Why Name Storms?

With the U.S. hurricane season underway, you might wonder why storms need names. Humans have named the world around them for ages. Naming storms formally is a recent development. Names of hurricanes, military operations, and diseases serve purposes beyond mere differentiation. They convey stories.

“If it’s got a name, it has meaning in some way,” says Shannon Murphy, CEO of Nameistry.

The World Meteorological Organization manages tropical storm names globally. Assigning names helps communicate warnings swiftly and limit confusion during multiple storms. Names also aid in research and record-keeping.

Naming Practices

Tropical storms are named using pre-decided alphabetical lists. These lists are periodic or new each year. The Atlantic region skips names beginning with Q, U, X, Y, and Z due to rarity.

Until 1979, U.S. hurricanes had only female names. Now, naming alternates between genders. For example, Amanda precedes Boris in the Eastern North Pacific.

Evolution of Military Operation Names

Military operations, initially named for secrecy, gained meaning during WWII under Churchill’s influence. Names like Overlord highlighted the importance of nomenclature. Churchill stressed operation names shouldn’t boast or offend.

Churchill argued in 1943 that operation names should avoid frivolous sentiments.

Later conflicts saw naming changes. British military codes became automated. The U.S. prefers evocative names, evident in “Operation Desert Storm” and “Operation Granby.”

Recent Trends

More bombastic names have emerged, such as “Operation Epic Fury” during the U.S.-Iran war. Names should convey purpose, legitimacy, and cultural safety.

Operation names like “Infinite Justice” were changed to “Enduring Freedom” due to cultural sensitivities.

Stewart emphasizes that names matter for public perception and morale.

Changing Storm Naming Practices

Storm naming has evolved. The Atlantic region occasionally exhausts names and resorts to the Greek alphabet, with supplementary lists now prepared.

Names of severe storms may be retired from future use due to impact, like Sandy and Katrina.

Robbie Berg, meteorologist, says hard-to-pronounce names are avoided.

Beyond Weather

Naming practices are evolving across different fields. Diseases were previously named after identifiers, but WHO now suggests avoiding this. Andrew Charlton-Perez calls for more research on naming impacts amidst more extreme weather.

Crowdsourcing names offers an alternative. In Britain and Ireland, the public can suggest storm names.