Merging duplicate contacts

I'm looking for a way to do this to. I have lots of contacts that are slightly different (like they have similar names, or the same number but different names).

Any one know a good way to do this? - I don't want to go through all of my contacts one by one to fix this.

I tried asking someone the same question and they figured merging the contacts would make sense (and it really does make sense to me or you can call me stupid... "MERGE") but it seemingly made the situation WORSE. Furthermore, now there are so many duplicates that too many important contacts have been deleted to make "room for the new". Actually, the new contacts I add never stick. They get deleted. It's the **** duplicates that haunt my iPhone.

There is an app called Contacts Duster which does merge duplicate contacts. However, it also sometimes has eliminated some bits and pieces of info that I wanted to keep. You always backup your contacts first so you can go back and get the missing data. This is a hugh help if you have lots of duplicates.

Contacts are supposed to work as long as they have slightly different names like random is differnet than Random .. but just to be sure do like Random cell Random Home if you are wanting different contacts with similiar names.. just be sure you don't have two friends named Bob under your contacts

Are you using iCloud to store your contacts? If so, then shut off contacts in your Mail, Contacts & Calendar settings for that account, delete them, then turn them back on. Also, verify what your "Default" account is in the same setings area for new contacts.

Careful with the Facebook app. It seems to want to rename everything in your contacts if you allow it. Be very afraid of this "feature". Luckily I had a recent backup on my laptop.

Well, what do you mean merge? Because that's what my iPhone did and all it did was create absurd stuff like 5 of the same contact. Will Contact Duster merge in a different way?

So you are confident with the app you mentioned?

No, the only way is manually.

Yes except it appears only the PAID version of it works on Multiples. Please correct me if I am wrong and supply either a link or info on what to do when there are so many.

The problem is the iPhone really makes a mess of contacts and I have no way of getting rid of over 10,000 duplicates some as many as 8 of each.

Android makes it so easy.