You know those times when you see someone you've met before and you try to introduce them to someone else. Two things happen:

1. You remember their name and you have a smooth intro.
2. You totally blank out and you make an ass of yourself.

With the number of people I meet at socials #2 tends to happen sometimes. I've stumbled across a great article on Forbes listing methods of remembering names.

1. Repeat some one's name when shaking hands with them. (Best method I have applied and helped. All you have to do is remember to actually do it.)
2. Turn some one's name into an image. (Not my style)
3. Spell their name out. (I usually connect this tip to #7)
4. Connect name to with information about person. (Most of the time I am introduced to certain people and have this information off the bat.)
5. Wordplay. (Too grade-school for my taste. Doesn't work with some name.)
6. Introduce yourself and spell out your name. (I feel this would be too awkward to actually use on a regular basis.)
7. Record the name on paper and notes on where you met. (LinkedIn is your best friend. Once i see some one's name either on a profile, or on a card, I've got it somewhere in my head.)
8. Ask for the name if you blank out after introduction. (Honesty is the best policy. We are all human after all.)
9. Introduce the person you're with first, forcing the 'unknown' to introduce themselves. (Always my 1st resort, although i have been in situations where the 'unknown' did not introduce themselves leading to more awkwardness. I feel that filling in the person you're with on the situation quickly prior to the 'unknown's' approach helps solve that problem. They can ask what their name is and what they do, taking you out of the equation.)

Happy Socializing! Source