How do you remember peoples names?

jordan novice · Dec 12, 2016

I swear, every time I meet someone new, they'll say their name and I'll shake their hand and as soon as that handshake is over, their name is gone from my memory.

I try and try to remember, often times they'll speak their name and I'll follow up with a question of un-importance.

While they answer, it gives myself time to repeat their name in my head over and over again but still manage to forget.

Group settings are the absolute worst as you learn names of people all at one time.

It's especially bad if I don't see you more than once a week.

Back in college, I'd see colleagues once every week or two, and every time I had to ask their name, which felt awful.

What tips and tricks do you guys have to learn people's names?

I feel like knowing someone's name leaves a big impression.

When you manage to remember their name, it gives them a sense of importance and the bond will be more beneficial.

cosmiccoffee9 · Dec 12, 2016

I kinda don't.

Someone incepted into my head recently the idea that someone must "earn" their name being remembered by random individuals through creating a memory...a quick laugh, a shared insight, a distinctive look or...well, I'm not sure what's considered sexism these days, but certain widely appreciated attributes.

I don't know how universally true that is, but there's sure a correlation there from my personal experience.

SC kid · Dec 12, 2016

if i don't remember your name you didn't make any kind of memorable impression.

its that simple.

if you made the SLIGHTEST wrinkle in my brain.....i will remember everything.

i did a lot of drugs but it aint that bad.

water · Dec 12, 2016

sckid20 said:
if i don't remember your name you didn't make any kind of memorable impression.

nazdrowie · Dec 12, 2016

first name and nearest largest city to where they grew up...

joe baltimore

timothy dc

mitchell new york

and so forth...

jthagreat · Dec 12, 2016

LOL

I feel ya OP.

I try, but even when i think i know your name, im so unsure if i am correct, i tell on myself and be like "buddy" or "partner"

smh

ninjahood · Dec 12, 2016

i usually remember casual acquaintances names on my phone contacts, followed by a subtitle (big booty judy, Joe from Harlem, Joe from Dyckman, weedhead wendy, etc)

Sonny Corinthos · Dec 12, 2016

I school I used to link kids with food . Greg is Jamaican , so I would think of a Beef Patty

jthagreat · Dec 12, 2016

dabottom305 · Dec 12, 2016

I worked at a treatment facility and we have on average 50 to 60 clients who live there. They stay here from 30 to sometimes 60 days. By day 2 I already have memorized a client's name.

jordan novice · Dec 12, 2016

DaBottom305 said:
I worked at a treatment facility and we have on average 50 to 60 clients who live there. They stay here from 30 to sometimes 60 days. By day 2 I already have memorized a client's name.

How do you do this? Is it because you see them all the time?

oidreez · Dec 12, 2016

I find that if i hear their name and see it written down i remember it better

jordan novice · Dec 12, 2016

cosmiccoffee9 said:
I kinda don't.

Someone incepted into my head recently the idea that someone must "earn" their name being remembered by random individuals through creating a memory...a quick laugh, a shared insight, a distinctive look or...well, I'm not sure what's considered sexism these days, but certain widely appreciated attributes.

I don't know how universally true that is, but there's sure a correlation there from my personal experience.

sckid20 said:
if i don't remember your name you didn't make any kind of memorable impression.

its that simple.

if you made the SLIGHTEST wrinkle in my brain.....i will remember everything.

i did a lot of drugs but it aint that bad.

I get this, but the reason for "wanting" to remember names is to build better relations.

Perhaps it's because I'm a business college grad, I feel that I need to maintain all relations because you don't know who you'll meet and what connections they might have in the future.

All connections are beneficial to some point I feel and if I can make the other person feel good then all the better.

Edit - As well, my father runs a small business where I often help out and I'd like to remember customers names more frequently.

The customer feels a sense of happiness and importance, and in return I'd hope they feel good and recommend our services to friends and others.

AZwildcats · Dec 12, 2016

I am terrible with names, I don't know half of my coworkers names

wavy daddy · Dec 12, 2016

I just say '"ay foo"

lovehateself · Dec 12, 2016

SC kid · Dec 12, 2016

All connections are beneficial to some point

maybe we have lived different lives but i disagree on this.

stuntman mike · Dec 12, 2016

DaBottom305 said:
I worked at a treatment facility and we have on average 50 to 60 clients who live there. They stay here from 30 to sometimes 60 days. By day 2 I already have memorized a client's name.

i work at a treatment facility and we have 125 clients in residence at any given time. they stay here for 2 years. sometimes people graduate and i don't know their names. i rarely do interventions or have much client contact anymore though.

Based Jesus · Dec 12, 2016

I used to be able to remember a pretty chick's name easy. Now I find myself struggling.

Girls telling me their names and minutes later I'm in my head going "Is it Mulva?"

SC kid · Dec 12, 2016

if she was fine i remember her name.

Ox. · Dec 12, 2016

I use that fast food approach.

ugly guy with hat - george

paisa dodger fan - sergio

immature 40 year old - jerry

snow bunny that's seen better days - brittany

milf - theresa

waitwut · Dec 12, 2016

im horrible at remembering names and phone numbers :lol:

ninjahood · Dec 12, 2016

in da 90's before cell phones i used to have a immaculate mental rolodex for numbers.

HankHill · Dec 12, 2016

I just use it in the initial convo enough times. Helps with networking at conferences.

John Doe: Hi I'm John Doe.
Me: John Doe? Nice to meet you. I'm ____. So what do you do John?

The name has been said out loud 3 times in the first 30 seconds. Even if you don't remember what they look like you'll remember hearing the name.

K.S.G · Dec 12, 2016

AZwildcats said:
I am terrible with names, I don't know half of my coworkers names

This
Usually I just play it off saying what's up man or w.e until I hear another coworker say their name then it might stick :lol:

Search

How do you remember peoples names?

jordan novice

cosmiccoffee9

SC kid

water

nazdrowie

jthagreat

ninjahood

Sonny Corinthos

formerly joeclear

jthagreat

dabottom305

jordan novice

oidreez

jordan novice

AZwildcats

wavy daddy

lovehateself

SC kid

stuntman mike

Based Jesus

SC kid

Ox.

formerly oxpenguin

waitwut

ninjahood

HankHill

K.S.G

Similar threads

Share this page