Outlook's Contact Options Settings

Contact and Address book settings are found in three locations in Outlook.

In Address Book's Tools, Options, you'll find the options to select which address book is shown first when you click To, where your personal addresses are kept, and the order auto-resolution searches your address books.    

In Tools, Options, Contact Options you can control the file as format and the default name order.

The default name order tells Outlook that "Mary Smith" is in first name last name format. If you prefer to enter names in last name first name format, without using commas ("Smith Mary"), this is the setting you'll need to change. When Outlook files names in "Mary, Smith" format, check your default name order setting. Changing this setting will not change existing contacts, it applies only to new contacts. 

Restart Outlook to insure changes made here to take effect.

Directory and Address book settings are found in Account Settings (Tools menu). This controls the sort order you see when you click the To button or view the address book. Double click on the address book or select it and click Change.

More Information