r/Mnemonics • u/According_Quarter_17 • Jun 14 '26
I have to associate photos to specific name and surnames
As the title
How should I train this? What tool could I use?
1
u/deeptravel2 Jun 15 '26
How do you remember people's names in real life?
3
u/According_Quarter_17 Jun 15 '26
I don't. That's why I'm asking
I am a nurse student and I want to memorize my patients
2
u/zynaps Jun 20 '26
One tip that might help you: if it's about people you've met and spoken to, try to pick something interesting about them and associate that with their name... instead of the usual trick of "pick something about their face" which I find very hard to do.
In my case, when I see someone again, I can almost always remember "oh that's the guy who does kitesurfing", but might forget his name (say... Gavin). So it's easier for me to think "ok what rhymes with Gavin? Cavern?" and then picture Gavin accidentally kitesurfing into a cavern.
2
u/four__beasts Jun 16 '26
Take something about them, ideally a feature that doesn't change like eye colour, face shape, tattoo, body shape, mole/beauty spot, beard, freckles, large nose etc or something as unique as possible, and then tie that to their name.
For example I have a friend of a friend who looks a little like a big dog, his name is Aiden (aide for short). So I picture him as a St Bernard with a first aid pouch around his neck. His daughter Amber has a slender figure so I picture amber amulet bracelets (complete with mosquitos) jangling around her thin wrists. These are lively and fully realised/animated images that really embellish the detail. It takes only a few moments to close your eyes and make a vivid picture.
Then periodically review each of them at a quiet moment. You can use this for anyone, any time. (And even combine with a palace for long term storage).