If you first meet someone and you are horrible with names, how do you remember their name for more than 30 seconds?

Use the person’s name in a sentence right away. I often forget a name within minutes, even seconds of being told.
What I do is use the person’s name immediatedly in a (often comical) sentence. It works best if there is a third person, as you can say “______ here is a big fan of hot air balloons.”
However, if it’s just the two of you it will still work. You can say something silly like: ”...oh______ what are we going to do with you?
or lie and say you used to know a [insert first and last name], and act bewildered.

I usually try to remember the first letter and sound (long/short, syllables), but often I don’t remember and I often use the fact that people struggle to remember and/or pronounce my name as a justification. Not a good justification, but I’ve even been in situations where I meet a number of new people and I say that up front (“I’m terrible with names, but I also have a pretty odd one myself, so it’ll probably go both ways”)

Generally I think it’s OK to admit and ask again once after the initial introduction – after that it seems like you just don’t listen.

fortunately where I work everyone has a name badge!

I too am horrible with names; the most success I’ve had has been withthinking of someone I know that has the same name and associate them together. Like nice to meet you Sam, and the I think about how his hair is dark like my uncle Sam. As long as I can remember that link I’m good. This obviously doesn’t work with particularly unique names, but people with names like that are used to people struggling with their name.

yes, they are….

I just realized that uncle Sam was a particularly crappy example lmao. Sub phil for Sam and it makes more sense. Think I need more sleep.

Everyone, or almost everyone is guilty. I say, “Simply, remind me what your name is again?” No one seems to mind.

use the name in the conversation

Unless they have an usual name (which I normally don’t forget anyways), I keep a mental picture of someone I know with the same name.