How to remember people's names.

So you've been talking with a group of people, and you decide to tell one of them something that will interest them, only to find when you try to tell them, you forget their name. 

Forgetting people's names can be embarrassing and can be considered rude in some cases. Avoiding this stressful situation is very helpful when talking with new acquaintances.

Here are some helpful tips for remembering peoples names:

1. Repetition

Like anything, repetition helps cement the memory into our minds. When meeting someone new, try to repeat their name three or four times, but without them noticing.

Firstly when they tell you their name, repeat it back to them in a questionable manner, but with confidence that it is correct. 

For example: they say-"Hi, my name's James. Nice to meet you." Then you say "Hi, my names Jonny. I'm sorry did you say your name was...James?" They then say "yes, James". You can then nod along or say okay, and then get into a conversation moving things on from there.

This brings us to our second point, which is: Trying to slip their name into the conversation a couple more times, to really help in retaining it in your head. If you're with a group of people you could say something like - "That's a good point, James what do you think?". Or you could ask them a question - "So James, do you live around here?", "James, what are you interested in?", "Are you a big coffee drinker Geoff?"

There are various ways in which you can bring their name up in the conversation, try not to overdo it though, it might come across as a bit strange.

2.  Association

Another great way to remember their name is to associate them with a particular thing. When meeting them try to look for something that sticks out about them, something they bring up on a number of occasions that you can use to remember them by. 

For example: Scruffy hair Geoff; Geoff the skydiver; Geoff with the dog; Geoff wearing the tie etc. This is useful when trying to remember a group of people. 

However if nothing stands out about them, it could be a little trickier. If this is the case, then just associate them to anything. 

For example: Geoff the pyramid builder, Geoff the ninja; Geoff the shark fighter. Try to imagine this random association in your mind, willing yourself to believe its as real as possible.

By associating someone to something, it creates links in your brain sustaining the name easier, you can use this technique and similar ones for remembering directions.

3. Record it

If you have a mobile phone with you and it has the capability to let you take down notes, type their name in there so if the worst comes to the worst, you have a permanent backup system. 

4. Introducing

This goes hand-in-hand with tip #1. If you have the chance to, introduce them to someone else, once again solidifying their name into your memory... if you can remember what their name is when you're introducing them. :)