Where does the From title of texts come from?

[tobindia]

I assumed that the "From" title of text messages were the Last Name and First Name from the Contacts app, but recently the texts that I receive from my wife have "Tom cell" as the From title. My name is Tom, yet neither I nor my wife has a Contact called "Tom cell" or anything close. Where does this come from?

 

[Rod]

My assumption is that the name is generated by the Contacts app. So I would have a look in that and search for "Tom" to see what comes up. Check that there is no duplication and that there is only one personal reference for the device owner in My Card.
While we're on the topic, I don't mean to hyjack your post but do people with earlier iOS versions receive the info in the Subject line of Messages? Or is it just an iMessage thing?


Sent from my iPhone using Mac-Forums

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The From information in the actual SMS is just the phone number where you got the message from. iOS will look in your contacts to see if there is a match for the number and if so, it will grab the name and show that to you instead. So it has to be there somewhere.

 

[Rod]

Yep, that's what I think and it could be on either phone or both. For example my wife's number on voice call s comes up as Home, because it listed her number as our home number in contacts.

 

[tobindia]

Understood, however I have searched for her number in the Contacts on my phone and find it only in her listing. I also searched Contacts for "Tom" and don't have it anywhere. (My listing is "Thomas") This only started happening in the past few weeks, but I don't recall making any changes around that time. I don't have the issue with anyone else. Any other ideas?

 

[chscag]

Are you and your wife using the same Apple ID? And check your settings for "Messages". Another place to check is your Contacts list on iCloud.

 

[badshoehabit]

On her phone, go into contacts and find your number/name > edit. Scroll down and see if at any time she has added a custom label 'Tom's cell'. Thats the only way I can think of it appearing on a message.

 

[Rod]

It’s gotta be a contacts thing, I can’t imagine how else it could occur.

 

[ferrarr]

Do you have "nicknames" enabled in Contacts?

 

[tobindia]

Are you and your wife using the same Apple ID? And check your settings for "Messages". Another place to check is your Contacts list on iCloud.

Yes, we use the same Apple ID. I'm not sure what you want me to check for in Messages. The only place I have Contacts is in iCloud.

"On her phone, go into contacts and find your number/name > edit. Scroll down and see if at any time she has added a custom label 'Tom's cell'." I did not find "Tom's cell" on her phone.

"Do you have 'nicknames' enabled in Contacts?" I don't know. I don't know how to set nicknames.

 

[MacInWin]

Try this: On your phone, not her's, Settings, General, About and the top line probably shows "Tom cell," or whatever she is seeing. In her phone, make sure your number is under "iPhone" and not the generic Mobile or whatever. You get to Contacts by opening the Phone app like you want to make a call, then "Contacts" is in the bottom of the screen. If you have synced to iCloud, it may be easier to check and edit on a Mac with a proper keyboard and let it sync back to the iPhones.