Start with functional groups
Alcohols (-OH), aldehydes (-CHO), ketones (C=O), carboxylic acids (-COOH), and amines (-NH2) drive most reactions you will see early on.
Make a one-page cheat sheet with structure, suffix, and one common reaction for each group.
Naming patterns that stick
Find the longest carbon chain, number from the end nearest the highest-priority group, then list substituents alphabetically. Practice ten molecules a day until the pattern feels automatic.