Iowa, This Is How Not To Forget Someone’s Name In 2024

You'll probably meet new folks in the new year, here's how to remember their names.

I'm absolutely awful at remembering names. My cocktail party date can remember them really well but I forget them in 0.2 seconds. It's nothing against the person, I just have the memory of a goldfish.

It's an awkward situation to be in: you want to talk to the person but crap you can't remember their name. Sara Jane Ho, a Harvard-trained etiquette expert and host of Netflix's "Mind Your Manners" gave NBC Chicago and CNBC some tips on what to do if you forget someone's name.

How To Not Be Awkward About Names In 2024

Sara has a few tips for you if you, like me, can't remember names at all. The trick that I've tried for years is to repeat someone's name back to them as soon as they say it. Personally, that doesn't help me at all so here are a few other things you can do.

Put Them In Your Contacts

Technology can be your bestie in this situation. You can get their Insta handle or their phone number with their name.

Associate Them With Something

I met a lot of new people at my date's Christmas party and I used things like glasses, hair color, or what kind of shirt they were in to try to remember their names.

Suck It Up And Ask, But Nicely

Etiquette School of America says there's nothing wrong with asking someone before you leave "excuse me, could you please tell me your name again?"

Use Their Name In Conversation

While you're talking to them at the table or at the party, if you haven't forgotten it yet, use their name a couple of times in conversation.

When All Else Fails, Enlist A Buddy

Luckily for me, my date is really good at remembering the names of people he's just met. If you can, have a friend/date/someone you can go to and ask what someone's name is.

Happy mingling in the new year!