However, there are various theories concerning Joro-otoshiyori as in the following: One theory is that the female servants who were positioned in the highest post of the female servants in O-oku, or the Joro-otoshiyori post described above, were simply called Joro, and of those in the Joro post, the persons who were also appointed to the Toshiyori post were called Joro-otoshiyori, and the other theory is that the persons in the Joro-otoshiyori post, in the Ko-joro (female servants training to become Joro servants) post, and in the Otoshiyori post were totally called Rojo.
しかし上臈御年寄に関しては諸説あり、先述した上臈御年寄の役にある大奥女中最高位の女中を単に上臈と言い、その上臈の役にある者で御年寄の役を兼ねていた者を上臈御年寄と言うという説や、上臈御年寄・小上臈（上臈の見習い役）・御年寄の総称を老女とする説も存在する。