Not good with names

Absolutely, I've been known to ask someone what there name is several times in initial conversation. That way I remember, they remember me, etc. It's better then the alternative of knowing someone for sometimes even weeks and having no clue what their name is, which has happened to me as well. I find if it's casual conversation, if I get there name and either wright it down or ideally add them on Facebook to see the name and the picture, it's much easier to remember.

 

I'm sorry, What was your name again?

 

I happen to meet most new people when Im drunk. Then I see them again and I know Ive met them, but cant remember their name for the life of me.
I just tell them I remember meeting them, but their name has slipped my mind. THey dont usually care.

 

Yes, and my being in sales it's not a great trait to have. Try using association right away even though it will seem a bit stupid at first. I like rhyming.

Something like this....You meet a guy named Ray. Look for something that rhymes with Ray in the current scene like "Ray whose suit is gray" or "Ray I met on a cloudy day".

You'll be surprised by how well it works. Recently I met a woman through work who goes by "Kits". I was at a loss.

 

"Ray who may or may not be gay."

What you did there, I see it.

 

I have a pretty good memory for just about anything. However, it only works when I want it to.

If I casually ask someone their name just for the sake of being polite I won't remember it. However, if I want to remember it I will without any trouble. The same also applies to reading. I forget some of the stuff I casually read without much interest but remember "serious" reading very well. Conversations, classes and conferences are a bit different tho, I tend to remind them verbatim for a long time regardless of my concentration.

 

i'm horrible with names

 

I like and use the association technique.

Instead of rhyming words I use celebrity names or anyone in your life with the same name. That way you can picture that celebrity with the name.

 

Ha! My luck, the next time I saw him I'd say, "Good to see you again, Jay!"

 

I find odder the name the easier to remember since there are a lot less Arslan's then are Mike's. I remembered said Arslan by associating the first two letters of his name with Argon, a Pokémon I used to like. And the last part of his name slan with slandering. So a Slandering Argon would make a Arslan. Never forgot his name to this day even though ive only seen him three times in my life. The more absurd the association, the easier I find it to remember.

 

Awkward

 

i overheard at a party that there is a distinct section of a normal human brain dedicated to remembering others' names. there is also a separate section for face memory. if your brain name-memory section does not work well (like mine), use association techniques to get other parts of the brain involved in the memory. previously mentioned 'tricks' like name rhyming, associating the name with a song lyric or color, image visualization, spelling, repetition, etc. all get multiple parts of the brain involved in the name game.

 

This bar I used to frequent was really handy, in that everyone had the same first name - Hey!

 

I suck with names, but I'm real good with derogatory nicknames I make up for people. So far I haven't accidentally called someone said nickname to their face, but I know it's a risk.

 

I'm not only bad with names, but also have prosopagnosia - face blindness! Many a time people have walked up to me knowing who I am, while I'm not sure if I've ever seen them before in my life. Even with family and people I've known my whole life, the second they leave my field of vision, I have no memory of what they look like.