This idea is centered around the idea that it's easier to remember that someone works as a cook than their last name is cook or living on cook st. This works because working as a cook has many more associations to it, the hat, the kitchen, the equipment, than the other two examples. When you meet someone, if you associate their name with an image, the more absurd the better, you are more likely to remember it. For example, a girls name is lily, picture her in a pond with water up to her neck and a green leaf around her neck.

This is a common mnemonic trick, but I've also been forcing other people to do it for me. My name is chris. While introducing myself, I say my name and follow it up with, "not like chris brown... Fuck chris brown." Which starts a conversation about chris brown where I can make a few canned jokes about him or discuss music with the person. Next time they see me, they will associate my name with the story. By remembering my name, it helps trigger a sense of familiarity.