2021 Hurricane Names For The Season
Have you ever wondered why tropical storms and hurricanes are given names? It’s not to make these disastrous storms seem friendlier, that’s for sure. Storms are given names to make them easier to remember. But who picks the names? Read on to find out!
List of 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Names:
- Ana
- Bill
- Claudette
- Danny
- Elsa
- Fred
- Grace
- Henri
- Ida
- Julian
- Kate
- Larry
- Mindy
- Nicholas
- Odette
- Peter
- Rose
- Sam
- Teresa
- Victor
- Wanda
How Are Storms Named?
Prior to the 1950s, meteorologists kept track of hurricanes and tropical storms by the year and the storms’ order for that year. So, for instance, the fifth tropical storm of 1938 was referred to as just that — the “fifth tropical storm of 1938” or “Storm 5.”
Tropical storms and hurricanes that did a lot of damage received unofficial names—like the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane, which did so much damage that the Miami government implemented the first known building code in the United States.
During the 1950s, meteorologists realized that it was difficult to keep track of unnamed storms—particularly if there was more than one storm happening at any given time. By 1953, meteorologists around the United States were using names for tropical storms and cyclones.
In those days, the storm names were all female. Both male and female names were used for Northern Pacific storms in 1978, and by 1979, male and female names were being used for Atlantic storms, too.
The World Meteorological Organization is responsible for developing the names for both Northern Pacific and Atlantic storms. They use six lists of names for Atlantic Ocean and Eastern North Pacific storms. These lists rotate, one each year.
That means every six years, the names cycle back around and get reused (which happened in 2019). If a hurricane does tremendous damage, such as Katrina, Sandy, or Harvey, the name is retired and replaced by a different name beginning with the same letter.
The names alternate between male and female names, listed alphabetically and in chronological order starting with A and omitting Q and U, X, Y, and Z. If more than 21 names are required during a season, the Greek alphabet is used.
2020 was one of the most active years for hurricanes. (It was so active that we had to dip into the Greek alphabet for names.) There were 30 named storms (beating the record of 28 in 2005). Eight names may be worth of retirement from 2020 including Iota, Eta, Zeta, Delta, Sally, Laura, and Isaias, however, there is currently no official rule for retiring names from the Greek alphabet.
Which Hurricane Names Have Been Retired?
Here is a list of retired hurricane names in the past 10 years:
2010: Igor, Thomas
2011: Irene
2012: Sandy
2013: Ingrid
2014: N/A
2015: Erika, Joaquin
2016: Matthew, Otto
2017: Harvey, Irma, Maria, Nate
2018: Florence, Michael
The list of retired hurricane names from 2019 and 2020 won’t be made until spring 2021 due to COVID-19.
Tropical Storms vs. Hurricanes
The National Hurricane Center explains that names are only given to tropical storms that have sustained wind speeds higher than 39 mph. These names will stay with the storm as it reaches hurricane strength (maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher). This means Tropical Storm Debby, for example, will become Hurricane Debby if it reaches maturity.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1st, peaks September 10th, and ends November 30th, although hurricanes can form at any time.
List of 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Names:
- Arthur
- Bertha
- Cristobal
- Dolly
- Edouard
- Fay
- Gonzalo
- Hanna
- Isaias
- Josephine
- Kyle
- Laura
- Marco
- Nana
- Omar
- Paulette
- Rene
- Sally
- Teddy
- Vicky
- Wilfred
Note: The 2020 Hurricane Season was so busy, they had to move onto the Greek alphabet for names:
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
- Delta
- Epsilon
- Zeta
- Eta
- Theta
- Iota
- Kapp
- Lambda
- Mu
- Nu
- Xi
- Omicron
- Pi
- Rho
- Sigma
- Tau
- Upsilon
- Phi
- Chi
- Psi
- Omega
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.
Hurricane Myrtle, would be awesome…
How about hurricane Ava?
There’s a hurricane Karen we are or we were doomed. Lol
2021 should bring us a Designer series of Hurricanes…
Hurricane Coco Chanel
Hurricane Giorgio Armani
Hurricane Calvin Klein
Hurricane Ralph Lauren
Hurricane Gianni Versace
Hurricane Louis Vuitton
Zaikai
they should name a hurricane kendall
What if you have 1 level home during a hurricane ? No basement
brennan is a good namr
yes it is
your name is common
Is there a Grayson hurricane?
How come their isn’t a hurricaneEmery it would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never heard my name why not hurricane Brenda or beranda
crazy how many hurricanes are coming.
I have always though that they should used different names that would evoke a fear reaction. I have for some reason never been afraid of a storm named Hurricane Chantal. On the other hand, Hurricane Doris – that is one scary storm!
My name is Sonia, I haven’t heard about the storm that happened in 1989 that was named Sonia
My name made the list! What even crazier is that Hurricane Laura actually hit my city, Cameron LA! The winds were howling the whole night. If someone says evacuate,then leave.
We are glad you’re safe, Laura!
Why not use names that are summited. Like odd or different names..my name is unusual Nyethia.
Consider the names Karé (ka-RAY) or Corey
Or Kahelen (the h is silent) pronounced Kay-Len, Kay-Lin, Kay-Lyn- Kay-Lynn a very unique name for any future storm.
Rafiki would be a good name for any retired r name. I mean other than the Disney reference it’s so powerful and would be a really cool name for a storm
Hurricane Karen!!
My names in this year!
So is mine!
And so is mine
That is my name Laura
Do you ever look at the list and try to figure out which one is going to be the problem child of the season? Who would have ever of thought Sandy would have been the Northeast’s worst nightmare?
Has Austin ever made it?
Yes
What about Deejaegh Ceejay or Eljaegh for hurricane names
They use real names.., not stupid made up shit.
What about La – Ha
Pronouced “LaDasha”..
The Dash don’t be silent.
Danny someone named their child this! It was horrible as this name was in a suit
Isaias begs to difer
I didn’t like that name – difficult to remember how to pronounce & spell. Just too weird.
Your stupid made up shit, bitch.
They are real names, just spelled differently. So don’t be a bitch.
I like those names and Courtney
I meant Corona. Stupid spellcheck.
This year’s “c” name should have been Corina.
I THINK HURRICANE BLAKE SAM ADRIAN PLEASE. PLEASE RESPOND WHEN CONFIRMED. BLESS.
No guys lets all just calm down! We need a better name, how about Sharkeisha! You know it’s a storm, water, ocean, and shark!
I don’t think this name is appropriate for TV.
LOL
You have a point with the SHARK connected to your name. ❤️
You should use one of my names, Socorro. Thank you
One of? How many do you have?
With ALL the names out there, why in the world would they be recycled? How about Pamela, Suzanne, Valerie or Elizabeth?
How about some unique, but easy to say; names?
Perhaps some of those names are in the reserves for when a current name is retired, right?
My name made it on there but there’s no h at the end
Here are some names to use if you need to retire any storms.:Jessica, Shaylynne, EJ, Tyler, Dean
JOSH would be a great one. Joshua if moms mad
Spartacus
Akuma or Kemono would be really cool!!!
Please add Autymn to your list of names.
You know that they’re not in charge of putting names on the list, right? That’s the national hurricane center’s job.
Why don’t you use the name Jannelle?
I’ve never seen ROSIE make the list. Would be interesting.
I LOVE ❤️ ROSIE!
It was my MALTESE’S nickname (Rosebud: may she rest in peace ) Rosie is awesome!
I always look to see if my name made it , Angie, but never did I far as I can see
Has it?
Angie, and keep in mind they recycle the names every 6 years so you’ll see some again and again if you’ve been following them for a while.
You should add Hurricane Kamora
Angie’s list
LOL
Please add a Bear or Dov named Hurricane. Same name!
Please ad a Bear or Dov named Hurricane! Same name!
How about Mildred
Please add a Hurricane or Tropical storm Skye!!!
2 names that I would love to see make it in the list for future names either in the Pacific or Atlantic waters would be: Alia & Hera.
How can I get my name on the Hurricane List?
Hi Dwala, you probably can’t, as they recycle names every 6 years, so they’re set.
What about: Renée?
THIS year they have the MALE version of the spelling of it (2020 – Rene).
Do you think they can do the FEMALE spelling with the proper: ACUTE ACCENT ( ´ ) – WHICH is the FRENCH way, my parents named me? It is spelled that way on my birth certificate. ❤️ .
I just hope the MALE version of my name isn’t set in stone. Renée – RENÉE – Renée
Yes, that is true, but when a name has been retired, a new name is chosen for that letter to replace it. Everyone can dream about their name eventually making the list. We know it can take a really long time. Quit making people feel like they can’t have ideas or thoughts that aren’t as educated as you believe yours are.
no Jicama is a good name
okay I guess that would be a good one but what if we change it to, Rompope
I think that it should be changed some years to have all male names on one coast waters and the other coast female.
Admin Note: The following was a strange comment to post given the topic, but it’s still relevant to hurricanes and may be informative to those that are interested in learning how these hurricanes may form.
In 1933, Julius Bartels, a geophysicist, hypothesized that magnetic regions on the sun rotated with a high 27-day recurrence tendency. Today the magnetic regions are associated with Solar Coronal Holes and their associated solar wind, where the 27-day rotation noted by Bartels represents the period of rotation of the sun as viewed from Earth.
The material presented within my high school science fair titled, “The Effect of 27-Day Solar Rotation on Worldwide Accumulated Cyclone Energy,” which was submitted for the JSHS Southwest Regional Symposium in March of 2020, shows a sudden commencement of Accumulated Cyclone Energy immediately following the Bartels’ Rotation Dates for 2019. For 2020 these dates are: April 24, 2020; May 21, 2020; June 17, 2020; July 14, 2020; August 10, 2020; September 6, 2020; October 3, 2020; and November 26, 2020.
PDF Guide
Based on the results of my research, Bartels’ Rotation Dates can be used to forecast positive ramp increases in Accumulated Cyclone Energy during periods of little to no solar flaring (i.e. the Grand Solar Minimum).
The arrival of 2020’s first tropical depression, 1-E, on April 24th, 2020 is not a surprise! Please watch my 10 minute Youtube video and see for yourself. (note Figure 1. specifically).
Faris
Santa Fe, NM
What a smarty pants you are, my dear! Bravado. Your parents and teachers must be so proud. Thank you for sharing.
Hurricane Carter would be awesome considering it’s probably the best name in the world.
no jrniintr is the best in the world
WTH no lol
You should do Hurricane Zoe or Eliza or Makayla if you want to.
My name is Tais and it is Brazilian. Very tropical and very appropriate for a hurricane in my opinion.
You should name a hurricane , payge if you have any spots left !!