I usually find associations for common English names, at least in the sense that I've known many other people named 'John' or 'Laura' for example. Also, all these names are already in the 'name' category in the brain, and that makes them easier to match to a person. 

In contrast, with Chinese names, it is more difficult for me. There are a few Chinese names I know already but many more I do not. When I hear these names they not only don't match anything in the 'name' category, they don't register as meaningful words.  For example, I had a friend  whose Chinese name was Pei-Chuan. This was hard to remember at first because it was meaningless sounds to my English-only brain. (Lucky for me, she also chose to go by Margaret rather than listen to us wreck her name).

Thanks for your response.