How do you remember names??

[FL Knifemaker]

I'm really bad with names. I meet someone, look them in the eye, shake their hand and within a minute I forget their name It's embarrasing. Then, there are people I see EVERY year at trade shows. I KNOW their names but when I see them face to face after a year, I can't remember *** their name is

I know there are methods to remembering peoples names. If anyone knows any please share

 

[nad]

Considering how much I hate 99% of people that I meet every day, forgetting most names doesn't bother me a bit.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I do better with western names compared to eastern.

 

[soulgeezer]

My usual conversation with anybody I've met once or twice and haven't seen in a while:

Them: Hey, Rob, how ya doin'?

Me: Hey -- Hey, what's up?! It's been a while! How ya been doin'?!

And on and on, avoiding their name at any cost. I've done this over the course of days, without ever finding out what the person's name was. (If I'm lucky, there's somebody close by that I can ask quietly, but this isn't always the case.)

So, if I ever run into you and start in with the "Hey, hey!" routine, take pity and casually mention your name or where I know you from -- Please!

 

[RWP]

Try associating the name with a visual. With your name I would picture a Major in the army holding a big Metal pipe. I know, stupid, but it works for me.

 

[Sundogue]

Here's what I do...

If I see you and remember your name, you mean something to me. If I can't remember your name, you are obviously not worth remembering.

It sounds shallow, but in reality, why should I remember your name if you aren't a part of my life enough to remember who you are? If you are a casual acquaintance, or I met you only once what is the significance of your name to me? Or mine to you for that matter?

Being an artist and musician that is recognized a lot by people around here (whom I don't know), if someone comes up to me and acts like they are my best friend and I haven't a clue who they are, I just simply ask them who they are. If they walk off offended because I couldn't remember their name, why should I care? I don't know them anyway.

 

[Rakie]

My usual conversation with anybody I've met once or twice and haven't seen in a while:

Them: Hey, Rob, how ya doin'?

Me: Hey -- Hey, what's up?! It's been a while! How ya been doin'?!

And on and on, avoiding their name at any cost. I've done this over the course of days, without ever finding out what the person's name was. (If I'm lucky, there's somebody close by that I can ask quietly, but this isn't always the case.)

So, if I ever run into you and start in with the "Hey, hey!" routine, take pity and casually mention your name or where I know you from -- Please!

Thats exactly what i do.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Here's what I do...

If I see you and remember your name, you mean something to me. If I can't remember your name, you are obviously not worth remembering.

It sounds shallow, but in reality, why should I remember your name if you aren't a part of my life enough to remember who you are? If you are a casual acquaintance, or I met you only once what is the significance of your name to me? Or mine to you for that matter?

Being an artist and musician that is recognized a lot by people around here (whom I don't know), if someone comes up to me and acts like they are my best friend and I haven't a clue who they are, I just simply ask them who they are. If they walk off offended because I couldn't remember their name, why should I care? I don't know them anyway.

I understand what you mean and agree with most of what you say. My problem is, at trade shows or in a business situation, the more I can great people with a name, the better. Anyone can be a potential good customer or a buyer for one of the companies I do business with OR someone from a magazine, etc. Other than that, I have inlaws that I don't care if I remember their names or not

 

[Relic]

Try associating the name with a visual. With your name I would picture a Major in the army holding a big Metal pipe. I know, stupid, but it works for me.

That's actually a taught memory-skill for remembering names, works pretty well. You associate the name with something visual or a physical trait of the person. A little creativity needed but it works.
Other than that, I chronically use soulgeezer's method.

 

[Sundogue]

I understand what you mean and agree with most of what you say. My problem is, at trade shows or in a business situation, the more I can great people with a name, the better. Anyone can be a potential good customer or a buyer for one of the companies I do business with OR someone from a magazine, etc. Other than that, I have inlaws that I don't care if I remember their names or not

Well given the context of a situation, I can understand the relative importance of remembering a name. Sales is a particularly important field to be remembering names. If for no other reason than to impress.

Thus, I am no salesman. Impressing people is not my game. If someone is impressed by me remembering their name, they shouldn't be. If I remember their name, it is only because they mean something to me. So perhaps they should be impressed with themselves?

 

[Phil Mastro]

My usual conversation with anybody I've met once or twice and haven't seen in a while:

Them: Hey, Rob, how ya doin'?

Me: Hey -- Hey, what's up?! It's been a while! How ya been doin'?!

And on and on, avoiding their name at any cost. I've done this over the course of days, without ever finding out what the person's name was. (If I'm lucky, there's somebody close by that I can ask quietly, but this isn't always the case.)

So, if I ever run into you and start in with the "Hey, hey!" routine, take pity and casually mention your name or where I know you from -- Please!

Sounds like me. Just in case you actually need to call out this person, you can generally use terms like "Buddy", "Bro", "Dude", "Man" and so on. I don't like it when people call me "Bro" though.

 

[kserg]

Walk around with a sharpie Permanent marker and as soon as they say their name write it down on their forehead. That way, every time you look up you see it...

 

[RWP]

I just hate it when I meet up with someone and I don't know their name or any of their kids and they say, "Hey Bob, how is your wife Jane and little Bobby and Mary?

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I just hate it when I meet up with someone and I don't know their name or any of their kids and they say, "Hey Bob, how is your wife Jane and little Bobby and Mary?

Been there!! That's like the ultraworse case scenerio. That usually happens with women. They remember everything including birthdays

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Walk around with a sharpie Permanent marker and as soon as they say their name write it down on their forehead. That way, every time you look up you see it...

Everyone at the trade shows has a badge with their name and company. It's actually worse to get caught looking at their name badge than calling them some default name

 

[knarleybass]

Sometimes what I will do is tell the person who's name I can't remember my name, I don't exect them to remember my name, then they will usually will tell me theirs, or, if it comes to it I will just tell them that I am an idiot and can't remember...

 

[kserg]

Everyone at the trade shows has a badge with their name and company. It's actually worse to get caught looking at their name badge than calling them some default name

That's why you put the name on the forehead directly above the eyes... That way it *looks* like you still looking at their eyes, but you really are reading...

 

[jady]

I dont remember names, I tell everyone so they expect it.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

That's why you put the name on the forehead directly above the eyes... That way it *looks* like you still looking at their eyes, but you really are reading...

I will see if they trade shows can incorporate the name badges into a headband for that very reason. It actually makes a lot of sense

 

[Matthew Bryson]

Here's a tip for remembering names, it helps me a lot.

When you meet a new person, say their name out loud. Say it as many times as you can without sounding weird. Once I've been told somebody's name, I always like to repeat their name back like I'm asking a question - making sure I heard it right (which I am)


Example:

"Frank is it?" "Hi Frank, nice to meet you" (conversation) "Well Frank, it was nice to meet you."


"John?" "Hi John, glad to meet you. I have a brother named John, that should be easy to remember"


"Natalie?" "Hi, Natalie, I'm Matt" "I've always liked the name Natalie, that very pretty name" (conversation) "It was nice to meet you Natalie…"



I'm sure you get the point, the more you say it the more likely you are to remember it.