Every year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and related agencies assign names to tropical storms and hurricanes. These names come from predetermined alphabetical lists to make storms easier to identify, track, and communicate about. But if one looks closely at these names, they will notice something striking — many sound soft, gentle, and conventionally feminine. Names like Melissa, Katrina, Gemma, Isabel, and Maria are pretty and familiar, yet they often mark some of the most destructive natural disasters. Why is that?The history of naming storms helps explain this unusual pairing of beauty and danger. In 1953, the US National Weather Service began officially using only female names for hurricanes. The practice had roots in naval traditions: meteorologists would sometimes name storms after their wives, daughters, or girlfriends, according to the US National Hurricane Center. This personification of storms made them easier to remember and track, but it also meant that for decades, hurricanes had exclusively “pretty” female names. From 1953 to 1978, every hurricane carried a woman’s name. By 1979, male names were introduced, and lists began alternating between male and female names, as is done today.
Let’s take a closer look at hurricane names :
Melissa – As of October 26, 2025, Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Located approximately 280 miles from Guantanamo, Cuba, the storm is expected to make landfall in Jamaica by Monday night or Tuesday morning, bringing catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and life-threatening storm surge.Katrina – Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005, remains one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in US history. Katrina unleashed a catastrophic storm surge that overwhelmed the levees of New Orleans, flooding roughly 80% of the city. The storm caused over 1,800 deaths and billions in property damage. Emily– Hurricane Emily was a formidable Category 5 storm. It formed on July 11, 2005, and reached peak winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). Emily caused significant damage across the Caribbean, including the Yucatán Peninsula and northeastern Mexico, with estimated damages exceeding $372 million.Isabel – Hurricane Isabel was a powerful Category 5 storm that struck the East Coast of the United States in September 2003. It caused widespread damage, with estimated losses around $3.6 billion. The storm’s impact was felt from the Lesser Antilles to Ontario, Canada. Ophelia – Hurricane Ophelia was a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane that formed in October 2017. It became the farthest east major hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean before impacting Ireland as a very strong post-tropical system. Florence – Hurricane Florence was a powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone that caused catastrophic damage in the Carolinas in September 2018, primarily as a result of freshwater flooding due to torrential rain. The storm caused 54 deaths and approximately $24.2 billion in damages. Maria – Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and catastrophic Category 5 storm that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017. It caused over 3,000 deaths and approximately $91.6 billion in damages, making it the fourth-costliest tropical cyclone on record.Rita – Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. In September 2005, it made landfall in southwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas, causing extensive damage due to high winds and flooding. The storm led to 120 fatalities and approximately $18.5 billion in damages.Sandy – Hurricane Sandy, often referred to as “Superstorm Sandy,” was a post-tropical cyclone that affected the Caribbean and the eastern United States in late October 2012. It caused widespread flooding, power outages, and significant property damage, particularly in New Jersey and New York. The storm resulted in at least 233 deaths and an estimated $70 billion in damages. Camille– Hurricane Camille was a powerful Category 5 storm that struck the Gulf Coast in August 1969. It caused widespread devastation, particularly in Mississippi and Louisiana, with storm surges reaching up to 24 feet (7.3 meters). The hurricane resulted in 256 deaths and approximately $1.42 billion in damages (equivalent to over $10 billion today). Interestingly, studies show that hurricanes with feminine-sounding names are often perceived as less dangerous than those with masculine names. Research by the University of Illinois (Jung et al., 2014) found that people were less likely to take precautions when facing a storm with a female name. This perception did not make the storms themselves stronger, but it contributed to higher death rates, showcasing clearly how the “prettiness” of a hurricane’s name can influence human behaviour and safety outcomes.
