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Original poster

Why can’t they spell my son’s name correctly

114 replies

Itstakeawaynight · 06/04/2024 18:24

Our son is 26. The shortened version of his name, which is the only version we’ve ever used since the day he was born has three letters. The female version has two letters.

My sister in law, every single time, every birthday card, every present label is always spelt the female way, with two letters. It’s really pissed me off over the years, but she’s highly sensitive to criticism so I’ve never corrected her. She’s still just done it again on his birthday. Would I be unreasonable to say something.

OP posts:
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Maray1967 · 21/05/2024 16:03

PrimalOwl10 · 06/04/2024 18:28

I have a Joe this wouldn't bother me at all.

It would me - I have one as well. If any of our families wrote ‘Jo’ I would have pointed it out at the time.

Johaanah · 21/05/2024 16:02

savoycabbage · 09/04/2024 07:47

Johannes from Strictly gets called JoJo.

So do I - But most people still write JoeJoe, which I just find odd, I mean it's a very basic name! Even when I've signed off an email with the correct spelling quite often the reply will have the incorrect spelling in it.

Pinkywoo · 21/05/2024 15:47

Not to add to the pedantry, but SIL could be OP's husbands sister, not her brother's wife.

Tiredalwaystired · 09/04/2024 09:11

YaMuvva · 08/04/2024 22:28

Jolyon?!

Is that Balonz’s sister?

Show quote history

Try again

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolyon

Jolyon - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolyon

savoycabbage · 09/04/2024 07:47

Johannes from Strictly gets called JoJo.

MorrisZapp · 09/04/2024 07:43

My dad is a Jo, loads of people assume Joe but he doesn't mind either way.

cheeseandketchupsandwich · 08/04/2024 22:59

Doesn't bother Joe?

If so, he should tell her.

Or start spelling her name incorrectly and see if she picks up on it.

WingingItSince1973 · 08/04/2024 22:52

I'm 51 and I still can't spell my dm name! I forget which way round the letters go!

MummaMummaJumma · 08/04/2024 22:40

She even got a football shirt with Jo on it.

@MultiplaLight

🤣🤣 Your SIL is savage!

YaMuvva · 08/04/2024 22:28

Tiredalwaystired · 08/04/2024 22:26

It’s also short for Jolyon.

Show quote history

Jolyon?!

Is that Balonz’s sister?

YaMuvva · 08/04/2024 22:28

Just add the ‘e’ himself no big deal.

I have a female friend who goes by Joe and I alway forget other Jo’s are Jo not Joe

Tiredalwaystired · 08/04/2024 22:26

blacksax · 07/04/2024 14:41

Jo can be male or female.

How come? Jo is short for Joanne or Josephine, not Joseph.

It’s also short for Jolyon.

Worried86 · 07/04/2024 15:48

It wouldn’t have been unreasonable to mention it in 1998.

However Joe’s been an adult for 8 years. He’s too old to buy a young person’s rail card. If he wants to correct his aunt’s spelling of his name then I’m sure he’s up to it.

marmiteoneverything · 07/04/2024 15:35

I think the fact that ‘Jo’ is the female variant is a bit of a red herring. It doesn’t really matter why he’s ‘Joe’ and not ‘Jo’, the point is that after 26 years she’s still spelling his name wrong. Although the fact that ‘Joe’ is the standard version for males does make it more bizarre.

It would annoy me too!

saoirse31 · 07/04/2024 15:35

The time to do it was at the start until she used the right spelling. At this stage, why bother if you couldn't be bothered for 26 years?

TeaKitten · 07/04/2024 15:27

blacksax · 07/04/2024 14:41

Jo can be male or female.

How come? Jo is short for Joanne or Josephine, not Joseph.

Doesn’t take an English teacher to see it can also be short for Joseph though. If you were trying to say Joe isn’t short for Joanne then that would work, but your argument failed unfortunately.

blacksax · 07/04/2024 14:41

Jo can be male or female.

How come? Jo is short for Joanne or Josephine, not Joseph.

NewName24 · 07/04/2024 14:36

Bakersdozens · 07/04/2024 08:49

It really is! calling it a "diminutive" goes way beyond simply pedantic and into the realms of the obsolete by decades.

Show quote history

No, a nickname is something (often mildly humorous) to do with the way you look or to do with something you did that people found funny, or sometimes a mispronunciation that got used when you were little. Like when really tall people get called 'Titch' , or my friend whose family call her 'Tinks' which has nothing to do with her name, or being called 'Benny' because you wore a knitted hat like Benny off crossroads even though your name is Ian, or when your mates re-name you Bob, because you are a builder, even though our name is Alex. , etc etc.

Jo / Joe
Dave
Pam
Meg
Sam
Rob
etc etc are shortenings of names.

Original poster
Itstakeawaynight · 07/04/2024 10:07

MultiplaLight · 06/04/2024 22:48

It has to be Joe.

Mine is much younger.... But do we share a SIL? She even got a football shirt with Jo on it. Every text I reply with JOE and she still doesn't get it.

I knew you’d understand!!

OP posts:
Tiredalwaystired · 07/04/2024 10:06

There are different pronunciations of my name. My grandad ALWAYS used the wrong one. I quite liked it from him although wouldn’t take it from anyone else.

forgotmyusername1 · 07/04/2024 09:40

Itstakeawaynight · 06/04/2024 18:24

Our son is 26. The shortened version of his name, which is the only version we’ve ever used since the day he was born has three letters. The female version has two letters.

My sister in law, every single time, every birthday card, every present label is always spelt the female way, with two letters. It’s really pissed me off over the years, but she’s highly sensitive to criticism so I’ve never corrected her. She’s still just done it again on his birthday. Would I be unreasonable to say something.

Shame you didn't correct her at the beginning. She may have then realised she was getting it wrong.

Bakersdozens · 07/04/2024 08:53

JimBobsWife · 07/04/2024 08:51

A nickname is 'an informal, often humorous, name for a person that is connected with their real name, their personality or appearance, or with something they have done'

How is Joe, short for Joseph a nickname?

even by your own definition it is a nickname - it is connected with his real name

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 07/04/2024 08:51

Well done on having a Joe and not a Macxymilyan or something.

TBH you should’ve corrected years ago but I’d let it go if it doesn’t bother him. He can deal with it.
For what it’s worth my Joe gets Jo from at least 50% of the family.

JimBobsWife · 07/04/2024 08:51

A nickname is 'an informal, often humorous, name for a person that is connected with their real name, their personality or appearance, or with something they have done'

How is Joe, short for Joseph a nickname?

KnittedCardi · 07/04/2024 08:49

He's blessed that she is still sending him cards at that age. He's an adult, people spell names wrong all the time, my rellies are obviously useless, but some of them have spelt Isabelle wrong my DDs entire life, oh, and my name is spelled wrong by many others too, it's also long and European in structure.

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