Is it too late to ask your neighbor’s name?
SOCIAL GRACES
Q: One of your neighbors has greeted you by name for years, and you never got around to asking for a refresher on his name. Is it too late to ask now?
A: Oh my, if it has truly been years of greeting one another, then this is quite a conundrum.
Generally speaking, it’s best to get in that name refresher no later than the second or third time you meet someone. It’s very easy to forgive at that point, and almost everyone appreciates when you not only get the name right, but also say it correctly.
But with years gone by, it really is too late to ask.
Your best bet is to ask a mutual neighbor and hope that person knows the name. Another great tip is to introduce someone you know to your neighbor, using your friend’s name, and hope the neighbor then offers his name. This is a true gem when it comes to those social situations where you just can’t remember that colleague’s husband’s name!
— Courtney Fadler, etiquette expert and founder of CF Etiquette
A: I’d much rather have someone be straight up and ask me for my name, even after years of living next to each other.
However, if you’re like me, you’ll most likely spend more energy stressing out about the situation instead of just being upfront.
Thankfully, the phone trick is an easy way to get someone’s name. Let your neighbor know that you recently got a new phone and would like his number. This will prompt him to put his name into your contacts.
If you live in an apartment building where packages get delivered in one spot, you could also keep an eye out for any packages sent to your neighbor.