Names to Faces?

[jacknife737]

So I like to think that I have a good memory, especially when it comes to school related stuff. That said, when it comes to remembering names I am absolutely dreadful, especially when you go out, to pubs/parties, ect and everything just becomes a big blur.

I came home yesterday from class, and a roommate was watching tv, with this cute blonde girl, who I couldn’t quite recognize, I then introduced myself and asked “have we met”; she then laughs, and says “yes”; apparently we had quite a few conversations last Friday (had gone out with friends), and she seemed legitimately annoyed that I couldn’t remember who she was. Worse still, was that not only was she cute, but once I realized who she was, I distinctly remembered that she too was a fan of the Bosstones (one of my favorite bands), so looks like I blew it there.

Anyone have any tips for remembering names to faces?

[Tizzalicious]

I always forget names. I'll remember faces, so I know if I met/talked to someone before, but someone can tell me their name and I'll have forgotten in 5 minutes.

I heard the trick is to look directly into someones eyes when they introduce themselves, but I have no idea if it works. I'm not the staring into someones eyes type.

[randman21]

I'm the staring into someone's eyes type, and that doesn't work, heh. I'm extremely good with names, but I believe that is due to some degree of photographic memory. The only thing that happens with me is what Tizz just said: I forget the name instantly after being introduced. Then, if hear the name again, it's there for good. One time, a girl totally tested me on her name about 20 minutes after we met. Luckily, I already knew her name before then.

[the_real_potomek]

When I saw and talked to someone only for a moment, I usually have problem with recognising him/her later. And I remember the face rather than the name. Sometimes I have to try really hard to hide the fact that I've forgotten the name:p

[_Lost_]

I have a terrible time remembering names. It wasn't so bad in highschool, because I was around mostly the same people. But in college, with sooo many people around all the time, I am just meeting so many people that I can't remember names to save my life. I can remember a face... just not the name that goes with it.

[Kennytar]

I don't have any memory for faces. I can't even picture someones face in my mind who I know for ages. Names aren't hard for me, fortunately :)

[jacknife737]

The most awkward thing for me, is that every time this happens to me, they always remember my name; i feel terrible afterwards.

[HornyPope]

Anyone have any tips for remembering names to faces?

Yeah, don't drink.

What I often do (if I think I will see that person again) is ask their name again as I say goodbye. Helps remembering...

[Nina]

I have a bad memory PERIOD.
I forget everything, be it dates, names, faces, what I have to do, what I was supposed to do just five min ago...aaahh. It's driving me nuts and I should work on my memory. Anyone have good tricks for that...in general?

[HornyPope]

I have a bad memory PERIOD.
I forget everything, be it dates, names, faces, what I have to do, what I was supposed to do just five min ago...aaahh. It's driving me nuts and I should work on my memory. Anyone have good tricks for that...in general?

Practice it. Play memory games of sorts.

And if you have troubles remembering what you were supposed to do five minutes ago, you also probably have problems with concentration. Well, that's a little trickier to practice.

[Nina]

I started to meditate two days ago.
Yes, really.
It is supposed to help with stress and concentration. I'll see how that goes.

[wheelchairman]

I have a problem with faces, but I think its largely that Danes all look alike.

[Tizzalicious]

I have a problem with faces, but I think its largely that Danes all look alike.

They all have the same names too though, so it's not really a problem.

[Smash punker]

Always remember a face, cause yo never know, who remeber´s yours! :D

[Paint_It_Black]

I am exceptionally bad at this. Most of the time when someone tells me their name I immediately assume I will never again need to know it and don't make any attempt at remembering it. Half the time I'm not even listening. This is generally because I mostly meet people at work and really will never need to know their name ever again, but still the habit is sticking and it can be a problem.

In general, if you really want to remember something, you just need to make an event out of it. Really focus on what you're doing. Put all your concentration on that moment in time and all the details of the experience. We immediately disregard so much of our sensory input, but I find by really focusing on as many details as possible it forces my brain to recognize that an event worthy of memorization is occurring. I most commonly do this to remember where I'm parked. If I don't force myself to do this I tend to go walking off thinking about a million things and then have absolutely no idea where the car is half an hour later. Once I figured out WHY this always happened it was relatively easy to correct it.

I used to think memory was something beyond our control. You either have a good memory or you don't. Now I realize we actually have an astounding amount of control over what we remember. Not saying anyone can have a perfect memory with practice and technique, but you can make optimal use of what you have.

You can also force other people to remember things. I recently needed to make sure my wife remembered something. Really needed to. So I intentionally pissed her off a little at the same time. This of course made the event worthy of remembering, just in case she could use it against me at a later time, and the trick worked. Not sure how much I like the technique though. Might need to work on that. Maybe an exceptionally nice compliment could do the trick too...

Oh, my mum always uses little mnemonic tricks to remember names. She has a brother named Lewis. Obviously she isn't going to forget her brother's name. When she had a hairdresser named Louise she remembered her as "Lewis' knees". This approach has never particularly worked for me however.

[T-6005]

I am awful at remembering names because people aren't worth remembering until they prove themselves worthy.

I wish.

I just have an awful memory for faces, names, things I'm supposed to do, and for where I've put things. I've occasionally looked for things without realizing I was holding them, or dropped things I was holding because I forgot I was holding them. It's pretty bad, but I'm not worried about it - just a little absent-minded. Believe it or not, it's a trait I actually like in myself.

[jacknife737]

Most of the time when someone tells me their name I immediately assume I will never again need to know it and don't make any attempt at remembering it.

I think this is my biggest problem. I'm pretty good at remembering classmates names (to an extent), since i figure that i'm going to be spending a decent amount of time with them throughout the term. But if I meet someone at a party, i just assume that odds are i won't ever see them again.

[ilovellamas]

I can always remember names, but I forget faces... contrary to the American norm. When I was abroad, I was walking home from somewhere and I started talking to these two girls that I had asked a question on the street. We ended up living near each other, and so on the walk we started talking about where we're from (not surprising they were from Finland), what classes we're taking, etc. The one girl said she was taking a certain class, and I was like "Oh... I'm taking that class, too. When do you have it?" She started giving me kind of a weird/confused look, and said the time/day that was the same as my class... I was like "you're in my class???" and I felt soooo bad. When I asked her what her name was, I was like "Ohhhh yeah I know you!" Had she introduced herself at the beginning, I probably would've recognized her... but I sure didn't remember her face. We'd actually worked together in class before. I suck.