Every hurricane season raises questions about the origin of the names given to these phenomena. Many wonder who decides what they are called and what criteria are used to select them. The current custom not only serves an identification function, but also helps keep the population informed and facilitates communication between authorities during emergencies.
The system naming hurricanes It is regulated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)For decades, this organization, supported by national meteorological agencies, has prepared lists of names years in advance, tailored to the planet's various ocean basins. The goal is to improve the clarity and efficiency of the notices, especially when there are several cyclones active at the same time.
How are hurricane name lists created and managed?
The lists of names are drawn up before each season. and, in the case of the Atlantic and the Northeast Pacific, names in Spanish, English and French are used, depending on the region. Male and female names alternate following the alphabetical order, while certain letters such as Q, U, X, Y and Z are usually left out due to the scarcity of common names that begin with them.
The repetition of names This is an important aspect. The lists are cyclical and are reused every six years. For example, names assigned to a storm in 2025 will reappear in 2031, except in the case of particularly destructive phenomena.
If a hurricane is particularly devastating, his name is permanently retired from the list. This avoids causing inconvenience or confusion when recalling it in the future. When this occurs, the affected country can request its removal from the WMO regional committee, and a new name beginning with the same letter is subsequently chosen. Examples of hurricanes removed in recent history have been Gilbert, Pauline, Patricia, Otis, Beryl, Helene and Milton, among others.
A cyclone system receives official name when it reaches tropical storm status, that is, when you register sustained winds exceeding 63 km/h.
Official lists for the 2025 hurricane season
The dates have already been confirmed lists of names to be used in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basinsIf the planned options are exhausted (which occurs when the number of named storms exceeds 21), an additional list, prepared in advance by the WMO, is available.
List of Atlantic tropical cyclones for 2025:
- Andrea
- Barry
- Chantal
- Dexter
- Erin
- Fernand
- Gabrielle
- Humberto
- Imelda
- Jerry
- Karen
- Lorenzo
- Melissa
- Nestor
- Olga
- Pablo
- Rebekah
- Sebastien
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- Wendy
In the eastern Pacific, some examples of names slated for 2025 include:
- Alvin
- Barbara
- Cosme
- Delilah
- Erick
- Flossy
- Gil
- Henriette
- Ivo
- Juliette
- Kiko
- Lorena
- Mario
- Narda
- Eighth
- Priscilla
- Raymond
- Sonia
- Tico
- Velma
- Wallis
- China
- Y
- Zelda
The names are kept on these lists and they alternate, unless, as sometimes happens, one is removed for the reasons mentioned above. This mechanism ensures efficient management of meteorological information and improves public awareness.
Curiosities and evolution of the naming system
The use of names was not always as we know it today. Before international regulation existed, names were used in the Caribbean and other regions. names of saints of the calendar or important dates, such as the Santa Ana hurricane in 1825 or the San Felipe hurricanes in 1928 and 1976.
At the end of the 19th century, the meteorologist Clement Wragge He was one of the pioneers in using proper names, initially those of mythological figures and later only female names. In 1953, the phonetic alphabet was discontinued in the United States and this formula was adopted. Later, for reasons of equality, male names began to be included as well, starting in 1978, a practice that continues today.
Nowadays, the system is much more comprehensive and multilingual, adapted to the predominant languages in each region and focused on reducing errors and confusion in the issuance of warnings, especially when there are several simultaneous storms or reports in different languages.
The use of proper names facilitates the rapid identification and monitoring of phenomena, helping the work of civil protection, authorities and mediaThis saves time on bulletins, reports, and official notices, and prevents errors from occurring when multiple systems are active at the same time.
When a tropical storm or hurricane causes serious damage, it is the affected country that can request the withdrawal of the name before the WMO Regional Committee, a routine process following significant events. Removed names are replaced as required by the following season.
This system, although simple in appearance, has proven to be very effective in emergency prevention and management, and continues to evolve to adapt to new needs and climate realities. The official list of hurricane names It is not just a curiosity, but a fundamental tool for international safety and communication in meteorological matters.
