How Are Atlantic Hurricanes Named?

The practice of naming our storms has a long history. Back in the 1800s, hurricanes in the West Indies were named according to the saint's day on which the storm occurred. Later, forecasters and weather experts started using latitude-longitude positions to describe hurricanes, but soon realized it was quicker and easier to use distinctive names.

Using only women's names for hurricanes became the fashion after a 1941 novel by George R. Stewart called Storm. In 1979, names of both genders were used for Atlantic hurricanes after eastern Pacific storms began to use male and female names. An international committee at a meeting of the World Meteorological Organization came up with six separate name lists for hurricanes. Each list is reused every six years, with the exception of the names of storms that have resulted in major damage or death. Those names are "retired," just like the number of a hockey or basketball player whose accomplishments are so far above the rest.

Names for the 2004-2011 hurricane seasons:

2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Alex Bonnie Charley Danielle Earl Frances Gaston Hermine Ivan Jeanne Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter	Arlene Bret Cindy Dennis Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katrina Lenny Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rita Stan Tammy Vince Wilma	Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William	Allison Barry Chantal Dean Erin Felix Gabrielle Humberto Iris Jerry Karen Lorenzo Michelle Noel Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy	Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Ike Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred	Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred Grace Henri Ida Joaquin Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda	Alex Bonnie Colin Danielle Earl Fiona Gaston Hermine Igor Julia Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter	Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katia Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney

Atlantic hurricane names that have been retired:

Agnes (1972), Alicia (1983), Allen (1980), Allison (2001), Andrew (1992), Anita (1977), Audrey (1957)

Betsy (1965), Beulah (1967), Bob (1991)

Camille (1969), Carla (1961), Carmen (1974), Carol (1954), Celia (1970), Cesar (1996), Charley (2004), Cleo (1964), Connie (1955)

David (1979), Diana (1990), Diane (1955), Donna (1960), Dora (1964), Dennis (2005)

Edna (1968), Elena (1985), Eloise (1975)

Fabian (2003), Fifi (1974), Flora (1963), Fran (1996), Frances (2004), Frederic (1979), Floyd (1999)

Gilbert (1988), Gloria (1985), Gracie (1959), Georges (1998)

Hattie (1961), Hazel (1954), Hilda (1964) Hortense (1996), Hugo (1989)

Inez (1966), Ione (1955), Iris (2001), Isabel (2003), Isidore (2002), Ivan (2004)

Janet (1955), Jeanne (2004), Joan (1988), Juan (2003)

Katrina (2005), Keith (2000), Klaus (1990)

Lenny (1999), Lili (2002), Luis (1995)

Marilyn (1995), Michelle (2001), Mitch (1998)

Opal (1995)

Roxanne (1995), Rita (2005)

Stan (2005)

Wilma (2005)

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