Which do you remember more easily? Faces or Names?

Oh, I love this discussion. If you have to ask me, I'm also terrible with remembering names. The face registers but the name doesn't. I always thought I must be starting to lose my memory. Sometimes, I want to put out my camera and take a picture of that person and write down his or her name. So, the next time I see them, I won't be put in an awkward situation. I remember this particular totally embarassing situation with my sister's former co-worker. Now, I've seen this guy and his wife countless times before and I did remember their names. But it's been ages since I last saw them and when we bumped into each other at the mall.... I was so embarassed. Because they clearly remember my name. But when I was expected to introduce them to my husband, I was speechless. All I could do, was smile! I had no idea at all what their names were.

I am a primary school teacher so when I start teaching another class I have lots of names to try to remember. One school I taught at I was happy the name of the girl on her name band. I tried to look at the faces of the other children and then remember their names. I realize that I learn the ones that have challenging behavior first or the ones that are very clever and answer lots of questions. The quiet average ability ones have the names that I learn last very often. One year I had lots of boys whose names began with 'A' and ones with that began with 'C'. Some of the children looked similar and I mixed the names up a couple of times. In my mind I have face for everyone I know and a name for each. When I meet someone new I try to add this image of the face and then the name to my mind. However this only works with a small number of people. If I met 12 new people it would be challenging to remember all the names but I would try and hopefully soon master this.

I used to be an absolute embarrassment, to the point I would shy away from social situations e.g. parties where I needed to associate faces and names. Then I read a book by Dominic O'Brien - Never forget a name or face again! Using a technique called mnemonics each time I meet a new person, I take a few minutes to form a face - name - location word web. e.g. I meet a person called Jacob Johnson. I may create a word web "Jacob the son of John husband of Jane with a face like a john seat at Peter's party where the john was full". I still make mistakes, refuse to feel embarrassed when they happen, and enjoy the recall and my genuine interest in the person I am meeting! Anyone can do it!

I think I am just like you, bad at remembering names, though I would say not as terrible as you. hehehe But I do acknowledge that I am bad with my memory. Though, I am good with remembering faces, only bad at remembering information. I always remember faces and sometimes get embarass because when I see that familiar face I would go up to them and talk and find out they belong to a different group or different from what I though I remembered them from. But still, I do recognize the faces, just not the right names or wrong identification.

I too am terrible with names. Most of the time, I just give the person a nickname that will make it easier for me to remember them. I ask them if it is alright for me to call them that and tell them why I do it. If they say no, I tell them to just remind me of who they are the next time we see each other because 9 times out of 10 I won't remember. lol Sometimes, even if I've given them a nickname, I still can't remember, but I try to act like I do until someone else says their names...lol!!

Hi,there! That's really sth we come across a lot in our daily life.I don't have problems with names.But if you ask me which I can remember more easily,I would choose the faces.I just have more impression over one's face.I can link one's face with the situation that we meet.Then it helps me to recall the meeting and maybe I'll know who he/she is.While with names,it's not that easy to tell.I would try to remember the face and the name usually:) Thanks for the discussion and have a nice day^_^

actually im the person who easly forget the names, i most familiar with thier faces than thier names. i think most of people like that, like you will tell someone you know Mr.so and so, then direct he replied i really dont know him, but when start saying about his faces that he or she has so & so, direct you will answer aaaaaaaaaaaaa i remeber him or her already what a funny hah :) merry christmas LightninStrike

I went through a course to remember names and it works just great. Find something you can associate the face with the name. Or something about them that will help you recall. Be sure to use the name while looking at them so it will become a part of the face you are seeing. I make it a point to say something about the person that will help you remember. like: Nice to meet you Susan, that's a pretty necklace you are wearing. I won $50 one night when I was introduced to 25 strangers, and was able to repete their names 15 minutes later and point them out at a party. It just a way to trigger your mind to put a name on what you see.

I am horrible too especially with names...what more, i get them mixed up and call someone by a different name. Ewww! Like you, i remember only the faces and what we talked about or the situation where i got to meet the person but not his/her name. I know its just terrible and i know too that i could actually remember them if I just take super extra effort like hum their names like a mantra for a day or two just to make sure that i don't get to forget them...ever! LOL!

Neither, actually, I'm bad with both. I'd make a LOUSY politician.

OH NO!!! I have trouble remembering names too LOL... I would remember more a face but not the names, especially the much difficult ones. There is this one time when I was introduced by my boyfriend to his friend then when my boyfriend was telling me stories about that guy I kept asking who was he talking about. Until now I cannot remember his name. He has a funny nickname/name though.hehe...

Faces - definitely faces! I am awful with names but I am good at remembering faces - which is a good idea when you work in a pub! xxx

I'm awful with names. I can never remember peoples names when I see them out in public. My hubby has taught me a little trick to help remember peoples names you just met. He told me when talking to them keeping saying their name in conversation. He said once you say it a few times it will stick in your head. But I am still much better with remembering faces.

I am better with remembering faces way better then names. It takes me awail to remember there name but once I have met them and see them down the line I remember that I met them.

I easily remember faces and names.At first the faces and then when i start to know them better also names. I also have that with streetnames.I don't remember them but i do always remember how to get somewhere.I just drive it once and then i know it.

I must confess that I am bad at both. I don't remember names, nor do I remember faces. And the most terrible thing about the whole thing is people remember both my face and my name. So many times, total "strangers" have walked up to me with a smile and a greeting, and I have just grinned back and pretended to know them, all the time wondering who they are and whether I am supposed to know them or not. It is a terrible situation. Don't know if there is a cure for this problem.

I think i remember faces more easily. I will see someone that i know and i reckonize them. But i cant really remember them all that well. This isnt with all people. Usually just with people that i dont know very well. People i have only meant maybe once or twice. If i cant remember someones name i try to let it go unnoticed because i feel bad about it. Sometimes i will get lucky and the person that they are with will say their name.

Yeah we are the same. i am also like you. i easily forget the name of a person who just introduce to me. even my classmates name in highschool and college i forgot them if i dont see them for a long time. i just remember the name of my friends and classmates who are very close to me and see them regularly.. I thinks it is easy to remember the face than names. ^__^

that must be faces.i am really sensitivity about people's faces and the roads. so i always remember someone though i just saw once and the roads that i just passed once . but the names ,i am not sure i will remember someone's name just for once recommended . hehe`````so i know your orang face but not your name .

I'm the same way! I'll remember your name if it makes me laugh or it's crazy weird. But pretty much a face will be familiar and I'll be like who are you again. Lol It's great fun. Lol