I have an unusual name so when I meet new people my brain focuses on their reaction to my name and how they pronounce it, so I completely zone out when they tell me their name. I might remember it for a short time but almost always I forgot their name if I don’t interact with them frequently.
Sometimes I make puns with the name and create a mental picture of the person with those pictures. For instance, if I get introduced to Spencer, I imagine the person in a top hat and monocle fanning himself with a wad of cash (spend-sir). If it’s a woman named Jackie, I imagine her in martial arts uniform performing a kick.
If I’m not feeling too imaginative, I write a note in my notes app about them so that I can refer to it later on.
Short term, yeah I constantly forget people’s names. If they’ve been part of my life for a bit, their name gets stored in my long term memory and I’ll remember it forever.
It’s not even a matter of remembering for me. People I have known for years whose name I did not forget… yeah, my brain will just decide nope, today we don’t know their name. It’s so dumb.
Sometimes names have certain colors and I either associate the person with that color or the person already made me think of a certain color that just so happens to fit their name; otherwise, dunno some names are easier to remember than others and there’s no pattern to that for me
Do you ever mix up their name with another name of a similar color? Cuz I feel like I do that
I can’t remember names. The struggle is real.
I really really focus on their name. I say it to myself several times in my head. I look them in the eyes…
…and then they ask me what my name is because I was so hyper focused on theirs that I forgot to introduce myself. And then I forget their name due to my embarrassment…
What is this “remember people’s names” of which you speak?
Repeat their name a few times. Intentionally use it in sentences.
Also just accept the awkwardness and ask people their names later. No one cares. It’s fine.
I forget even important names, and people are shocked when they see I can’t tell them who X is, and I have to come up with some excuse as to why I couldn’t say it 🫣
I don’t even know my doctor’s name 😅
Happened to me at the dentist and it was so embarrassing.
I repeat their name back to them (helps a little, makes sure I heard right), tell them straight up l probably forget their name a couple times, and once they walk away I repeat their name a few times while trying to picture their face/anything interesting about them.
It semi works, but I’ve also let them know in advance that if I forget, it’s normal for me and not that I don’t care.
I also try to say their name often in conversation with/about them to help solidify it in my brain… But then they quit the job (most people I meet are at work, and turnover is high) and I start alllll over again with someone new. Sigh
Honestly I dont for the most part. It takes many meetings for me and I have to specifically make a point to say their name out loud to them. Ive also found doing a doddle of the person helps me remember the face (but i have some level of face blindness so this may not be necessary)
Yeah, this has caused many awkward moments, especially at work. Saying their name to them out loud is a good idea, I’ll try that!
I worked at my last job for 8 months. When I left there were still four people who I didn’t know which was which. I knew what the four names were, because they were on the schedule, but I never worked with those four, so I still have no clue which face goes with which name, lol.
My secret is, I don’t! I just skip over names and wait until someone else fills in the gap for me :)
