Hurricanes: How Names Are Chosen

How Are Names Chosen? The names given to hurricanes are pretty much already set. There are six alphabetical lists of names for Atlantic hurricanes, maintained by the World Meteorological Organization, and they are rotated through every six years.

Therefore, the 2023 list that starts with Arlene and ends with Whitney will be used again in 2029.

A developing cyclone is given a name when it officially becomes a tropical storm, meaning it has sustained winds of at least 39 mph. Once maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, the tropical storm becomes a hurricane.

Storm names used to be chosen more randomly, not assigned in a pre-planned manner. For example, a storm that hit a boat named Antje and ruined its mast was called “Antje’s hurricane,” according to the WMO.

For hundreds of years, storms were named after saint days. Storms were also sometimes known by the name of a place they hit, like the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

Why Do Hurricanes Have Names?

Using names helps meteorologists — and the public — keep track of storms. Meteorologists started following an alphabetical system, with an “A” name being given to the first hurricane of the season, a “B” name to the second, and so on.

The National Hurricane Center originated the name lists in 1953. Only women’s names were used until 1979, when the lists began alternating women’s and men’s names. The six current lists have been in rotation since 1979, with some names occasionally being retired and replaced.

Pacific hurricane names follow the same system, but have their own designated lists.

Why Are Hurricane Names Retired?

The name lists can be altered if a storm is particularly deadly.

The decision to remove names is determined at a committee meeting, according to the National Hurricane Center. To avoid being inappropriate and to maintain sensitivity after a particularly bad storm, the name will be replaced.

However, some names have been removed without this reasoning. In 1966, the name Fern was changed to Frieda without reason, according to the center.

Sometimes multiple names a year are retired, if it is a particularly bad hurricane season.

What Names Are Retired?

The center has a list of hurricane names that have been retired over the years. Notable ones include: Katrina, the deadly storm that hit New Orleans in 2005, which was replaced with Katia, and Floyd, which hit in 1999, and was replaced with Franklin.

In 2017, Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were all bad enough to be replaced. In 2021, Ida was the only name replaced. When that list is used again in 2027, the name Imani will be used in Ida’s place.

Earlier this year, the name Ian was replaced with Idris, and Fiona with Farrah, after the deadly storms wreaked havoc in 2022.

According to World Meteorological Organization, 94 names have been retired since 1953.

What Names Are Being Used In 2023?

Here is the list of names for the 2023 hurricane season:

Arlene                       Lee

Bret                           Margot

Cindy                        Nigel

Don                           Ophelia

Emily                         Philippe

Franklin                    Rina

Gert                           Sean

Harold                       Tammy

Idalia                         Vince

Jose                            Whitney

Katia