How do I find out her name?

[sillysituation]

In the grand scheme of life this isn't a major problem. But it's a little embarrassing.

We moved house in April last year so have been here a little over a year. The next door neighbour introduced herself in the first few weeks and was so lovely and friendly. She obviously would have told me her name at that point. Anyway, I've forgotten it 🙈

It's more and more awkward with each conversation. We see each other a lot and chat over the garden fence. I had a baby earlier this year and she was so interested in my pregnancy asking for updates on baby's arrival etc, and coos over baby every time I'm outside with her. Basically, I feel as though I have developed quite a lovely friendship with my neighbour over the past year or so. But I have no clue what her name is 😂

And now it feels like it's gone too far for me to ask, if that makes sense? If someone you'd been chatting to for the best part of a year suddenly said "sorry, what's your name again?" you'd be pretty offended right?

My question is ... how the hell do I find out her name without offending her?!

Do you know her surname? If not, you can say “sorry what’s your name again?” And when they say their first name you reply “oh sorry, I meant your surname.” That way you’ve found out the first name and look like you just wanted their surname.

I have a technique for this someone at work taught me when you couldn't remember a client's name.

You say something like "Hi Jane, lovely weather isn't it?"

And they say "My name's not Jane, it's Stephanie"

ANd then you look horrified and say "Oh so sorry, did I call you Jane? I was just talking to Jane ! Silly me"

Of course it doesn't work if they don't tell you their name when they get the prompt

Depending on how much energy you want to put into it, you could just ask.
Or, if you have older children who can talk? Instruct them to call her Ma'am, she'll correct them (hopefully) with "Call me Anne" or whatever her name is!

You should go in to the garden daily and bellow a random women’s name until she responds

I've just told DH about this thread and he went "it's Sarah isn't it?!".

How does he know?! Hmmm... 😂

@Shirleyphallus

You should go in to the garden daily and bellow a random women’s name until she responds

😂

This is what Christmas cards are for. Make sure you get yours in first with just ‘happy Christmas from Silly Situatuon and family.

That’s how I found out all my neighbours names. Obviously it’ll be a few months to resolution

@readytosell

I have a technique for this someone at work taught me when you couldn't remember a client's name.

You say something like "Hi Jane, lovely weather isn't it?"

And they say "My name's not Jane, it's Stephanie"

ANd then you look horrified and say "Oh so sorry, did I call you Jane? I was just talking to Jane ! Silly me"

Of course it doesn't work if they don't tell you their name when they get the prompt

I once responded to a sitar-sounding (well, sort of!) name from a colleague. Think like Amy/Anna (although not the real names, natch!). I misheard him the first time, but I was 18 and too shy to correct him! He called me Anna for months, then suddenly started calling me Amy, so someone must have corrected him... God knows what he thought of me!

I had this situation

She mentions her husband by name so I looked him up and found him on FB which led me to her name. I found him by looking on local pages and his page wasn't private

Chat to her husband and ask leading question to make him say "well xxx would say"... or "I will ask xxx what she thinks"?

@AffableApple

Chat to her husband and ask leading question to make him say "well xxx would say"... or "I will ask xxx what she thinks"?

Her husband isn't very sociable! I rarely see him and when he's in the garden he mutters a quick "alright" then goes back inside. A convo with him might be like pulling teeth 😂

Buy the title deeds for her house for £3 on land registry.

Her name should be on there if she's on the mortgage.

Not much help here though.
I do like the @readytosell idea though.
We moved house in January, having lived in our previous home for 20 years. We were very rural and only had one close neighbour - John and Karen.
We had bbqs together, looked after each others animals for holidays, were really quite friendly.
On the day we moved, they came with a card and bottle of champagne. We said our goodbyes and John said ' by the way, my name Is Ian'.........
Apparently in the early days he had corrected me a few times i have no fecking memory of this then just accepted being called John........
I got a birthday card from them, signed Karen and John.

Perhaps just give her a pet name? Worked for me😛😛😛

@Sarahlou63

Ask for her email address, or ask her to friend you on FB

I don’t use anything like my name on email or social media…not going to help

So DH says he's sure he's heard her DH shout "Sarah" before now. This may be the answer!

To be honest I'll be a little disappointed if she's not called Pam now

'What's your name?' (whilst pointing at their house)
'Dorothy'
'No, silly! (point at the house again) Your family name!'

After she tells you, say you've had a misdelivered parcel with only a surname on it.

'Obviously not for you, then, Dorothy Jones!' Then quickly walk away before she sees how much you're sweating :)

@Mmmmdanone

My neighbour's boyfriend moved in a couple of years ago and I'm sure introduced himself as Keir. So that's what I call him. Then I overheard someone calling him Kieran. I'm now wondering who's wrong and am too scared to ask 🤣

😂

Send in a friend. When you've got a friend round shove them out the door when you know she's in the garden. They say oh hi, I'm x sorry sillysituation told me your name but I forgot, lovely to meet you x then you go out and have a lovely chat together.

If you live in an old house ask her for her full name because you're researching the history of the street. Or some other reason you might need a full name - missing post, you're going to be out and the courier/window cleaner/milkman needs a neighbours name just in case. I'm sure you can invent something!

Or get into a conversation about middle names, loads of people will then say oh I hated being called "Sarah Jane" or whatever.

@sillysituation

To be honest I'll be a little disappointed if she's not called Pam now

Just call her Pam. We'll call you 'Trigger'.

[quote sillysituation]@Notaroadrunner

Yeah our postie is lovely. I don't know his name either 😂[/quote]
It'll be Pat, surely...
😂😂

When my neighbours moved in, I misunderstood the lady’s name, and called her the wrong name for about 6 months before I realised it wasn’t her name lol. It wasn’t till we got a Xmas card with her right name on it. Lol

Tell her you’re second-guessing the name you’ve given your baby and ask her how her parents chose her name?

I wouldn't say you had forgotten it, but just say you didnt hear what she originally said and then felt awkward asking as time went on. I did this with someone whose name I had forgotten and they just found it funny.