How storms get names
Six lists, a name for every letter (almost), and a few names so famous they are never used again.
Why name them?
Storms get short, easily remembered names because that is quicker and reduces confusion, especially when two or more storms are around at the same time. NOAA Ocean Service: Why do we name storms?
Long ago, storms were named haphazardly: an Atlantic storm that ripped the mast off a boat called Antje became known as “Antje’s hurricane”. WMO: Tropical cyclone naming Later, storms were identified by their latitude and longitude, but short names proved quicker and less likely to cause mistakes. WMO: Tropical cyclone naming
Names were first used widely in the Second World War. Met Office: How are hurricanes named? In 1953 the United States began using female names for storms. By 1978 both male and female names were used for northern Pacific storms, and the Atlantic followed in 1979. NOAA Ocean Service: Why do we name storms?
The lists
From 1953, Atlantic storm names came from lists drawn up by the National Hurricane Center. Today an international WMO committee looks after them. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names
The Atlantic has six lists of names, used in rotation: the 2026 list will be used again in 2032. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names · checked 31 Oct 2026 The 2026 Atlantic list begins Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names · checked 31 Oct 2026
If an Atlantic season has more than 21 named storms, the extra storms take names from an alternate list approved by the WMO. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names
A storm is usually named when it reaches tropical storm strength (winds of 34 knots). Met Office: How are hurricanes named? Before it gets a name, every tropical depression gets a code of two digits and a letter. The digits start at “01” each season. Met Office: How are hurricanes named?
A storm that forms out of season takes its name by date: one forming on 28 December would take a name from the previous season’s list. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names
Retired names
If a storm is so deadly or costly that using its name again would be inappropriate, a WMO committee strikes it off the list and picks a replacement. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names
In 2025 the WMO Hurricane Committee retired the names Beryl, Helene, Milton and John. WMO: Tropical cyclone · checked 31 Oct 2026
Can I have one?
Can you have a storm named after you? The National Hurricane Center says it doesn’t control the naming of tropical storms: the lists come from a World Meteorological Organization committee. National Hurricane Center: FAQ
Tropical cyclones are not named after individuals. New names should be short, easy to say and mean the right thing in different languages. WMO: Tropical cyclone naming
Names around the world
In the western North Pacific and North Indian Oceans, most names aren’t personal names: they include flowers, animals, birds, trees, foods and describing words. Met Office: How are hurricanes named?
The central North Pacific has its own lists, starting Akoni, Ema, Hone, Iona, Keli, Lala. Lala was the first name lined up for the 2026 central Pacific season. National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone names · checked 31 Oct 2026
The Met Office and Met Éireann also name storms, but that’s to help warnings reach people, not because those storms are as strong as tropical cyclones. Met Office: How are hurricanes named?
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