How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Hurricane Names

Hurricanes receive names because it reduces confusion when two or more tropical storms are happening at the same time. It’s a pretty simple concept -- Names help people remember storms and create a more effective communication process. The World Meteorological Organization is responsible for the alphabetical list of names given to tropical storms as they develop each hurricane season.  Six different lists of names are used with one list getting repeated every seventh year for Atlantic hurricanes. The only time a change is made to a list is if a storm causes particularly severe damage. The name will then be retired and replaced by a new one. For example, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate have been retired following the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season due to the extreme impact each storm left behind.

Harvey, Irma, Maria & Nate are retired from the Atlantic tropical storm name list by the World Meteorological Organization Region IV Hurricane Committee, and replaced with Harold, Idalia, Margot, & Nigel. Will first appear on the 2023 list. @NWS @NOAAComms @NHC_Atlantic @NOAA pic.twitter.com/0Z2lVU9VzA

— Natl Hurricane Ctr (@NWSNHC) April 12, 2018

Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, & North Atlantic Names

The six lists are used in rotation and the 2018 list will be used again in 2024.

2018: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, William          

2019: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, Wendy

2020: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred

2021: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Elsa, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Julian, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, Wanda

2022: Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie, Walter

2023: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, Whitney

For more information on the procedure of naming tropical cyclones Click Here