Can you remember a name?

[bobb]

It's coming up to that time of year. I can't remember half my extended family's names. All my cousins are married but I just cannot remember their spouses names. Or their children's.

I'm pretty sure Dave will see me right, or maybe Steve, but to be honest - I'm fucked. Not a clue.

Have you any idea?

[rogerzilla]

At one place I worked, nearly everyone was called Chris or Sue.  HTH.

[Torslanda]

A week last Wednesday (22nd) was Mum's funeral. There were a few faces I recognised but not many. I spent about 2 ¹/₂ hours in the pub being talked at by women who obviously knew who I was . . .

As we left, Mrs Torslanda (she of the horned helmet and heavy metal breastplate) whispered 'Who were all those people?' It was nice to realise I wasn't alone.

Back OT. Greg? Nigel?*





*NAFC, mate!

[Quisling]

The universal greetings of
Maestro!
and
Daaahling you look magnificent!
are always useful in these circumstances.

[Torslanda]

As does 'not turning up'!



What d'yer mean 'miserable bastard'?

[Chris S]

At one place I worked, nearly everyone was called Chris or Sue.  HTH.

I think I worked there.

(click to show/hide)

I left because people kept calling me Sue.

[Torslanda]

You are Jonny Cash's son AICMFP 

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

I remember reading about someone who was very successful - it might have been Victor Kiam - and one reason was because he never forgot any one.  His tactic was to keep a card index of every one he wanted to remember, name, picture if poss, a few facts.  If there was any occasion he might meet them again he'd just get their card out and refresh his memory.

Me, I just fumble my way through..

[orraloon]

I'm pretty sure Dave will see me right...

Yeah, Dave is pretty safe.  My 3yo granddaughter has named her (girl) elf-on-the-shelf (it's a thing apparently) Dave.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Why do you think Aussies blokes call each other 'mate!'

[Kim]

I'm rubbish at names.  I think it's because I'm bad at faces, so instantly discard the information when I'm introduced to people on the dubious logic that it won't be any use to me.  Then when I've known them for long enough to work out who they are, I don't know what their name is.  Stupid brain.

It's easier if I know someone before meeting them, as there are at least dots to join.

On the other hand, I pretty much never use people's names when addressing them in normal conversation.  Coping strategy, I suppose, but it's just normal.  It always strikes me as odd when people do.

[orienteer]

I remember faces, and names. Problem is connecting them. 

[hellymedic]

Those of us born before 1970 mostly were named from a rather restricted list. So much so that I know at least three chaps named David, whose younger brother is called Michael.
There were 4 Helens amongst the 32 women in my year at Medical School.
Several men I know called Jacob/Yaacov have wives named Ann/Chana.
Susan seems popular too...

[Basil]

Any bloke over 55 will be john

[rogerzilla]

Darren was very common from 1966 to 1970.  There are no Rogers after 1970.

[rogerzilla]

I'm pretty sure Dave will see me right...

Yeah, Dave is pretty safe.  My 3yo granddaughter has named her (girl) elf-on-the-shelf (it's a thing apparently) Dave.

Two words: Papa Lazarou.

[spesh]

Just call everyone Bruce.

Or <Blackadder> Bob. </Blackadder>

[Kim]

Any bloke over 55 will be john

This is the basis of my group cycle ride version of the Bechdel-Wallace test: "Are there more women than people called John?"  It's amazing how often there aren't.

[orraloon]

I'm pretty sure Dave will see me right...

Yeah, Dave is pretty safe.  My 3yo granddaughter has named her (girl) elf-on-the-shelf (it's a thing apparently) Dave.

Two words: Papa Lazarou.

   I have yet to introduce her to the delights of Royston Vasey.  I'm still trying to come to terms with In The Night Garden.

[bobb]

I think the most common names when I was at school were Claire and Simon.

As I was born in 1972, there was at my school with 1000+ pupils, nobody called Roger 

[redshift]

I was born in 1966.  Nobody at my school was called Roger, but that was mainly because it was a girls' convent grammar.  Of course, that was then, and now any or all of them may be called Roger.  I wouldn't know because I'm not in contact with any of them.

As for Mum's funeral the other week, like Torslanda I managed about three or four names out of the room.  I have thirty years in TV however, so I have a quite accomplished ability to deal with people without names.

[bobb]

I have thirty years in TV however, so I have a quite accomplished ability to deal with people without names.

I remember reading somewhere that people who work in TV just call everybody the same name due to there being so many people to work with. Is this true? If so, what is the name?

[Mr Larrington]

I have thirty years in TV however, so I have a quite accomplished ability to deal with people without names.

I remember reading somewhere that people who work in TV just call everybody the same name due to there being so many people to work with. Is this true? If so, what is the name?

Tristram, at least according to AA Gill.

[ElyDave]

I've got over shyness at saying "I know we've met, but please remind me of your name"

When auditing a different client every week, and people move between companies, it can get pretty confusing.  I remember faces

[jsabine]

Any bloke over 55 will be john

Speak for yourself ...

(My fallback is usually 'how lovely to see you again' - works like a charm, even when I've forgotten that I couldn't stand 'em.)