How are hurricanes named? - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

How are hurricanes named?

STATEWIDE - Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center and now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The lists featured only women's names until 1979. After that, men's and women's names were alternated. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 lists will be used again in 2014.

The only time there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the continued use of the name would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. When this occurs, the name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it.

Sometimes names are changed. Lorenzo replaced Luis and Michelle replaced Marilyn.

Atlantic hurricane names

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Arthur Ana Alex Arlene Alberto Andrea
Bertha Bill Bonnie Bret Beryl Barry
Cristobal Claudette Colin Cindy Chris Chantal
Dolly Danny Danielle Don Debby Dorian
Edouard Erika Earl Emily Ernesto Erin
Fay Fred Fiona Franklin Florence Fernand
Gustav Grace Gaston Gert Gordon Gabrielle
Hanna Henri Hermine Harvey Helene Humberto
Ike Ida Igor Irene Isaac Ingrid
Josephine Joaquin Julia Jose Joyce Jerry
Kyle Kate Karl Katia Kirk Karen
Laura Larry Lisa Lee Leslie Lorenzo
Marco Mindy Matthew Maria Michael Melissa
Nana Nicholas Nicole Nate Nadine Nestor
Omar Odette Otto Ophelia Oscar Olga
Paloma Peter Paula Philippe Patty Pablo
Rene Rose Richard Rina Rafael Rebekah
Sally Sam Shary Sean Sandy Sebastien
Teddy Teresa Tomas Tammy Tony Tanya
Vicky Victor Virginie Vince Valerie Van
Wilfred Wanda Walter Whitney William Wendy

Eastern North Pacific names

2009 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Alma Andres Agatha Adrian Aletta Alvin
Boris Blanca Blas Beatriz Bud Barbara
Cristina Carlos Celia Calvin Carlotta Cosme
Douglas Dolores Darby Dora Daniel Dalila
Elida Enrique Estelle Eugene Emilia Erick
Fausto Felicia Frank Fernanda Fabio Flossie
Genevieve Guillermo Georgette Greg Gilma Gil
Hernan Hilda Howard Hilary Hector Henriette
Iselle Ignacio Isis Irwin Ileana Ivo
Julio Jimena Javier Jova John Juliette
Karina Kevin Kay Kenneth Kristy Kiko
Lowell Linda Lester Lidia Lane Lorena
Marie Marty Madeline Max Miriam Manuel
Norbert Nora Newton Norma Norman Narda
Odile Olaf Orlene Otis Olivia Octave
Polo Patricia Paine Pilar Paul Priscilla
Rachel Rick Roslyn Ramon Rosa Raymond
Simon Sandra Seymour Selma Sergio Sonia
Trudy Terry Tina Todd Tara Tico
Vance Vivian Virgil Veronica Vicente Velma
Winnie Waldo Winifred Wiley Willa Wallis
Xavier Xina Xavier Xina Xavier Xina
Yolanda York Yolanda York Yolanda York
Zeke Zelda Zeke Zelda Zeke Zelda

These lists are recycled every six years (the 2008 list will be used again in 2014).

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Hurricane Center (NHC)