With the advancement of online phonebooks, finding someone's phone number doesn't sound like it should be all that difficult - that is if you are already aware of where he lives and how to spell his name. However, if you find yourself lacking some of that important information, it is still possible to obtain a phone number by name. You just may need to be a little resourceful in your hunt.
Begin With Online Phonebooks
The best starting point is to use one of the many online phonebooks on the web. Some popular tools include The Official WhitePages, Zabasearch, or Switchboard. If you have little success with one site, try another to see if different listings yield the match for which you are looking. Some may have a different database from which names are pulled.
Use Name and Location in Phone Number Search
When you visit your phonebook search site, plug in as much information as you know. Most sites require that you have the last name. Including a first name and location in your search criteria will help narrow your results. If you can't find your match with all the fields filled out, then try different search combinations limiting one or more of the search criteria. This will likely give you a broader range of hits for you to browse.
Consider Different Spelling, Married Name, and Nickname Possibilities in the Number Listing
If you continue to have no luck finding the person you are after, stop to think if you have the correct spelling of his name. Try putting in a close variation in the spelling, (for example: Looking for Joe Miller, try Joe Mueller or Joe Millar). An incorrect spelling can make finding a phone number by name nearly impossible.
You may also need to think about the possibility that you are searching for maiden name rather than a current name, or you may be using a nickname when a formal name is needed or vice versa. This can be particularly tricky for names that break from traditional nicknaming patterns (ie. Jack for John, Peg for Margaret, etc).
Turn to Social Networking Sites
If you still are coming up short, another great online resource are some of online social networking sites. Sites like Facebook or class reunion sites can be very helpful, particularly in cases where you only know a woman's maiden name. These sites allow you to search for people by school attended and graduation year. At the very least, if you cannot find the person, you may find mutual friends who can help guide you to the phone number for which you have been searching.
With today's technology, it can be very simple to find that long-lost-friend's digits. The more you know about the person's current situation the greater success you will have. However, even with limited information, you may be able to contact him. You just need to be thorough in your search.
Jennifer White - Jennifer White has authored parenting books and has worked in childcare and education fields for over 15 years. She now focuses much of ...
