How to Remember Names

The ability to remember the names of people you meet will always serve you well in social situations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Personal Organizers
• Spiral Notebooks
• Writing Pens

1. Pay attention when you are introduced to someone. A few minutes after you meet the person, say his or her name to yourself again. If you have forgotten it, talk to the person again and ask for the name.

2. Write down the new name three times while picturing the person's face; do this as soon as possible after meeting someone.

3. Ask how to spell a difficult name, or glance at the spelling on the person's business card, if it's offered. If you know the spelling of a word and can picture it in your mind, you'll remember it better.

4. Connect a name to a common word you will remember. For example, the name Salazar could sound like 'salamander,' 'bazaar' or 'sell a jar.'

5. Make a connection to the person's hobby or employment. 'Bill the pill' might help you remember the name of your pharmacist, for example.

Tips & Warnings

• Writing down new names is generally a very successful memorizing technique that doesn't require a lot of work.
• For a memory boost, check out a book about using mnemonic devices or strategies.

[lilolladystuff]

on 6/12/2009 I like these tips and will practice them. Thanks.

[ecm1980]

on 4/26/2009 Great advice, I will have to share some of that with my husband.

[pinchy]

on 2/25/2009 good tips - very hard for me to remember names!!

[bjbpowell]

on 1/25/2009 Good tips. Here is another site that helps me remember names: http://www.deliverfreedom.com/namesearch/index.html It has a cool free name to image association tool that really helps!

[jaredten]

on 5/11/2007 I have tried everything to remember peoples names with little success. Finally, I found a way that works for me. When someone says, "My name is Sean" I try and think if I know any other Seans. Then I just picture in my head the two of them standing together in my head. Now I have an association of the new guy, with someone I already know....and they have the same name!