CAREER TIPS - Stop Saying ‘I’m Bad With Names.’ Do This Instead
Posted 29th September 2026 • Written by Julia Korn on forbes.com • • • • • •
You walk into an office happy hour. A colleague introduces you to Brad, who works in accounting. “Nice to meet you, Brad,” you say, mentally cataloguing his name. He responds with, “Nice to meet you, too. Just warning you upfront that I’m really bad with names.”
It doesn’t sit right with you, but you can’t place why.
Whether you’re at a networking event, a party or the first day on a new team, you’ve heard it—or maybe you’re guilty of saying it yourself.
But here’s the truth: That phrase lands as dismissive, even when the speaker doesn’t intend it to. Though it’s socially normalized, it subtly communicates, “I’m not going to make the effort to remember you.”
In short, it can feel rude—and lead to irritation and feelings of offense. In professional settings, it signals a lack of attention, priority and respect. Those are three things you don’t want tied to your personal brand, in the office or out.
Here’s a simple playbook to stop excusing this bad habit—so you can start being remembered for the right reasons.
‘I’m Bad With Names’ Isn’t a Personality Trait
Forgetting names isn’t as simple as being introverted. And it isn’t like claiming you’re “just not a numbers person.”
It has real social consequences. Making the effort to remember someone’s name signals their importance. It shows that you were paying attention and that the interaction mattered to you.
It’s time to reframe being “bad with names.” It’s rarely about ability—and usually about attention. We remember what we deem important. Everything else falls through the cracks.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Over a lifetime, we’re exposed to far more people than we can keep track of at once. Unfamiliar or uncommon names might be even harder to encode into our memories.
But that doesn’t make it immutable—or excuse us from trying.
What People Who Remember Names Do Differently
Being good with names isn’t a gift. It’s a skill.
People who remember names work at it. They’re intentional—present in the moment, thoughtful about first impressions and strategic about follow-up and remembering long-term.
This effort pays off. Remembering and using someone’s name signals respect. It builds trust and creates a sense of belonging. This is especially critical for names sometimes perceived as “hard to pronounce,” a perception that can evoke discriminatory responses. Taking the time to learn and say their names properly leads to positive interactions—and mutual respect.
Names matter in every social setting, including work. For leaders, managers and client-facing professionals, name recall isn’t just nice. It’s part of the job.
Practical Strategies For Remembering Names That Actually Work
Names are usually the first thing you learn about someone. Getting it right sets the tone for every interaction that follows, especially when entering a long-term working relationship. Here’s how to do it.
Repeat The Name Immediately
When someone introduces themselves, repeat their name back to confirm pronunciation. Use it again once or twice more early in the conversation to lock it in.
You might think it sounds silly or repetitive, but they won’t mind: Hearing one’s own name activates unique patterns of brain activity, which means using someone’s name doesn’t just register, it makes a neurological impact.
Create A Memory Hook
Soon after meeting someone, associate their name with:
- Someone you already know
- A rhyme or word association
- A visual image or story
The weirder the mental image, the better it sticks.
Write It Down
Do this soon after the conversation ends. Open your notes app, your contacts or your notebook. Log their name and include one distinguishing detail—their role, their kids’ names, some context about them or a fun fact they shared.
Practice Pronunciation
When going into an event (virtual or in-person) where you know you’ll meet someone with an unfamiliar name—or one you can’t remember how to say after meeting someone—look it up. Search “How to pronounce [name]” on YouTube. Listen, practice and show up ready to greet them properly.
It also never hurts to confirm with the individual that you’re pronouncing their name correctly. Try: “Hi [name]. Am I saying your name right?” Repeat it back if they correct your pronunciation. Often, people would rather that than have someone consistently say their name wrong.
These strategies work because they support your brain—especially on days when you’re meeting a lot of new people.
What To Say When You Forget (Because You Will)
You will forget a name. It happens, even when you make an effort not to. The key is how you recover.
Say, “I’m so sorry, I remember you, but can you remind me of your name?” If possible, follow up later in the event. Use their name again to reinforce it—and show you care.
You get one clean reset. After that, it’s on you to fix your system.
The Real Cost Of Shrugging This Off
Names aren’t just names.
They’re tied to identity and dignity. Forgetting them disproportionately impacts people with non-dominant or non-Western names. Don’t add to this trend.
Because names are an important aspect of identity, people may judge name recall differently from other memory skills. Forgetting feels like a social misstep, not just a simple moment of forgetfulness.
Small behaviors signal what—and who—we value. That includes the names we remember. Specifically at work, basic recognition, like remembering someone’s name, is the start of building a psychologically safe environment, which 89% of workers say is essential on the job. In the office or not, learning names matters.
“I’m bad with names” isn’t humility—it’s abdication.
We forget names when we’re not fully listening. Remembering names is a choice, and it’s a powerful one.
If you want to be seen as thoughtful, inclusive and credible at work and in life, start with remembering people’s names.
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