Personally I find it impossible to remember so many characters. My way of it is to disregard anyone who doesn't sound important, until some important-seeming reference of them crops up somewhere, then it's encyclopedia-wot to the rescue! Though since starting to play on this forum, my knowledge of some of the less important characters has improved greatly! :D

Seriously, I think it was impossible for any but the likes of RJ, Harriet and Wilson to keep all those characters right in their head. I don't think even people like Luckers and RAW could remember all the characters, or even most of 'em! It's plain impossible!

When I'm reading I usually gloss over the the names of the little people. 

 

Like during a SAS Sitting (is that what they call it?) except for Romanda and Lelaine what do the other 16 women contribute to the story at large?  I just think of it as:

 

AS 1 says something

AS 2 agrees

AS 3 calls them both fool

AS 4 leave to bring AS Y

AS Y asks a question

AS 2 answers

AS Y leaves and is never heard from again.

 

However the exchange the reader learns the life history of all six women, even if the only one who has much of a recuring role is AS 2.

 

I just don't get bothered by the names.

 

BTW: Half, at least, of the Characters in the Council of Elrond only appeared in that scene and were never mentioned again.  Can you name then all without looking it up?

Not all of them, but wheel of time has hundreds of situations like that. As well as half the characters dead and mentioned only once or twice...

I got a pretty good grip on most of the characters, but when it comes to a "who-was-that-again" noble, i use Dragonmount's character index. :)

 

EDIT: Fixed the link.

I just clicked your link and the page isn't there any more. Is there a new location for it? sorry i just found it in the site. Thank you for bring it to my attention.

I agree that the best method is to concentrate on the larger character lines.  Often I run into a name and either think hard for a minute to remember or keep reading.  Honestly reading through without remembering when they were introduced causes no loss.  If the character has enough importance/signifigance then RJ usually throws a hint (Through 3rd party observation/conversation/flashback).

By rereading and having a good memory. and by talking about the books all day long on several websites.