Tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones) are massive rotating storm systems that form over warm ocean waters. Tracking these powerful weather events is necessary for public safety and disaster preparedness. Assigning distinct names is a highly effective method for preventing confusion when multiple systems are active simultaneously. This practice streamlines communication among forecasters, emergency services, and the public, especially when issuing warnings and advisories.
Early Systems of Identification
Long before standardized lists, people in vulnerable regions developed informal ways to identify major storms. In the West Indies, hurricanes were often named after the Roman Catholic Saint’s Day on which they made landfall. For instance, the “Hurricane Santa Ana” devastated Puerto Rico on July 26, 1825, the feast day of Saint Anne.
Other storms were identified by the location they struck or the magnitude of their impact, such as the “Great Galveston Hurricane” of 1900 or the “Long Island Express” of 1938. These localized, retrospective methods were inconsistent and inadequate for modern forecasting, which requires tracking storms before they strike. In the late 19th century, Australian meteorologist Clement Wragge attempted systematization by using names for tropical cyclones, sometimes pulling from Greek mythology or even the names of politicians he disliked.
The Origin of Formalized Naming
The first systematic application of names by an official weather service occurred in the Atlantic basin during the 1950 hurricane season. American forecasters began using the military’s phonetic alphabet for identification, marking a transition to a structured system. The first storm assigned a name under this new, formalized process was Hurricane Able in 1950.
This phonetic system, which included names like “Baker” and “Charlie,” was a temporary solution to improve communication. The United States Weather Bureau recognized the benefit of personalized names over numerical designations, which were prone to error in rapid radio exchanges. By 1953, the bureau abandoned the phonetic alphabet and officially adopted a system using only women’s names for Atlantic tropical storms.
The Evolution of Naming Conventions
The practice of using female names gained traction during World War II, when U.S. Army and Navy meteorologists informally named Pacific typhoons after women. This informal military practice influenced the U.S. Weather Bureau’s 1953 decision to officially standardize the use of women’s names for Atlantic hurricanes. The first storm named under this all-female list was Hurricane Alice, which formed late in the 1953 season.
This all-female convention remained the standard for over two decades but eventually faced public criticism. Advocacy groups argued the practice was sexist, gaining momentum through the 1970s. As a result of this pressure, the naming policy changed to include male names. The new system, which alternated between male and female names, was introduced in the Eastern North Pacific in 1978 and adopted for the Atlantic basin in 1979.
The Modern Naming Process
The naming of tropical cyclones today is managed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an agency of the United Nations. The WMO maintains six separate lists of names for the Atlantic basin, which are used sequentially and rotated every six years. Each list alternates between male and female names, drawing from English, Spanish, and French to reflect regional diversity.
A storm name is permanently retired from the rotating list if the cyclone was particularly deadly or caused extreme damage. Notable retired names include Katrina, Sandy, and Irma. When a name is retired, the WMO committee selects a replacement name starting with the same letter during their annual meeting. If all names on the list are used in an exceptionally active season, a supplemental list of names is now used instead of the former Greek alphabet system.