Pull out your phone and say "Hey, we should get together. How do you spell your name?"
Even if its just a simple one like "Kim", you can rebut with something like "Oh I'm sorry, I'm just not sure if people call you Kim or Kimberley these days."
Works every time.
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I usually just say ohhhhhh...hey, how are ya? Y'know, I can't remember the last time I saw you was. Then start the conversation from there.
If you think about it, you don't usually say their name, even if you know it. SO I just try to make it a habit of not saying anyone's name in a conversation.
I prefer going with "You're obviously not important enough to remember. I understand how you would remember me, as I'm awesome. Think about your life's choices and be better in the future. Maybe I'll remember you next time if you change your ways".
This will help alleviate any awkwardness and will also make the people you met again be better people in the future. It's a win win.
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I'm going to go with a combo of "introduce your wife/girlfriend/SO and First Lady's "my mind aint what it used to be" gambit.
The key element when you forget someone's name (and assuming you care about etiquette) is to save face. Graciously deflecting the situation by introducing someone else is one way, as is coming up with an anecdote "You know, I remember that time you and I escaped a Thai jail together - but my memory lapses and for the life of me I just can't quite put a name on that memory!"
For extra points - if you're significant other notices that you're struggling with someone's name, they're supposed to jump in with something like "Oh honestly, Nigel is SUCH a dear absent minded loon sometimes. I'm Persephone, and you are?..."
Everyone involved is aware that if I forget you and you remember me its because I am fabulous and you are not. But that doesn't mean that non-fabulous people can't be treated with graciousness and kindness.
Also, face is saved for the person who's done the forgetting. Even fabulous people feel awkward sometimes about forgetting a name.
Forgetting a name is better than forgetting who they are altogether.
It is one thing to see that guy you used to work with but you can't remember his first name.
It is something altogether different when you see a guy who is all "hey man, long time? how are things?" and you have NO idea who the #### this guy is. Like not a clue. Work? School?
Figuring out their name or just asking for it is way better than "who the #### are you and how do you know me? because you are a complete stranger to me."
Forgetting a name is better than forgetting who they are altogether.
It is one thing to see that guy you used to work with but you can't remember his first name.
It is something altogether different when you see a guy who is all "hey man, long time? how are things?" and you have NO idea who the #### this guy is. Like not a clue. Work? School?
Figuring out their name or just asking for it is way better than "who the #### are you and how do you know me? because you are a complete stranger to me."
I have this problem on the odd occasion that I run into people I went to high school with. 95% of the time I literally don't remember them or their names. I wonder if people get offended when they find out that they made a non-impression on me during that time.
Pull out your phone and say "Hey, we should get together. How do you spell your name?"
Even if its just a simple one like "Kim", you can rebut with something like "Oh I'm sorry, I'm just not sure if people call you Kim or Kimberley these days."
Works every time.
Something along these lines, either pull out your phone and ask to enter their contact info, or tell them you got spiffy new business cards and give them one. They'll hopefully reciprocate.
Me: Hey, it's great to see you again .... blah, blah, blah ... now what was your name again?
Them: My name is [NAME]
Me: I'm sorry [NAME], I meant your last name, that's the one I always get confused.
However nowadays, when I see someone I vaguely remember, I just introduce myself assuming that they can't remember my name either.
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Originally Posted by FurnaceFace
"What was you name again?"
person says "ummm...my name is <john/bob/whatever>"
"Oh sorry, no, I meant your last name."
Does that actually work? If someone asked me "What's your name, again?" and I told them, and they said "No, I meant your last name", I'd be calling bull**** in my head so fast, lol.
When people want to know your last name, they ask you "What's your LAST name?" 99.99999999999999% of the time.
This one is really easy. Just say to them "what is your name again?"
When they reply with "Amy" or whatever it is, you say "I knew that, I meant your last name."
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