Hey! Jimmy! Johnny? Jerry?
Oh…your name is Bob? Sorry…I wasn’t even close.
Have you ever had an experience where you didn’t know a person’s name so you basically had to “fake it until you make it”, so to speak? It’s funny but it’s also totally embarrassing if you get called out on it.
Here’s what AskReddit users had to say about their own experiences.
1. A cultural thing.
“19 years.
19 whole years and I’ve just realized I don’t know my grandmother’s name.
Or any of my grandparents names for that matter.
Everyone calls them by they’re Thai/Laos term for grandmother.”
2. Two whole years.
“2 years is the longest so far.
I used to be a club promoter and I had a guy that bought tickets from me for every event he went to.
He told me his name when I first met him but I forgot it soon after he told me, meeting lots of people makes it hard to remember names, especially when I don’t even know if I’ll ever see them again so what’s the point of remembering everyone’s names?
After a certain point I saw him out partying often enough but it was past the point where I could ask him his name without it being awkward. I had him saved in my phone as Sir Prince Albert since he told me about his piercing so that I’d know who was texting me if we ever texted each other, but I didn’t think to add his name since I wasn’t sure what it was so that was no help.
Eventually we ended up at a party together and some people walked in and asked “hey have you seen phil?”
After not remembering meeting anyone that night named Phil I said no I don’t think there’s a Phil here. Then that guy who’s name I couldn’t remember came up and joined the group and said “I’m right here! Don’t worry Screechypete, these guys are cool I invited them!”
At that moment I finally found out his name and I played it off as “oh ok well if they are your friends then I guess it’s cool if they stay.” and just went with it.”
3. Neighbors.
“I moved into my condo in 2011 and I introduced myself to my one neighbor next door to me but instantly forgot his name.
We would see each other in passing for years and I would always just say hi and the casual conversation. I met my wife in 2018 from a long distance relationship and when she finally moved in with me there was the awkward moment when I introduced her to him.
I said this is my fiance (x) and we’re getting married next month, he said congratulations and nice to meet you, then walked away. She asked me what his name was and I said I have no f*cking clue.
Later that day she said his name is Brad and I was like “oh, he looks like a Brad” and she said he had no f*cking clue what my name was either so no big deal.”
4. That’s weird. And hilarious.
“I work in a pharmacy.
A young woman, say late teens early twenties, came up and asked to pick up her grandmother’s prescription. I said no problem. What’s her name?
She looked at me with a blank face, asked me to hold on and called her family.”
5. Pub pals.
“Most likely over a decade.
I’m in the UK and I’ve got to know many a bar acquaintance down my local pub.
Over time you get to know about their work, hobbies, likes and dislikes.
You get to know how many kids they have, how many times they have been married etc etc.
Then a friend from out of town visits you. And as you do in the UK, you go to the pub. Lo and behold your pub acquaintance is there and you introduce your pal from out of town only to realise you know everything about your pub pal – everything except their bloody name.”
6. You’re confusing me!
“A whole school year I knew their names I just didn’t know which twin was which and they weren’t identical.”
7. At least he has a nickname.
“I work at record store, there’s a guy who’s been coming in weekly for the entire 11 years I’ve worked there.
We just call him sweaty Polish guy.”
8. Give it some more time.
“I’ve lived in my townhouse for almost 5 years now, and I don’t know the name of the guy who lives directly across from me. I have pretty regular interactions with most of my neighbors, but I’ve never talked with this one guy beyond just exchanging pleasantries while passing each other.
When I moved in and first met him, I immediately forgot his name. I was almost positive he said it was Mike, so I went about 4 years just assuming that was probably his name, but not quite confident enough to actually call him Mike.
Then a few months ago I was talking to some other neighbors in the parking lot when he walked by, and my other neighbors called out “Hey [name that is not Mike]!” So it was confirmed that this guy’s name is NOT, in fact, Mike, and I was relieved I hadn’t been calling him that for the past 5 years.
But I immediately forgot again what his name actually is, so now all I know is that it is something other than Mike.
Myabe I’ll learn his name by the time I’ve lived here 10 years.”
9. Neither of you knows.
“I have no idea what the neighbor to my rear’s name is. We introduced ourselves when I moved in 2.5 years ago, but I think we both promptly forgot.
I sometimes talk to him for upwards of an hour and we never say each other’s names. Same thing as you happened.
A couple weeks ago we were talking and someone said “Hey, [neighbor dude]!” as they walked by. It was gone from my memory in seconds.”
10. Awkward!
“A whole date.
Someone fixed us up but my dude never told me her name, just the address she wanted me to pick her up.
I didn’t have guts to ask her name between the date.”
11. I know the dog’s name, but…
“Dog park people.
We see each other and talk almost every day but they’re always ‘dog’s name mum/dad’
I’m sure at some point their name come up, but I just keep forgetting.”
12. Hahahaha.
“My next door neighbor introduced himself when he moved in. I promptly forgot his name. I danced around it for that same 5 years. He was from a French speaking part of Canada, so when talking with my wife, he was “French guy next door”
5 years after first meeting, he admits in a conversation that he’d forgotten my name. We have a good laugh and reintroduce ourselves.
His name was Guy. I had it right the whole time, he was French Guy next door.”
13. The office.
“10 years, the people from my office but from different division.
They seem to know me and often call me out when I passed by, but I don’t know their names and at this point it seems awkward to ask them.”
14. Call me Darren.
My name is apparently Darren to this nice couple who own a restaurant in my town.
My name is not Darren, I’ve known them for 2 years. We’re even facebook friends, they can literally see and read my name, but it’s cool.
I always wanted to try being a Darren.”
Okay, now it’s your turn!
In the comments, tell us the longest you’ve gone without knowing someone’s name.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
