What Do You Call Someone With a Good Memory? The Surprising Terms You’ve Never Heard

Ever meet someone who remembers your birthday from a conversation three years ago? Or that friend who can recall exactly what you wore to that random Tuesday brunch in 2019? Yeah, those people exist, and honestly, they’re both impressive and slightly terrifying.

But here’s the thing—while we all casually throw around phrases like “good memory” or “photographic memory,” there’s actually a whole vocabulary for describing people with exceptional recall abilities. And no, “creepily good at remembering stuff” isn’t the technical term (though it probably should be).

The Everyday Terms We Actually Use

Let’s start with reality: most of us just say someone “has a good memory” and call it a day. Simple, straightforward, gets the job done. But if you want to sound a bit more polished without diving into neuroscience territory, here are the terms people actually recognize:

Fantastic memory or brilliant memory work perfectly fine in conversation. Nobody’s going to side-eye you for saying “Sarah has a fantastic memory for names.” It’s natural, it’s clear, and it doesn’t make you sound like you swallowed a dictionary.

The real question is: when do you need those fancy technical terms?

Eidetic Memory: The Term Everyone Gets Wrong

Eidetic memory refers to the ability to vividly recall images after only a few instances of exposure, without using a mnemonic device. Think of it as your brain taking a mental snapshot that sticks around for a bit longer than normal.

Here’s where it gets interesting (and a little weird): eidetic memory is more common in children, with only about 2 to 15% of American children under 12 exhibiting this trait, and this ability dwindles in adulthood. So if you’re an adult convinced you have eidetic memory, you’re either part of an incredibly rare group or… you might just have a really good regular memory.

People who possess eidetic ability are called “eidetikers”—which sounds like it could be a character class in a fantasy game, TBH.

But before you start calling yourself eidetic, know this: eidetic images typically begin to fade within minutes after the removal of the visual stimulus. It’s not permanent, it’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not the same as…

Photographic Memory: Myth or Reality?

Time for a reality check: true photographic memory has never been demonstrated to exist. Yep, you read that right. Despite what TV shows and movies would have you believe, there is no evidence that photographic memory exists in the way pop culture portrays it.

Photographic memory implies the ability to recall extensive details, like entire pages of text, with high precision, but its existence is debated and hasn’t been conclusively proven.

Does this mean all those claims are fake? Not exactly. Various cases have been reported that rely on mnemonic skills and expert talent but are erroneously attributed to photographic memory. Basically, what looks like supernatural memory is usually just really, really good technique and practice.

Even none of the world’s best competitive memorizers at the World Memory Championships has claimed to have a photographic memory. They’re just incredibly skilled at using memory techniques—which, IMO, is way more impressive than having some innate superpower.

The Terms That Actually Make You Sound Smart

Want to describe someone’s exceptional memory without sounding like you’re making stuff up? Here are your go-to options:

Retentive (The Safe Bet)

“Retentive” describes someone who has no problem remembering facts, dates, or other information. It’s tonally neutral—not over-the-top praise, just a straightforward observation.

Example: “He has a retentive memory for historical dates” sounds way better than “He’s freakishly good at remembering when stuff happened.”

Mnemonist (For the Memory Pros)

A mnemonist is someone with exceptional memory, as defined by the Collins dictionary. These are the folks who actually use specific memory tricks like singing in a specific tune or reciting poems to help them recall information.

Here’s the catch: mnemonists aren’t born, they’re made. They’ve developed techniques and systems that make their recall look superhuman. It’s learned skill, not genetic lottery.

Memorious (The Forgotten Word)

“Memorious” dates back to the 1590s and means “having a good memory”, but it’s not a very well-known term and can’t be found in most popular English dictionaries.

The word is most famously used in the title of Borges’s short story “Funes the Memorious,” which is about a man who remembers everything. Literally everything. (Spoiler: it’s not portrayed as a blessing.)

Should you use it? Only if you’re okay with people giving you confused looks or thinking you made it up.

The Scientific Terms You’ll Rarely Need

HSAM: When Memory Becomes Overwhelming

HSAM stands for highly superior autobiographical memory, also called hyperthymesia syndrome, where people can remember events in great detail. We’re talking about individuals like Jill Price, a California woman who can recall personal events with extraordinary precision.

But here’s what pop culture doesn’t tell you: HSAM can be mentally exhausting to absorb and store so much information, and people with keen autobiographical memory skills remember the bad times in addition to the good times.

Unlike mnemonists who are expert at memorizing random material, there is no indication that people with HSAM remember ordinary life events better in the way memory experts do. It’s a completely different phenomenon.

Recollective (The Unofficial Term)

“Recollective” comes from the idea of “recollection” and describes someone’s ability to remember things, though many dictionaries don’t officially recognize it. It’s one of those words that exists in practice but hasn’t gotten the official stamp of approval yet.

The Phrases That Actually Work in Conversation

Forget the fancy vocabulary for a second. Here are terms normal humans actually use:

• “Mind like a steel trap” – Classic idiom that everyone understands
• “Mental elephant” – References the saying “elephants never forget”
• “Sharp-witted” – Describes someone with not only excellent recall but also a keen ability to connect ideas and respond quickly
• “Memory maestro” – A bit flowery, but it gets the point across

The truth? Most native speakers would say something like “John has a photographic memory” or “Jane has amazing memory prowess” rather than using concise but obscure technical terms.

What Memory Champions Actually Do

Since photographic memory isn’t real, how do memory champions memorize thousands of digits or entire decks of cards? Most techniques for memorizing numbers involve turning them into visual images that are then placed along points of an imaginary memory journey.

The mind has difficulty remembering abstract concepts like numbers but can easily remember visual images, and the imaginary memory journey orders the images in the correct sequence. It’s all technique, practice, and mental organization—not some mystical gift.

No structural differences have been found in the brains of accomplished mnemonists who have achieved superior memory with the practiced use of mnemonic devices. Their brains aren’t physically different; they’ve just trained themselves to use what they have more effectively.

So What’s the Right Term to Use?

Here’s my take after diving down this rabbit hole:

For casual conversation: Stick with “good memory,” “great memory,” or “fantastic memory.” Nobody expects you to bust out “memorious” at a dinner party (unless you want confused stares).

For writing or formal contexts: “Retentive” or “exceptional memory” hit the sweet spot between accurate and accessible.

For genuine technical accuracy: “Eidetic” if you’re specifically talking about visual recall in children, or “mnemonist” if you’re describing someone who uses memory techniques.

For dramatic effect: Go with “photographic memory” even though it’s technically not proven to exist. Everyone knows what you mean, and sometimes communication beats technical precision 🙂

The Bottom Line

What do you call someone with a good memory? Honestly, just call them someone with a good memory. All the fancy terms in the world won’t make your description clearer unless you’re writing a psychology paper or trying to impress someone at trivia night.

The reality is that exceptional memory—whether we call it eidetic, retentive, or just plain impressive—is usually a combination of natural ability and learned technique. The difference between ordinary memory and exceptional memory appears to be one of degree rather than some fundamentally different mechanism.

So the next time your friend remembers that embarrassing thing you said in 2016, you can either call them “retentive” or just accept that they’re never, ever going to let you forget it. Some things transcend vocabulary.

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Quick Reference Guide:

Term	What It Means	When to Use It
Good/Great Memory	General description	Everyday conversation
Retentive	Remembers facts well	Professional/formal contexts
Eidetic	Vivid visual recall (mostly children)	Scientific discussions
Photographic Memory	Detailed recall (not scientifically proven)	Popular culture, casual talk
Mnemonist	Uses memory techniques	Describing memory athletes
HSAM/Hyperthymesia	Superior autobiographical memory	Clinical/scientific contexts
Memorious	Having good memory (archaic)	Literary contexts only

The key takeaway? Context matters more than vocabulary. Choose the term that makes sense for your situation, and remember—sometimes the simplest description is the best one.