Doesn't quite sound like the problem i have.
Example: Toh Ah Guan, Toh being first, Ah Guan being last/middle (whatever makes you happy)

I've swapped it around so that AddBook shows it as
Last name then First name
I use the Last Name field to put Ah Guan, and leave the First Name empty, cos no point being so precise.
After syncing, with my iphone, it shows Ah Guan (Last name) , Guan (First name). Which means it shows
Ah Guan Guan. Weird.
It alters the correct information I have on my iphone too. Whether i change the info on my iphone then sync, or vice versa, the same things happens. Weird thing is that not all the contacts have this problem. Only a handful.. (5?) I've tried deleting the contacts totally from phone and mbp, create a new one... and same thing happens.
Does my apples have worms ???