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Comments on: How to Remember Names

68 Comments From eHow Members

safenazo said

on 7/6/2009 great advices...

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

ecm1980 said

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

pinchy said

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

bjbpowell said

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 said

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!

ken009 said

on 2/25/2007 Picture something synoniem to the name.

Anonymous said

on 9/24/2006 If you have forgotten a person's name and can't recall it, then ask the following question:

YOU: What's your name?
THEM: John.
YOU: No, I meant your last name.
THEM: Oh, Johnson.

Even if they don't want you to know their last name, then you will still know their first name. This works about 98% of the time. Multiple times on the same person works also.

Anonymous said

on 8/8/2006 If you can't remember the name of the person you are talking to, find someone you do know (like a co-worker or spouse) and introduce them by saying, "Hey, I want you to meet someone, this is my wife Mary." Then they will say, "oh, my name is Joe, it's nice to meet you Mary." Then you now know is name!

Anonymous said

on 8/8/2006 Repeat the name immediately. Example: "Traci, this is Bob." While studying his face, I respond, "Bob! Good to meet you." I frequently throw a compliment in there, "neat tie", "cute pin", "beautiful earrings!" to help jog my memory.

Anonymous said

on 6/30/2006 At the end of a conversation with a group of new people, I often ask to go over names again -- they are much more likely to stick, now that I have a bit of knowledge of the person to connect them to.

But no one can remember everyone, so tactful queries are needed -- "Remind me of your surname", "I think I am confused about which organization you represent" and sensitivity that who you are talking to may be desperately trying to recall who you are!

Anonymous said

on 6/30/2006 When you are introduced to someone, imagine that the person's name is being written in front of you. Write the name of the person in the air in front of you in a nice, bold font with the person's face beside it. You will recollect this name very easily the next time you think of this person. This is the visual technique of remembering anything - names or numbers.

Anonymous said

on 6/30/2006 Take the person's name and create an odd picture in your mind that creates an association. For example, I know a Scott who plays bass guitar, and I could never remember his name. I started imagining him standing with a roll of Scott paper towels wrapped around the neck of his guitar. It's weird enough that it sticks in my mind!

Anonymous said

on 6/30/2006 Link the person's name with the name of a person you already who has the same name.
For example, I linked a Casper with Casper the friendly ghost.

Anonymous said

on 3/26/2006 My husband is terrible at remembering names, so when he's met someone and then can't remember their name, he gets me to come over and introduce myself to them so that they'll then tell me their name and my husband can hear it again!

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