBy()
var names = _context.Items.Select(row => row.Name).Distinct();
var items =
from name in names
from item in _context.Items
.Where(row => row.Name == name)
.OrderByDescending(row => row.DateSold)
.Take(1)
select item;
var results = items.ToArrayAsync();
Let's break this down:
A query expression which establishes the keys for our next query. Will eventually be run as a subquery.
var names = _context.Items.Select(row => row.Name).Distinct();
Another query, starting with the keys...
var items =
from name in names
... and for each key, let's find the matching row ...
from item in _context.Items
.Where(row => row.Name == name)
.OrderByDescending(row => row.DateSold)
.Take(1)
... and we want that row.
select item;
Run the combined query.
var results = items.ToArrayAsync();

try this
;with Groups as
(
Select [Name], max([Date Sold]) as [Date Sold]
From Table
Group By [Name]
)
Select Table.* From Groups
Inner Join Table on Table.[Name] = Groups.Name And Table.[Date Sold] = Groups.[Date Sold]

LINQ Left Join SQL equivalent via DefaultIfEmpty fails to return results

I have had an extensive look around on SE, tried all of the suggestions, checked out MSDN how to perform Left Join equivalent in LINQ to SQL and I have constructed my LINQ query according to MSDN example.
However, the result is not what SQL would return and I am completely lost as to where am I going wrong.
Here is some details:
I have two tables, Customers and Reports. A customer can submit many reports or none. In the current state I have many more reports than customers.
LINQ code:
var query = {from c in customers
join r in reports on c.Id equals r.Id into temp
from items in temp.DefaultIfEmpty()
select new {
c.Id,
LastReportDate = items?.DateCreated ?? DateTime.MinValue
}).ToList();
SQL code:
SELECT [Customers].[Id], R.LastReport AS LastReportDate FROM [Customers]
LEFT JOIN (
SELECT Reports.Id, MAX( [Reports].[Created] ) AS LastReport
FROM Reports GROUP BY Reports.Id
) AS r ON [Customers].[Id] = r.[Id]
The problem is that the query returns number of elements equal to number of reports. However, what I want is to get a list with all customers and for those who have submitted a report I wish to display the date of the most recent report, for those who have not submitted anything, I am happy to leave it NULL or DateTime.MinValue
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am missing a group by call somewhere in my LINQ code...

Im thinking probably something like this:
var query =
from c in customers
join r in reports on c.Id equals r.Id into g
select new
{
c.Id,
LastReportDate = g.Max(x => (DateTime?)x.Created)
};

you are now joining on join r in reports on c.Id equals r.Id into temp
this looks like: join on a customer.Id on Reports.Id, since you say there are 1 to many relation/rapport. I think your table will have a Reports.CustomerId. Is this correct?
So your query should something look like:
var results = customer.Where(c => c.Reports.Any())
.SelectMany(c => {c, c.Reports.Max(r => r.Created)})
.ToList();
the select comes out of my head, so i am probably missing something ;)
Have you tried LinqPad ? There you can type your linq-queries, and directly see your sql code and results. Works like a charm!

Linq Query Group By Multiple Columns Having Count > 1

I have a query I know how to do in SQL but struggling to figure out the LINQ query. Here is the SQL.
SELECT ordNo, tranNo, COUNT(distinct custNo)
FROM orders
GROUP BY ordNo, tranNo
HAVING COUNT(distinct custNo) > 1
I don't feel like this is the same question that I see you marked as a duplicate. The linked question only groups on a single property. I've lost track of the Linq queries I've tried but here is one.
var countList = from o in orders
group o by new {o.orderNo, o.tranNo, o.custNo}
into grp
where grp.Key.custNo.Distinct().Count() > 1
select grp;
I tried the suggestion below but like someone commented you can't access the custNo property.

Just spitballing since I don't know the table structure.
context.orders
.GroupBy(o => new { o.ordNo, o.tranNo, o.custNo })
.Where(o => o.custNo.Distinct().Count() > 1)
.Select(o => new {
ordNo = o.ordNo,
tranNo = o.tranNo
});

LINQ TO SQL Subquery

I am learning LINQ to SQL. And I want to write a LINQ TO SQL Query for the following:
SELECT TOP 1 * From
(select Top 2 * from Data ORDER BY ID DESC)
ORDER BY ID
According to my understanding it is written something like this;
GridView1.DataSource = from ( from data in dbCon.Data ORDER BY data.ID DESC
select Top 2 *)ORDER BY data.ID
select TOP 1 * ;
but it is not correct. Can anybody tell me the correct syntax? and links that can help me learn LINQ TO SQL Syntax for writing subqueries?

This should work for you:-
var result = (from x in
((from data in db.DATA orderby data.ID descending select data).Take(2))
orderby x.ID
select x).FirstOrDefault();

Try this:
var query = (from x in db.Data
select x).OrderByDescending(x=> x.Id).Take(2);
var query2 = (from y in query
SELECT y).OrderByDescending(y=> y.Id).Take(1);

How to limit rows count only of left part of join with QueryOver?

Take() limits the total rows count of the whole query result but I need to limit only rows of the left side of the join to retrieve 50 users and all their characters:
session.QueryOver<User>(() => userAlias)
.Where(...)
//.Take(50) - can't do this!
.JoinAlias(x => x.Characters, () => characterAlias, JoinType.LeftOuterJoin)
.Select(...)
.TransformUsing(Transformers.AliasToBean<UserDto>())
.Take(50)
.List<UserDto>();
This query should be done through QueryOver.
Example sql:
SELECT u.id, u.nickname, c.class_id, c.xp FROM (
(SELECT id, nickname FROM users WHERE lower(nickname) LIKE 'abcd%' LIMIT 50) as u
LEFT OUTER JOIN characters c ON c.user_id = u.id
)
Is it possible?

HQL doesn't support it. The only option here is to use pure sql query.