Remembering Names

I have always been pretty good at remembering names, remember faces and remember numbers.  I can even remember everyone’s birthday!  BUT I always forget to send the cards…go figure.  I am not sure if it is a gift or if I just learned these techniques over the years, but I do know that it drives me a bit crazy when I do forget.

When that happens I use “the Alphabet Game.”  By the time I get around the alphabet from A – Z twice, the name pops into my head. My Alphabet Remember Names Game goes like this:

First you do have to have knows this person’s name already and it has just slipped somewhere deep into your mind.

So I start with the A’s and proceed with the alphabet saying in my head silently each name (sometimes it works better for others if they say each name out loud.)  So let’s begin.

Let’s say it is a woman you are trying to remember.  To remember names you start with ‘A’ and begin saying as fast as you can names that start with ‘A’ and when you can’t think of anymore (I usually recite 3 or 4) move on to the next letter.

A: Amanda, Alice, Andrea, Audrey. B: Betty, Barbara, Bernice, Beth.  C: Carol, Cathy, Cindy, Cameron. D: Denise, Dorothy, Donna.  Then E, F, G and so on.  For some letters you will only be able to think of one or two name, but that is ok just keep on going.

I have never had to go through the alphabet more than three times before that person’s name popped in my head.  Remember names this way is a great remember names technique that works for me every time!  It can work for you too.

So the next time you have to remember a name, try “the Alphabet Game.” Now this remembering names technique will not really work if you bump into someone in passing and need to say “HI,” as you probably wouldn’t stand there shaking their hand and start playing the game in front of them.  That would be just too obvious that your memory lapsed a bit.

So in that situation you might want to just say, “Hi” and make a bit of small talk and see if their name pops into your head and hopefully by the time you say “Bye” you will be able to use their name as you leave.

Maybe you can ask them, “how’s the family?” or “it is so good to see you, where you are headed today” or “what brings you to (and say they place you are at).”  One of these just might jog your memory.  If not, then you can always put “the Alphabet Game”  into action after you part.

Next time you have trouble remembering someone’s name, try it and let me know if it worked for you.

And if you have any other tips that might help us all from being embarrassed by not remembering someone’s name when we see them, just leave a comment.  Sharing is fun!

If you want a few more simple ways to jog that memory of yours and learn to remember names easily and quickly, then try these other helpful tips.

So it is true…everything I needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten!  A, B, C, D, E, F, G……………