Mail is calling me by a different name

starlingblue · Feb 11, 2016

Hi - I am new to mac and am having a problem with mail. It keeps calling me by another name. It is correct under accounts in preferences and also in iCloud. This laptop is a replacement for the original one I bought a few weeks ago. On that one I had that persons name in my contacts. However when it switched to calling me her name, I cancelled her out of my contacts. No change on the mail name however.

Now I have the new mac, and have deleted all but one name in my contacts, I am still having the same issue. It obviously carried over in iCloud. But as said, everything seems correct there.

I am getting worried people - my first macbook kept crashing. This one has lost work I did in pages (app care couldn't find it either. I had upgraded to newest version of capitan and it is assumed the work was lost then) and my email folders were not transferred in transition from one macbook pro to the next one - but calling me the wrong name did!. I thought these computers were meant to be reliable? Fortunately I have been able to redo the work I lost but if it not...straight back for a refund I am afraid.

if anyone could help me on the name in mail that at least would be a start in turning this rather frustrating start around.

Thanks in advance.

lclev · Feb 11, 2016

I am at a loss here. Is mail calling - as in out loud saying your name???? Or is it using the wrong name when you send an email? I need more information as to where your name is wrong in mail.

As for losing work after presumably the upgrade to El Capitan, I would hope you created a backup before the upgrade. Time Machine would be a good start and then if you lose a document you can open it to find the backup copy. This would have also been true of any lost mail.

No computer is full proof but I have had Windows computers for over 30 years and added Macs to my work flow about three years ago. The macs are by far more reliable, easier to backup and much easier to wipe and reinstall if needed.

Please provide more information.

Lisa

Gary Brackins · Feb 11, 2016

Open the Mail application and click on Mail in the Menu Bar and select Preferences, then Accounts. Select the email account in question and see if "their" name shows up in either the Description or Alias information. If so, change it.

Not sure if this is your problem, and if it is how it happened.

Just something to check.

starlingblue · Feb 12, 2016

Gary Brackins said:
Open the Mail application and click on Mail in the Menu Bar and select Preferences, then Accounts. Select the email account in question and see if "their" name shows up in either the Description or Alias information. If so, change it.

Not sure if this is your problem, and if it is how it happened.

Just something to check.

Hi Gary - I tried that but its just my name in the account including the alias. But thanks for suggesting.

starlingblue · Feb 12, 2016

Hi - not its not actually calling out my name! An example would be last night I emailed myself with a doc attachment and the email when it arrived said it was to this other name but sent by my correct name. Also when I get emailed by companies, advertising etc including this web forum - its addressed to this other name. Strangely personal emails from friends etc do not have this "to: 'other name' " - it just seems to be companies and organisations - and even amazon who I have had an account with for years. The email address to me is correct, its just in the "to" line that it lists this other name.

dtravis7 · Feb 12, 2016

Who is your Email provider? It almost sounds like it's a setting there and not on the Mac.

lclev · Feb 12, 2016

And you have checked to make sure the name is not in your contacts with your email attached to it? Who is your email through? It would help to potentially narrow down a potential solution. And there has been cases of hackers spoofing and messing with people's email names. Not sure that is it though.

Lisa

harryb2448 · Feb 12, 2016

Mysterious. Any chance if Apple did the exchange they have confused her name with yours and set it up rgistered in her name. Go to Apple System Profile (About this Mac) > System Report > Bluetooth and see what is shown on the top line. It should read something like 'Peter Jones' iMac 3.7' or similar, if your name was Peter Jones.

starlingblue · Feb 13, 2016

lclev said:
And you have checked to make sure the name is not in your contacts with your email attached to it? Who is your email through? It would help to potentially narrow down a potential solution. And there has been cases of hackers spoofing and messing with people's email names. Not sure that is it though.

Lisa

Hi Lisa

Yes, I have deleted it from my contacts on the first laptop. It has carried over from iCloud somewhere as it is now on the new laptop. So, it won't be the ISP either as there have been two in this time as I moved back to UK. It is also doing duplicate sends so will get onto apple to sort out.

starlingblue · Feb 13, 2016

Thanks - did check this but no - its is my name everywhere it should be. mail is also sending duplicate emails. It is not the ISP as there have been two since I bought the first one a few weeks - when I was in ireland - and now have come to the uk where I got the exchange done and am using a new ISP.

starlingblue · Feb 13, 2016

Hi Dennis - no it can't be the ISP as there have been two as I have moved back to the UK since buying the first mac where the problem started.