From the 2008 USA Memory Champion:
Chester’s top tips for remembering names
Step 1: Whenever you are introduced to someone, immediately repeat their name, for example: ‘Nice to meet you, John.’ Get into that habit.
It may seem totally obvious, but a lot of times when someone is introducing themselves to us, our mind is on something else and we’re not paying any attention at all to the name. Repeating it forces you to pay attention for at least one second.
Step 2: Early on in your interaction with a new person, ask them a simple question using their name to reinforce it in your mind. For example, ‘So John, tell me…’.
You don’t have to keep using it over and over again, as it might seem a bit weird, just use it once early on, that’s enough to reinforce it.
Step 3: Take a few seconds to connect the person’s name to anything you already know. For example, John Lennon, or a character from a TV show or movie, or something as simple as you having a friend or family member that has the same name.
You could weave in the visual idea here as well - link something about that person’s look to another visual (the crazier the better).
Step 4: When you leave the party or meeting, make it a point to say goodbye to people using their names. That will go a long way to helping you remember more of those names the next time you see those people.
If you’ve already forgotten it, I recommend you ask the person their name again then and there, as they won’t be as likely to be offended and will appreciate the fact you care enough to know their name for the next time you see them.
If you can do all this, you’ll start to remember a huge majority of people you’re meeting.