Forgetting Names Is a Common Occurrence. A Few Simple Tips May Help

You’re introduced to Annabel at a party, and in less than a minute her name flies out the window. Although you might be momentarily embarrassed if this happens to you, there’s no need to be worried about it. And you’re certainly not alone.

It wasn’t unusual for people to struggle to recall names they had just learned in a study of 72 adults between the ages of 18 to 29 and 61 to 72 published in Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition in 2024. But being forgetful about names, the researchers note, “is accentuated by aging.”

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The good news? There are simple techniques that may help you remember.

Dr. Gary Small, director of behavioral health breakthrough therapies at Hackensack Meridian Health and coauthor of "2 Weeks To a Younger Brain," says, “You want to help lodge names in your brain — and the best way to do this is by framing and focusing the information with both visual and auditory cues.”

Here are Small’s top tips for name recall.

1. Give yourself a pep talk. Before going into a business or social situation, tell yourself you’re going to focus and remember names. Put away anything that might distract you during introductions, including your phone.
2. Repeat the name during a conversation. Avoid repeating it in a robotic or unconscious way by gathering specific information: “Doug, where do you live?” or “Doug, is this your first time here?” Right before leaving, seal the memory by looking the person directly in the face and saying, “Pleasure meeting you, Doug!”
3. Ask for the spelling. Even if it’s a simple name, you can ask, “Is that Smith with an I or Smyth with a Y?”
4. Associate the name with a picture. If his name is Mr. Walker, for example, think about him taking a walk.
5. Notice striking characteristics. Let’s say he has a big beard and his name is Sam: You might connect his name with Santa.
6. Create a narrative. If a name is shared with someone you already know, remark on it. “Michelle — that’s my favorite cousin’s name.”
7. Go with your gut reaction. The first association is usually the one that sticks in your brain, so don’t overthink your name-recall trick.