If You Can't Remember His/Her Name?

Question

You bump into an acquaintance who’s name you’re not entirely sure of. Ask right away? Or do what I do, keep talking to the person hoping you'll eventually remember, then get to a point where it's too late to ask and fear the person?

Vegetarian good idea. I'm going to use that one next time.

Answer 1

If I remember enough about the person to introduce her or him to someone else, I walk the person over to someone else I know (whose name I DO remember) like this:

Bill, I'd like you to meet someone who is/does/knows/whatever x.

So here, I'll let the two of you introduce yourselves, and I'll get out of the way.

The two of them aer usually a little surprised, and in the graciousness of a party, social, or meeting situation, they always comply and greet one another and start the "getting to know you" process. I try to surreptitiously linger long enough to hear mentioned during the introduction the name of the person whose name I didn't recall.

OWW! Not the way it's SUPPOSED to be done!!

Answer 2

I enjoyed going to thepersistent in. it relatively is an journey I wish my youngsters might have had. no longer something greater efficient than being snuggled into your vehicle along with your loved ones watching the flicks and hear on that little speaker that ought to dangle on the window. They constantly had slightly playground for the infants to. If we've been given bored and talked to lots we'd be despatched off to play. Now that i'm an person i ought to think of of a few different motives we'd have been despatched off to play. Love & gentle Sharon One Planet = One people

Answer 3

I worked in skilled nursing as an activity director for years.I met numerous people.When I would go to town with my daughter to shop,I would see someone and half the time not remember their name ,but the residents name.I would chat,hug,pat their shoulder and then walk away without ever saying their name.Easy and my daughter would laugh and ask if I knew the name of the person I just chatted with,I would say no and keep on trucking....I knew them, just not their name....It is called mental pause and I am a master at it....

Answer 4

Wick, I read this years ago and it has always worked for me.
You run into someone whose name you should remember but you can't for the life of you......OK, it appears that people are perhaps insulted if you can't remember their first name but not when you can't remember their last as it is somewhat harder to remember. So....it goes like this: (me)..."hi, how are you?
So nice to see you again!" The other person would no doubt reply similarly....and the two of us start chatting. Then...I say;
" what was your name again?" They will automatically give their first name as in " Bob" or "Sue" or whatever.. Then I would jump in with; ..." oh sure, I remember your first name Bob, I just can't seem to remember your last". And I'm saved from a big embarrassment.

Answer 5

I have what is a severe handicap for a minister I just can't seem to remember names.

Whenever I am introduced to someone new I let them know up front that I am the worlds worst at remembering names... That way when I meet them again they are not offended if I can't remember their name. If I do happen to remember it they feel good because after being told I probably wouldn't remember I DID remember 'them' so they feel special.

Makes it a win/win situation.

Answer 6

Sometimes I am just unsure of a name. In the back of mind I know the name is right but I cannot bring myself to use it incase it's wrong. Therefore I never use it until I hear their name from some else. How stupid is that? Why don't I just say, "I'm sorry, I have forgotten your name"

Answer 7

I always get this face on me and im like ya know this is awful but i cant remember your name, Im just not good with names. and start babling on and on and the other person just laughs it off cause of me just talking and talking about how i cant remember names and tells me so it ends up not being a big deal..
I do this right in the beginning..
Deb :)

Answer 8

With me, there is no 'if you can't remember," it is more "you don't remember." So long ago, I just started calling everyone "guy....," as in, "hey, Guy, how's it going?" This term seems to be generic enough to usually get me by, unless, of course, I am with someone else and am expected to introduce them....and I say, "This is ......" to "guy." "Guy" always introduces himself by name....problem solved, no one knows the difference, and all is well. My "lack of manners in not introducing ..... to "Guy" without giving "guy's" name seems to be overlooked by most men. Now, if we are dealing with women, I have found that an immediate flattery always covers the mess up just fine. What else can I say? I cannot remember names, period..and don't even think about telephone numbers.....lord, how does anyone remember telephone numbers???? Phil

Answer 9

I come up against this at work on the phone all the time. I should recognize voices but I suck at it. After 10 years and hundreds of voices, I'm supposed to remember? So I talk for awhile to see if I recognize. It's when I have to transfer the call and I still don't know who I was telling my life story to, that I have to say, "I'm sorry. I am really bad at voices, what is your name, please?" They don't know this, but I suck at faces and names too!

Answer 10

If it's a quick Hi, how are you I don't ask. If it looks like we are going to talk awhile or it's a name I really should know, I ask. I just laugh and say "my mind went blank, I can't think of your name." No one has ever acted upset. We all have our "gray" moments.