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

[Itstakeawaynight]

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.

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!

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.

It’s also short for Jolyon.

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

Jolyon?!

Is that Balonz’s sister?

She even got a football shirt with Jo on it.

@MultiplaLight

🤣🤣 Your SIL is savage!

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

Doesn't bother Joe?

If so, he should tell her.

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

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

Johannes from Strictly gets called JoJo.

Try again

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

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

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.

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