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Jane.
It's not that difficult a name, is it?
So how come twice in the last two weeks, somebody has called me Jan? Really, it would be hard to confuse me with the Owner's ~~secretary~~ assistant, who is round and blonde and is named Jan. (And we do get one another's mail sometimes, thank you Outlook Autofill.)

I just couldn't keep my mouth shut about it yesterday, and corrected the guy on the spot. Wish I had better control of myself - I ought to have waited til after the meeting.

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My wife Jane has the same problem.

Sometimes, you just have to remind somebody that learning someone's name, especially if it is an easily pronounced, common name, is one of the most essential rules of etiquette.

And if you are not sure, don't *guess*, *ask*.

I get Dennis a lot... to my face, even (over email to someone I've never met, or cold call is one thing...). The sex change part of it just throws me for a loop. *sigh*

I think you did fine to correct him then and there. Jane is your name and he should address you by it. If the shoe was on the other foot, I bet he'd do the same thing.

My name's tougher, but it took me years to find the restraint not to correct people on the spot.

Sometimes I still do it if I'm not paying attention.

I hate to tell you how many time I will pick up the phone and say Julia and they here Joanne. try to figure that one out....

I will totally correct someone on the spot, but depending on my feelings about the individual will soften or sharpen the remark.

Not correcting them on the spot allows them to continue, either in error or in malice. (I had a boss who couldn't be bothered to differentiate my name from a similarly named co-worker. I expect better after a year's service.)

Someone I like:
"oh Lauren, I meant to ask you..."
"Actually, it is 'Laura'. I know it's easy to switch accidentally..."

Someone I don't like:
"oh Lauren, I meant to ask you..."
"Laura."
"Huh?"
"I'm Laura. The other girl is Lauren."

No, you should correct people on the spot. It's not rude to want to be called your correct name.

Years ago, I worked with a woman named Siobhon. When she first came to the office, she wanted to leave a message for my manager. I asked whom I should say had called, and she answered, "Siobhon-I'll-spell-that-for-you." (All one word.)

Stung, I said, "I KNOW how to spell that."

She was astonished. "You DO? Spell it!"

"S-I-O-B-H-A-N."

"*ahem* *ahem* Well, it's actually S-I-O-B-H-O-N, but that's *very* close." She was flabberghasted - no other American had ever had a clue.

Being a herald for interesting people in the SCA does come in handy . . .

Mind you, I spelled it Siubhan ;)

I've always known my name is uncommon (though it's been gaining recently), but I'm getting less and less forgiving of those who get it wrong. Especially in the last decade or so, when they all seem to think it's Arabic. (I can always tell a telemarketer, when the call begins "Can I speak with...ah..." *click*)

But "Jane"? My mind boggles.

Some times I correct on the spot, sometimes I don't- but if I don't, and people find out they've been mispronouncing my name, they get all huffy.

It's always perversely fun to have clients or lawyers call who have only seen my name in print, and ask for "Mr. F." And then they get flustered when I am clearly not a Mr.

I get "Alisha" and other incorrect names all the time, but I thought that was largely because a lot of people have never encountered the name Ailish before me.

But Jane?! Even if they don't personally know a Jane, it was one of the first names our generation encountered in literature, along with Dick, Sally and Spot. How can they mess that one up?

And I do think you're better off correcting people early and often.

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