Struggling to remember names? 5 expert hacks to escape awkward situations

What’s in a name? Apparently, not much, at least, that’s what it feels like when we forget someone’s name the second we hear it.

Few social blunders are as cringe-worthy as meeting someone new, exchanging names, and then promptly forgetting it moments later. Suddenly, you're stuck in a dilemma: awkwardly asking, "Er, what was your name again?" or pushing forward with the conversation, pretending you’re not clueless, while secretly subscribing to a lifetime of uncertainty.

So, why do we forget names?

“Often, it comes down to interest,” explains Nasreen Shariff, an Abu Dhabi-based behavioural psychologist. “People tend to retain information that feels immediately relevant to them. If a name doesn’t seem important in the moment, the brain treats it as fleeting and doesn’t store it for later.”

However, forgetting names isn’t always about disinterest. Many people genuinely want to remember, but struggle due to cognitive overload or lack of focus. You’ll probably remember their profession first, before remembering the name. Shariff recalls from her own experience, “Once, I couldn’t remember a person’s name and I had just met her at a party. And I kept saying, the doctor, she is a doctor! That didn’t help matters at all, because we were at a party full of doctors,” she laughs.

Moreover, as Satish Chandran, a Dubai-based neuropsychiatrist, explains, when we meet someone, our brains are juggling multiple tasks—analysing facial expressions, interpreting body language, maintaining eye contact, and keeping the conversation flowing. In this mental balancing act, a person’s name often gets sidelined, as the brain prioritises immediate social cues and interaction over storing the name for the long term.

Additionally, If you're in a busy or distracting environment—like a networking event or a loud party, the sensory overload can make it even harder for your brain to encode the name properly.

We’re often wondering what to say next

When meeting someone new, our minds are often preoccupied with what to say next, how we're coming across, or even external distractions in the environment, explains Chandran. Instead of actively listening when someone introduces themselves, we’re unconsciously preparing our response; it could be a greeting, a witty remark, or even just figuring out how to keep the conversation going.

This split attention means that the name never fully registers in our memory. Since names are arbitrary pieces of information, unlike a fun fact or an interesting job title, which might have context, they require intentional focus to stick. However, as our brain is prioritising social engagement over memory encoding, the name often vanishes before we even realise it.

So, how can you make the effort and remember the name?

Well, the experts have some interesting solutions to avoid the cringe.

Remember one distinctive trait about them

Dubai-based Tillie Aria was always perplexed about why no one could remember her name. It was short and succinct, how can you go wrong with it? However later, she found that some people remembered one particular feature: Her bag that had overflowing keychains. “They referred to me as the girl with the keychains. So, whenever I could, I would just say, remember me as Tillie and the keychains. See, it sounds like a Netflix film,” she says with a giggle.

Well, it works. The experts vouch for this trick too: Focus on remembering one distinctive trait about the person, something unique that will help you recall their name later. It could be anything from their hairstyle, a specific piece of clothing, or even the way that they speak or laugh. By linking their name to a visual or memorable characteristic, you create a mental anchor that makes recalling their name easier.

For example, if someone has a bold, red scarf, you can associate their name with that image, creating a stronger mental connection between the person and their identity. This simple technique can dramatically reduce the chances of forgetting their name, even in the rush of a busy conversation.

Create a mental image (but keep it to yourself)

This is your personal memory trick, so feel free to get creative, but you might want to keep this to yourself. “So, when it comes to remembering names, try out-of-the-box associations,” explains Shariff. You can try linking names to famous people or pop culture people. For instance, she has a friend named Disha, who is completely fed-up with being associated to the Bollywood actor, Disha Patani. But hey, it works!

 The more absurd and fun the mental image, the more likely your brain will hold on to it.

Repeat the name, (but not too much)

When you meet them, repeat the name, and say, “Nice to meet you, XYZ..” Or, if you’re introduced in a group, use their name in follow-ups. “So, what do you think, Sarah?”  That can help, too.

Finally, just slow down and focus, instead of trying to worry about what to say next. Take a few deep breaths, maintain eye contact and engage fully in the introduction. And when you leave, you can just use their name to say goodbye too.