Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico

2006 - 2011

2006 Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William

2007 Andrea Barry Chantal Dean Erin Felix Gabrielle Humberto Ingrid Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Noel Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy

2008 Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Ike Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred

2009 Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred Grace Henri Ida Joaquin Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda

2010 Alex Bonnie Colin Danielle Earl Fiona Gaston Hermine Igor Julia Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter

2011 Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katia Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney

Should there ever be a chance of running out of storm names, new ones for that year will continue by using the Greek Alphabet.

Alpha

Beta

Gamma

Delta

Epsilon

Zêta

Êta

Thêta

Iota

Kappa

Lamda

Mu

Nu

Xi

Omikron

Pi

Rho

Sigma

Tau

Upsilon

Phi

Chi

Psi

Omega

For more information about the Greek Alphabet, click here.

Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods.  These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea.

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, when men's and women's names were alternated.  Six lists are used in rotation.  Thus, the 2006 list will be used again in 2012.

The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity.  If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it.

Several names have been changed since the lists were last used.  Four names from the 1995 list have been retired.  On the 2001 list, Lorenzo has replaced Luis, Michelle has replaced Marilyn, Olga has replaced Opal, and Rebekah has replaced Roxanne.  Three names from the 1996 list have been retired.  On the 2002 list, Cristobal has replaced Cesar, Fay has replaced Fran, and Hanna has replaced Hortense.  Two names from the 1998 list have been retired.  On the 2004 list, Gaston has replaced Georges and Matthew has replaced Mitch.  On the 2006 list, Kirk has replaced Keith.  On the 2010 list, Colin has replaced Charley, Fiona has replaced Frances, Igor has replaced Ivan, and Julia has replaced Jeanne.  On the 2011 list, Don has replaced Dennis, Katia has replaced Katrina, Rina has replaced Rita, Sean has replaced Stan, and Whitney has replaced Wilma.

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Eastern Pacific

2006 - 2011

2006 Aletta Bud Carlotta Daniel Emilia Fabio Gilma Hector Ileana John Kristy Lane Miriam Norman Olivia Paul Rosa Sergio Tara Vicente Willa Xavier Yolanda Zeke

2007 Alvin Barbara Cosme Dalila Erick Flossie Gil Henriette Ivo Juliette Kiko Lorena Manuel Narda Octave Priscilla Raymond Sonia Tico Velma Wallis Xina York Zelda

2008 Alma Boris Cristina Douglas Elida Fausto Genevieve Hernan Iselle Julio Karina Lowell Marie Norbert Odile Polo Rachel Simon Trudy Vance Winnie Xavier Yolanda Zeke

2009 Andres Blanca Carlos Dolores Enrique Felicia Guillermo Hilda Ignacio Jimena Kevin Linda Marty Nora Olaf Patricia Rick Sandra Terry Vivian Waldo Xina York Zelda

2010 Agatha Blas Celia Darby Estelle Frank Georgette Howard Isis Javier Kay Lester Madeline Newton Orlene Paine Roslyn Seymour Tina Virgil Winifred Xavier Yolanda Zeke

2011 Adrian Beatriz Calvin Dora Eugene Fernanda Greg Hilary Irwin Jova Kenneth Lidia Max Norma Otis Pilar Ramon Selma Todd Veronica Wiley Xina York Zelda

These lists are also re-cycled every six years (the 2006 list will be used again in 2012).

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Central North Pacific

List 1 Akoni Ema Hana Io Keli Lala Moke Nele Oka Peke Uleki Wila

List 2 Aka Ekeka Hali Iolana Keoni Li Mele Nona Oliwa Paka Upana Wene

List 3 Alika Ele Huko Ioke Kika Lana Maka Neki Oleka Peni Ulia Wali

List 4 Ana Ela Halola Iune Kimo Loke Malia Niala Oko Pali Ulika Walaka

The names are used one after the other.  When the bottom of one list is reached, the next name is the top of the next list.