Min works fine for sending text and emails to which ever name I speak. Maybe try uninstalling and reinstalling. I think I remember seeing a screen at startup (right after I downloaded it) that might have looked like a voice calibration exercise...but I'm not sure, it may have just been some sort of tutorial.
Also, try speaking very clearly, and maybe go for a simple one first like "send text to John" (or brad or mary...a simple name you have in your contacts). My wife's name is Kaysi, but google voice couldn't put my pronunciation together with that unusual spelling of the name, so I actually added a new contact called Casey with her cell and email so I could use it. Sometimes you have to accept limitations and find workarounds, or don't use it and complain...choices. I'm not implying that you (the OP) are whining, but there are plenty of folks out there that love to find what's wrong with everything. OK...getting off of my soap box now.