There is no sound sweeter than a person’s own name.” —Dale Carnegie

Why do so many people have trouble remembering names? The inability to remember people’s names is a widespread complaint, and the cost of forgetting a name can carry a high price—both socially and professionally. With so much at stake, it makes sense to invest time and energy to overcome this problem.

Many people tend to attribute their forgetfulness to their aging minds. Many, however, are simply not paying attention when introduced to someone for the first time; and if you’re not paying attention, then you’re not listening. Listening for better recall is often overlooked, but essential for retaining any information—especially when trying to remember names. According to one memory expert, Danielle Lapp, attention deficits account for about half of all reported memory problems. Building attention skills is an ongoing process, one that you must commit to every day in your listening situations. It is the only way to meet your memory challenges head-on. Noticing your ‘listening behaviors,’ and changing ones that need changing, will improve your memory in general and, of names, in particular.

Another reason names may be difficult to retain is because they are abstract, and therefore have no meaning to us. Notice I said most names. All names—first names and surnames—can be separated into two major categories: names that evoke immediate, inherent images upon hearing them; and names that are abstract and conjure up no universal image. The following names fall into the first category of images:

Here are some generally abstract names from the second category:

Although these names seem intangible, with a little imagination they can be made more concrete. In fact, virtually every abstract name—no matter how strange it sounds—can be substituted with a like-sounding word (or words) that are easy to visualize or associate with something tangible. You can do this by finding a word or phrase that rhymes with, or sounds similar to, the name. You can even break down the abstract name into syllables in order to create a picture in your mind. “Ruth,” for example, might be associated with a Baby Ruth candy bar; “Mike” can be pictured holding a microphone (or having a head shaped like a microphone). From the list above, “Annie” can be pictured as “a knee”; Crawford as “crawl” and “Ford.” Remember that the very act of coming up with substitute words forces you to concentrate on a person’s name more intensely than you would otherwise. This process, in itself, will help you remember a name more easily. Try this brief exercise:

Exercise: Creating Name Pictures
Create a mental picture for each of the following first names and surnames, and write it in the space provided. You may use a rhyming word or substitute word that is representative or symbolic of the name. In some cases, you may need to break the name down into syllables to get your picture.

Examples: First Name: Al = Owl or Al Capone
Surname: Atwater = At the water

1. Nicole =

2. Carl =

3. Debbie =

4. Jarrett =

5. Olsen =

You may have come up with something like the following for the exercise above to help you visualize and remember these names:

1. Nickel for Nicole
2. Coral for Carl
3. Little Debbie (bakery goods) for Debbie
4. Jar Red for Jarrett
5. Old Son for Olsen

Visualizing a name concretely in your mind’s eye is only the first step in the process of improving your memory for names. The second step is associating your visualization with the person’s physical appearance in an absurdly memorable way. Using visual images in a silly way makes a name stand out in your mind, simply by contrast of the logical thinking we do all of the time. This is done using “sight pegs,” of which there are two kinds: Temporary and Permanent. A temporary sight peg is something transient about a person’s appearance; such as an article of clothing or piece of jewelry. The best temporary sight peg is always the first transient thing you notice about a person. For example, an unusual necktie. A permanent sight peg is an outstanding physical feature or anything else that doesn’t change; such as a large nose, protruding ears, blue eyes, dimples, a scar, baldness, etc. Again, it is helpful to use the first feature that stands out about a person.

Temporary sight pegs provide greater flexibility since there are infi nite variations on how people dress and accessorize. But remember, temporary sight pegs will only work when meeting a person for the first time and trying to remember his or her name, because next time you see them, they will, most likely, be dressed differently. Permanent sight pegs, on the other hand, are fewer in number but may (and hopefully will) help you remember the person the next time you meet. Below are some examples of how temporary and permanent sight pegs can help names stick in your memory:

Harry:
Mental image suggested by name: Harry turns into Hairy
Temporary sight peg: Harry’s bow tie (first thing noticed)
Connection: Harry wearing a big, hairy bow tie (make it as descriptive as possible, such as long, red hair, neatly parted, growing out of the tie, etc.)

Judith:
Mental image suggested by name: Judith sounds like “chewed it”
Permanent sight peg: Large teeth
Connection: Judith eating something crunchy, her large teeth chewing it into tiny morsels.

This may seem a little ridiculous, but no one knows your creative method but you. Try it. It works!

Using temporary and permanent sight pegs to remember names takes practice, but it can be fun. Most people fi nd it easier to start off with the temporary sight peg technique. Identifying permanent site pegs requires keen observation skills—locking into features is the most challenging part of the name-face association process. At first, you may feel uncomfortable choosing an outstanding physical feature, especially when it is on someone you like, respect, or are intimidated by (such as a new supervisor at work). If you have trouble identifying permanent sight pegs, pretend you need to describe the person to a police sketch artist. In time, you will become more adept at observing people.

Visualization Tips

Illogical mental pictures can play in your mind like a cartoon. Cartoons are very illogical, and cartoonists are some of our culture’s most imaginative people. Making your mental pictures different and illogical will make them stand out in contrast to all of the logical thinking we do each day. Here are several tips than can help you create cartoon-like images in your mind:

Visualize objects far smaller or far bigger than they actually are:

• Visualize objects in action
• Exaggerate the number of objects—hundreds or thousands
• Visualize in colors
• Use your imagination to turn an object into something else that sounds or looks like the original object, but is more meaningful to you
• Put yourself, or someone else, in the picture
• Visualize the object in a scene that can’t possibly happen in real life
• Include emotions in your mental pictures; try to feel the emotions
• Visualize in as much detail as possible
• Imagine objects using all of your senses

Additional Quick Tips
As a first step, you may want to start using these tips below before learning the techniques discussed earlier. The following are some quick tips for applying memory concepts to names. These tips deal with attending, visualizing and associating, rehearsing and building support systems:

• Study the person’s face, voice, posture, height, size, etc.
• Learn more about the background or history of names
• Don’t be self-conscious and learn only a few names at once
• Get a name list ahead of time, whenever possible, when attending a function or meeting where 8 or more people may be in attendance
• Go to functions early so you can meet people one at a time; Stick to someone who knows all of the people at that function
• Be sure you hear and listen to the name; Say the name immediately after hearing it
• Make up a phrase or rhyme with the name; Generate an unusual story with the name
• Use the name throughout the conversation, where appropriate
• Tie first name and last names together; Visualize the name in printed form
• Review names of people you just met periodically throughout the day; Rehearse names when alone
• Exchange business cards and write descriptive notes about the name/person on the back
• Make learning names a game in which you try to excel; Connect the name with someone familiar
• Record names afterward and study them if you need to at first

Names are important to people, whether in a social or professional situation. Remember to set your mind to listen, and pay attention when you are introduced to someone; repeat his or her name immediately after you meet.

Phil Bruschi is President of MIND AEROBICS, a consulting company offering mental fi tness and healthy aging programs. His clients include many businesses, associations, colleges and healthcare organizations. He has been a teacher, training consultant and professional speaker for over 20 years.

You can visit Phil’s website: www.mindaerobics.biz

To order your copy of MIND AEROBICS: The FundaMENTALS of Memory Fitness or other MIND AEROBICS products, use the order form on page 14.