Hurricane Names 2026-2030: Atlantic Lists and Retired Names
Learn how hurricanes are named, and see the names for this season and next. Did yours make the list?
Quick Reference
- 2026 Atlantic list (current season): Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Leah, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred.
- Most recent retirement: Melissa, retired by the WMO in March 2026 after the Category 5 hurricane killed more than 90 people in Jamaica and Haiti in October 2025. Replacement on the 2031 list: Molly.
- How the lists work: the World Meteorological Organization rotates six lists of 21 alphabetical names. The 2026 list returns in 2032, the 2027 list returns in 2033, and so on, with retirements substituted in.
- Atlantic hurricane season: June 1 to November 30. Peak activity: mid-August to late October.
- Naming threshold: a tropical storm gets its name when sustained winds reach 39 mph. The name follows the storm if it later becomes a hurricane (sustained winds 74 mph) or major hurricane (Category 3+, sustained winds 111 mph).
Every spring, the World Meteorological Organization Hurricane Committee meets to update the Atlantic basin’s tropical-cyclone naming lists ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season. The 2026 meeting in March produced one major change to the rotation: Melissa, devastating the Caribbean as a Category 5 in October 2025, was retired and replaced by Molly. Below are the full 2026 names list, the lists for the next several years, the complete record of retired Atlantic hurricane names from the past two decades, and the answers to the questions readers ask most often about why a name does or does not appear on the lists. For more on the history of the naming system, see our why hurricanes are named piece.
2026 Atlantic Hurricane Names
The 2026 list is the same one used in 2020 (the most active Atlantic season on record at 30 named storms), with the names that have since been retired replaced. The 2020 retirees still missing from the list: Laura (replaced by Leah), and the Greek-letter names that were retired alongside the discontinuation of the Greek alphabet system in 2021 (Eta, Iota). The 2026 list returns to active rotation in 2032.
- Arthur
- Bertha
- Cristobal
- Dolly
- Edouard
- Fay
- Gonzalo
- Hanna
- Isaias
- Josephine
- Kyle
- Leah
- Marco
- Nana
- Omar
- Paulette
- Rene
- Sally
- Teddy
- Vicky
- Wilfred
If the 2026 season runs past 21 names (the way 2020 did), the WMO turns to its supplementary 21-name list of regular human names that replaced the Greek alphabet in 2021. The supplementary list begins with Adria, Braylen, Caridad, and Deshawn.
2027 Atlantic Hurricane Names
- Ana
- Bill
- Claudette
- Danny
- Elsa
- Farrah
- Grace
- Henri
- Imani
- Julian
- Kate
- Larry
- Mindy
- Nicholas
- Odette
- Peter
- Rose
- Sam
- Teresa
- Victor
- Wanda
Notable 2021 retirees from this list (the names that have been replaced): Ida (replaced by Imani). Ida was retired after the Category 4 hurricane caused over $75 billion in damage and killed 96 people across Louisiana and the Northeast in late August and early September 2021.
2028 Atlantic Hurricane Names
- Alex
- Bonnie
- Colin
- Danielle
- Earl
- Farrah
- Gaston
- Hermine
- Idris
- Julia
- Karl
- Lisa
- Martin
- Nicole
- Owen
- Paula
- Richard
- Shary
- Tobias
- Virginie
- Walter
Notable 2022 retirees from this list (the names that have been replaced): Fiona (replaced by Farrah) and Ian (replaced by Idris). Both were Category 4 hurricanes that caused over $100 billion combined in damage in 2022, with Fiona devastating Puerto Rico and Atlantic Canada and Ian striking southwest Florida as one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. mainland.
2029 Atlantic Hurricane Names
- Arlene
- Bret
- Cindy
- Don
- Emily
- Franklin
- Gert
- Harold
- Idalia
- Jose
- Katia
- Lee
- Margot
- Nigel
- Ophelia
- Philippe
- Rina
- Sean
- Tammy
- Vince
- Whitney
The 2023 hurricane season produced no name retirements. The 2029 list is otherwise identical to the 2023 list.
2030 Atlantic Hurricane Names
- Alberto
- Beryl
- Chris
- Debby
- Ernesto
- Francine
- Gordon
- Helene
- Isaac
- Joyce
- Kirk
- Leslie
- Milton
- Nadine
- Oscar
- Patty
- Rafael
- Sara
- Tony
- Valerie
- William
The 2024 hurricane season produced no formal name retirements at the WMO’s spring 2025 meeting, despite Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on western North Carolina and Hurricane Milton’s strike on Florida. Both names remain on the active rotation. The 2030 list is otherwise identical to the 2024 list.
2025 Atlantic Hurricane Names (Reference)
The 2025 list, used last season:
- Andrea
- Barry
- Chantal
- Dexter
- Erin
- Fernand
- Gabrielle
- Humberto
- Imelda
- Jerry
- Karen
- Lorenzo
- Melissa (RETIRED, replaced by Molly on the 2031 list)
- Nestor
- Olga
- Pablo
- Rebekah
- Sebastien
- Tanya
- Van
- Wendy
Hurricane Melissa, the only retirement from this list, formed in the central Caribbean in late October 2025 and intensified into a Category 5 with sustained winds near 190 mph. The storm became the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica and was responsible for over 90 deaths across Jamaica, Haiti, and other Caribbean island nations. The WMO Hurricane Committee retired the name at its March 2026 meeting and selected Molly as the replacement.
Recently Retired Atlantic Hurricane Names
Atlantic hurricane names retired in the past two decades, in the year of the storm:
- 2025: Melissa.
- 2024: none.
- 2023: none.
- 2022: Fiona, Ian.
- 2021: Ida.
- 2020: Laura, Eta, Iota (the last two were Greek-letter names retired alongside the discontinuation of the Greek alphabet system itself in 2021).
- 2019: Dorian.
- 2018: Florence, Michael.
- 2017: Harvey, Irma, Maria, Nate.
- 2016: Matthew, Otto.
- 2015: Erika, Joaquin.
- 2014: none.
- 2013: Ingrid.
- 2012: Sandy.
- 2011: Irene.
- 2010: Igor, Thomas.
The most-retired letter is I, with Ian, Ida, Irma, Igor, Irene, Ike, Ivan, Isabel, and several earlier I-named storms all having been retired since 2000. The pattern reflects the timing of major Atlantic storms; the I name is typically used in early-to-mid September, the peak of hurricane season. Names beginning with letters past the middle of the alphabet are retired far less often because fewer seasons reach that far.
How a Hurricane Name Gets Retired
The retirement decision rests with the WMO Hurricane Committee, an international body of meteorologists representing the nations affected by Atlantic and Caribbean hurricanes. The committee meets every spring, typically in March or April, and reviews submissions from member nations regarding the previous season’s storms. A name comes off the list when:
- The storm caused significant deaths or damage in one or more affected countries.
- Reusing the name would be insensitive to the affected communities (the committee’s actual language is “would be unsuitable”).
- An affected member nation requests retirement.
The committee has discretion. Some destructive storms have not been retired (Hurricane Helene in 2024 caused widespread devastation in western North Carolina but was not retired at the spring 2025 meeting). Some less-destructive storms have been retired because the affected nation requested it (Hurricane Erika in 2015 had a relatively modest U.S. impact but was retired due to Caribbean impact). The decision is contextual.
The replacement name is chosen at the same meeting. The committee picks a name beginning with the same letter, of similar tone and origin to the rest of the list, alternating gender as appropriate. The new name slots into the position the retired name occupied and is first used six years later when that list returns to active rotation. Molly, replacing Melissa, will first be used in the 2031 season.
When and How Storms Get Their Names
The naming threshold is sustained wind speed: 39 mph. When the National Hurricane Center in Miami determines that a tropical depression has developed sustained winds at or above 39 mph (cyclonic, organized circulation, warm core), the system is upgraded to a tropical storm and given the next name on that year’s list. The name follows the storm if it later becomes a hurricane (74 mph) or a major hurricane (Category 3+ at 111 mph and above).
The Atlantic season runs June 1 through November 30. The first storm of any season takes the A name, regardless of when in June, July, or August it forms. If no storm forms in June, the A name simply waits. Most years, the A name is used in June or July, the B and C names in late July or August, and so on through the alphabet. The peak of the season is the second week of September, on average, with the highest density of named storms occurring in late August through mid-October.
What to Expect from the 2026 Atlantic Season
The 2026 season’s activity will depend significantly on the developing ENSO state. As of April 2026, the equatorial Pacific is in ENSO-neutral conditions, transitioning toward El Nino. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center gives a 61% chance of El Nino emerging in May-July 2026, which would suppress Atlantic hurricane activity through wind-shear effects on the tropical Atlantic.
For comparison, La Nina seasons consistently run more active. The 2020 La Nina-influenced season produced a record 30 named storms (using the entire 21-name list plus 9 Greek-letter names). El Nino seasons run quieter; the 2015-2016 strong El Nino year produced only 11 named storms. The 2026 season is currently expected to fall somewhere in between (12 to 17 named storms, 5 to 8 hurricanes, 2 to 3 major hurricanes), depending on how quickly El Nino develops. For the long-range outlook on the 2026 hurricane season, see the Farmers’ Almanac long-range forecast. For the contrasting La Nina effect on hurricane seasons, see our what is La Nina piece.
Hurricane Preparedness Resources
If you live in the Atlantic basin (Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, Caribbean, or coastal Northeast), the hurricane name list is most useful as a tracking handle once a storm forms. The pre-season prep is the part that saves lives.
- Build or refresh a 72-hour emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlight, batteries, prescription medications, and important documents.
- Know your evacuation zone. Coastal counties publish evacuation zone maps on their emergency-management websites. Know your zone, your route, and your destination.
- Review your insurance. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Federal Flood Insurance through NFIP requires a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect, so the time to buy is well before any storm forms.
- Document your property. Photograph every room, every major appliance, and every valuable item before hurricane season starts. The photos make insurance claims much easier if a storm causes damage.
- Sign up for local alerts. Most coastal counties offer emergency notification systems via text, email, or phone call. Hurricane warnings come through these systems faster than commercial weather apps.
For our complete pre-season prep guide, see our hurricane safety tips piece. For the official NHC tropical-cyclone naming reference and live storm tracking during active season, see the National Hurricane Center’s tropical-cyclone names page.
The names are useful only as labels. The forecast, the prep, and the response are what determine how a hurricane season ends. Know your zone, build your kit, and watch the forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first hurricane name for 2026?
Arthur. The 2026 list begins Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, and continues alphabetically through Wilfred. The same list was used in 2020 and will return to rotation again in 2032.
When does the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season start?
June 1, 2026. The season runs through November 30, 2026. Peak activity is mid-August to late October, with the climatological peak in the second week of September.
What was the most recent hurricane name retired?
Melissa, retired by the WMO Hurricane Committee in March 2026. Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 storm that caused more than 90 deaths in Jamaica and Haiti in October 2025. The replacement on the 2031 list is Molly.
Why are no Q, U, X, Y, or Z names used?
Too few common names start with those letters in the languages used across the Atlantic basin (English, Spanish, French). The WMO uses 21 letters (A through W, minus Q and U) as a practical compromise.
What happens if a hurricane season has more than 21 named storms?
The WMO turns to a supplementary list of 21 additional names that replaced the Greek alphabet in 2021. The supplementary list begins Adria, Braylen, Caridad, Deshawn, and continues with regular human names. The Greek alphabet was discontinued because of translation and pronunciation problems during the 2020 season.
When is a tropical storm officially named?
When sustained winds reach 39 mph and the system has organized cyclonic circulation. The name follows the storm through any later upgrade to hurricane strength (74 mph) or major hurricane status (Category 3+, 111 mph and above).
Is my name on the hurricane list?
Check the lists above. The Atlantic rotation cycles through six 21-name lists, so any given name appears on the active rotation roughly every six years. If your name is on a list, you can expect a storm with your name in the matching year of the cycle. If not, you may find your name on the supplementary list or one of the older lists with retirements.
Will the 2026 hurricane season be active?
Probably moderate. NOAA gives a 61% chance of El Nino emerging in May-July 2026, which would suppress Atlantic activity. Most current outlooks call for 12 to 17 named storms, 5 to 8 hurricanes, and 2 to 3 major hurricanes. Final pre-season outlooks from NOAA, CSU, and the Farmers’ Almanac will be published in late May.
Caleb Weatherbee
Caleb Weatherbee is the official forecaster for the Farmers' Almanac. His name is actually a pseudonym that has been passed down through generations of Almanac prognosticators and has been used to conceal the true identity of the men and women behind our predictions.
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My name did not make the list and I really would like to be named after a hurricane.
Hurricane Isonna
My Name never comes up. I must not be as nasty and dirty what other names show up
Will Sybil ever be on the list as a hurricane?
why has there never been a hurricane named Steve There has been a hurricane Dave and one named Bob but never Steve.
We wish they asked for input! We know a few names we’d like to see added!
FINALLY…… Both my name and my husband’s name is in June ! I always wondered about how names were for hurricanes. Now I know. Great article… Thank you.
Where is Darlene. My name never appears.
Names mine never comes up!?
When I was in the Navy I went through Hurricane Hugo. It was really something. We got underway from Charleston, SC the day before Hugo made landfall. The one thing I’ll never forget is going through the eye. It was awesome but also very eerie. I have to admit that the rocking and rolling of the ship I was on was very relaxing. It was the best sleep I’ve ever had!!
Has there ever been a Hurricane Kelsey?
Well, I didn’t make the list for 2023, but both my brother and I are on the 2024 list. That should be a stellar year!