Memory : Making Names Meaningful

Once you have gotten someone's name, you can help yourself remember it by making it meaningful to you. To do this, you need to make the name concrete by visualizing it or finding a substitute word that can be visualized. Some names like 'Baker,' 'River,' or 'Holly' can be visualized directly. For names like 'Conroy,' 'Hargrove,' or 'Olefsky,' you can use substitute words or phrases such as 'convoy,' 'hard road,' or 'leaf sky.'



Whatever you use, be sure to get a mental picture of the name. Really see the image in your mind. This will help you remember it later. If you ever encounter a name that is too difficult to visualize, or if you just don't have enough time to make the visualization, it won't matter. Just having spent a little time trying will help because you will have focused on the name longer that you would have without using this technique.