Weather

Hurricanes That Were So Powerful They Retired Their Names

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24/7 Wall St. Insights

  • There is a strict naming convention for hurricanes, including a list of name that repeats every 6 years
  • When a hurricane is too powerful its name is retired
  • Also see: 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever

After an early and devastating start to the hurricane season with Hurricane Beryl, the National Hurricane Center said it is tracking a new disturbance in the Atlantic that could gain strength. The “area of disturbed weather” near the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles could form into a tropical depression later this week, the NHC noted. And if this disturbance indeed were to strengthen into a tropical storm, it would be named Debby. How do we know?

Well, the NHC explains that it does not control the naming of tropical storms but rather the World Meteorological Organization has a strict procedure to determine a list of tropical cyclone names. The names are selected because they are short, easy to pronounce, unique to the region, and have appropriate significance.

Why do we even need names? Well, one of the reasons hurricanes are named is that distinctive names make communication quicker, easier, and less subject to error than more cumbersome identification methods such as latitude and longitude.

In previous centuries, hurricanes were usually named after the fact and often after saints. In the middle of the 20th century, they were named solely after women, a practice that changed after 1978. Today, for Atlantic hurricanes, there is a yearly list of names that is repeated every six years, which is how it is known what the next storm would be named. But there are exceptions.

One exception is when there are more than 21 storms in a year and the list of names is exhausted, which is what happened in 2005 and 2020, when names from the Greek Alphabet were used (this practice changed after 2020). Of the 30 named storms in the record-breaking hurricane season of 2020, nine were named using the Greek alphabet, including the devastating hurricanes Eta and Iota — names that were retired later. Which brings us to the next exception.

If a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate, then its name is retired. This is decided during an annual meeting.

For example, in 2005 – a record-breaking year at the time — had several devastating hurricanes including Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, that were all retired. In all, five names from that year were retired, the most of any year. In general, the aughts are the decade with the most retired hurricane names, at 24. The 2010s are next with 16 retired names. So far in the 2020s, not including 2023 and 2024, six names have been retired, including Eta and Iota.

Though Beryl made history in that it was an early Category 5 hurricane, it is too soon to tell whether its name would be retired.

Below is a list of retired names for the Atlantic hurricanes listed chronologically. 24/7 Wall St. used data on hurricane names from the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Data on maximum sustained wind speed is the NOAA’s historical hurricane tracks shapefile. Data on baby names used to calculate changes in name popularity following a major storm came from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Destructive storms prior to the establishment of the naming convention in 1950 are not included.

Why are we covering this

Buffalo Bayou Park Houston, flooded after Hurricane Beryl
Mathew Risley / Shutterstock.com
It’s been three weeks since Beryl, but that could change soon. The NHC is tracking one disturbance, and the dry weather from the Sahara is expected to dissipate soon — the dry conditions kept the season quiet so far. We still have to see what the hurricane season has in store but hopefully not too many names would have to be retired.

1. Hurricane Carol

Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 1954
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Carol, 1954-1959: -18.5%

2. Hurricane Edna

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1954
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Edna, 1954-1959: -29.8%

3. Hurricane Hazel

  • Name retired: 1954
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Hazel, 1954-1959: -43.0%

4. Hurricane Connie

north-carolina-state-archives / Flickr
  • Name retired: 1955
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Connie, 1955-1960: -11.2%

5. Hurricane Diane

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1955
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Diane, 1955-1960: -23.1%

6. Hurricane Ione

  • Name retired: 1955
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Ione, 1955-1960: -39.5%

7. Hurricane Janet

Photograph Curator / Public Domain / Flickr
  • Name retired: 1955
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Janet, 1955-1960: -20.5%

8. Hurricane Audrey

NOAA / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1957
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Audrey, 1957-1962: -23.2%

9. Hurricane Donna

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  • Name retired: 1960
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Donna, 1960-1965: -42.3%

10. Hurricane Carla

Hurricane Carla | File:Carlaportoconnor.jpg
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1961
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Carla, 1961-1966: -22.4%

11. Hurricane Hattie

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1961
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
  • Change in babies named Hattie, 1961-1966: -48.2%

12. Hurricane Flora

national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr
  • Name retired: 1963
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Flora, 1963-1968: -52.9%

13. Hurricane Cleo

Hurricane Juan 2003 | Hurricane on a Beach, Palm Tree Swaying in the Wind and Rain
B2M Productions / Photodisc via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 1964
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Cleo, 1964-1969: -42.9%

14. Hurricane Dora

  • Name retired: 1964
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Dora, 1964-1969: -40.6%

15. Hurricane Hilda

Hurricane Hilda 10E east of Hawaii. Hurricane Hilda 10E east of Hawaii. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
BEST-BACKGROUNDS / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1964
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Hilda, 1964-1969: -30.7%

16. Hurricane Betsy

Hulton Archive / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 1965
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Betsy, 1965-1970: -47.2%

17. Hurricane Inez

raindrops on the window during a strong hurricane with wind in nature
Alina Kolotsei / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1966
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Inez, 1966-1971: -18.3%

18. Hurricane Beulah

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1967
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Beulah, 1967-1972: -60.0%

19. Hurricane Camille

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  • Name retired: 1969
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Camille, 1969-1974: -41.2%

20. Hurricane Celia

  • Name retired: 1970
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Celia, 1970-1975: -42.3%

21. Hurricane Agnes

The Library of Virginia from USA / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1972
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Agnes, 1972-1977: -47.9%

22. Hurricane Carmen

Thunderstorm strong monsoon rain hurricane gloomy clouds in paradise in Playa del Carmen Mexico.
Arkadij Schell / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1974
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Carmen, 1974-1979: -8.3%

23. Hurricane Fifi

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  • Name retired: 1974
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 109.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Fifi, 1974-1979: N/A

24. Hurricane Eloise

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1975
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Eloise, 1975-1980: -23.7%

25. Hurricane Anita

The skies before hurricane Beryl
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  • Name retired: 1977
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Anita, 1977-1982: -33.3%

26. Hurricane Greta

Storm clouds over field, tornadic supercell, extreme weather, dangerous storm, climate change
MantasVD / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1978
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Greta, 1978-1983: -13.1%

27. Hurricane David

  • Name retired: 1979
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named David, 1979-1984: -8.6%

28. Hurricane Frederic

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1979
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Frederic, 1979-1984: -48.4%

29. Hurricane Allen

  • Name retired: 1980
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 189.9 mph
  • Change in babies named Allen, 1980-1985: -0.9%

30. Hurricane Alicia

Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1983
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Alicia, 1983-1988: -10.5%

31. Hurricane Elena

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1985
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Elena, 1985-1990: +4.4%

32. Hurricane Gloria

  • Name retired: 1985
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Gloria, 1985-1990: +18.4%

33. Hurricane Gilbert

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1988
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Gilbert, 1988-1993: -10.0%

34. Hurricane Joan

Joan 1988-10-18 1800Z by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), data superimposed by CooperScience / BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
  • Name retired: 1988
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Joan, 1988-1993: -17.7%

35. Hurricane Hugo

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  • Name retired: 1989
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Hugo, 1989-1994: +4.6%

36. Hurricane Diana

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1990
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 97.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Diana, 1990-1995: -10.9%

37. Hurricane Klaus

Dark sky with stormy clouds. Dramatic sky rain,Dark clouds before a thunder-storm.
Pinglabel / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1990
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Klaus, 1990-1995: -40.0%

38. Hurricane Bob

  • Name retired: 1991
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Bob, 1991-1996: -53.0%

39. Hurricane Andrew

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  • Name retired: 1992
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Andrew, 1992-1997: -17.6%

40. Hurricane Luis

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1995
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Luis, 1995-2000: +24.0%

41. Hurricane Marilyn

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1995
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Marilyn, 1995-2000: -9.8%

42. Hurricane Opal

Wayne Eastep / The Image Bank via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 1995
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Opal, 1995-2000: +60.0%

43. Hurricane Roxanne

Cloudy Sky With Dark Storm Clouds During Rain. Natural Background With Rainclouds. natural weather background dark blue backdrop thunderstorm stormy sky. abstract-background-design, abstract
George Trumpeter / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1995
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Roxanne, 1995-2000: -34.0%

44. Hurricane Cesar

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1996
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Cesar, 1996-2001: +19.5%

45. Hurricane Fran

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  • Name retired: 1996
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Fran, 1996-2001: N/A

46. Hurricane Hortense

Flooding across road during rain, blocked street drain. Plumbing problems in the city, clogged drain, water flooding. Large puddle due to clogged storm drain. Selective focus
Tricky_Shark / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 1996
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Hortense, 1996-2001: N/A

47. Hurricane Georges

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1998
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Georges, 1998-2003: N/A

48. Hurricane Mitch

Bernard Bisson / Sygma via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 1998
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Mitch, 1998-2003: -48.3%

49. Hurricane Floyd

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 1999
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Floyd, 1999-2004: -2.6%

50. Hurricane Lenny

Courtesy of NOAA / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 1999
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Lenny, 1999-2004: +89.6%

51. Hurricane Keith

  • Name retired: 2000
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Keith, 2000-2005: -24.1%

52. Hurricane Allison

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  • Name retired: 2001
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 57.5 mph
  • Change in babies named Allison, 2001-2006: -10.6%

53. Hurricane Iris

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 2001
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Iris, 2001-2006: +20.7%

54. Hurricane Michelle

Jorge Rey / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2001
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Michelle, 2001-2006: -18.8%

55. Hurricane Isidore

Susana Gonzalez / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2002
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Isidore, 2002-2007: -10.0%

56. Hurricane Lili

Hurricane Lili. . Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
BEST-BACKGROUNDS / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 2002
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Lili, 2002-2007: -22.3%

57. Hurricane Fabian

  • Name retired: 2003
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Fabian, 2003-2008: +2.8%

58. Hurricane Isabel

Alex Wong / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2003
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
  • Change in babies named Isabel, 2003-2008: -9.5%

59. Hurricane Juan

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  • Name retired: 2003
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Juan, 2003-2008: -10.2%

60. Hurricane Charley

Tim Boyles / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2004
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Charley, 2004-2009: +53.3%

61. Hurricane Frances

Chris Hondros / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2004
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Frances, 2004-2009: -18.6%

62. Hurricane Ivan

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  • Name retired: 2004
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
  • Change in babies named Ivan, 2004-2009: -13.8%

63. Hurricane Jeanne

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Name retired: 2004
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Jeanne, 2004-2009: -33.8%

64. Hurricane Dennis

  • Name retired: 2005
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Dennis, 2005-2010: -30.2%

65. Hurricane Katrina

Chris Graythen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2005
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Katrina, 2005-2010: -76.4%

66. Hurricane Rita

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  • Name retired: 2005
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Rita, 2005-2010: -19.6%

67. Hurricane Stan

During hurricane season in South Florida, strong winds and threatening clouds can conclude a beautiful day at the beach
PJ EscobART 77 / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 2005
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Stan, 2005-2010: +75.0%

68. Hurricane Wilma

  • Name retired: 2005
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Wilma, 2005-2010: +16.7%

69. Hurricane Dean

  • Name retired: 2007
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Dean, 2007-2012: +52.2%

70. Hurricane Felix

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Borden / U.S. Navy via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2007
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Felix, 2007-2012: +30.1%

71. Hurricane Noel

Tropical Storm Noel 16L over Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Tropical Storm Noel 16L over Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
BEST-BACKGROUNDS / Shutterstock.com
  • Name retired: 2007
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Noel, 2007-2012: -0.1%

72. Hurricane Gustav

Mario Tama / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2008
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Gustav, 2008-2013: -44.7%

73. Hurricane Ike

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  • Name retired: 2008
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Ike, 2008-2013: -21.9%

74. Hurricane Paloma

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  • Name retired: 2008
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Paloma, 2008-2013: -4.8%

75. Hurricane Igor

NOAA / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2010
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Igor, 2010-2015: -40.7%

76. Hurricane Tomas

marine_corps / Flickr
  • Name retired: 2010
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Tomas, 2010-2015: -10.9%

77. Hurricane Irene

  • Name retired: 2011
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Irene, 2011-2016: +9.4%

78. Hurricane Sandy

Michael Bocchieri / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2012
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Sandy, 2012-2017: -29.6%

79. Hurricane Ingrid

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  • Name retired: 2013
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Ingrid, 2013-2018: -7.0%

80. Hurricane Erika

Greg Truelove / iStock via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2015
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 51.8 mph
  • Change in babies named Erika, 2015-2020: -36.6%

81. Hurricane Joaquin

  • Name retired: 2015
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Joaquin, 2015-2020: -0.1%

82. Hurricane Matthew

Sean Rayford / Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2016
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
  • Change in babies named Matthew, 2016-2021: -41.0%

83. Hurricane Otto

Andi Edwards / iStock via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2016
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Otto, 2016-2021: +73.9%

84. Hurricane Harvey

Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2017
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
  • Change in babies named Harvey, 2017-2022: -7.2%

85. Hurricane Irma

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  • Name retired: 2017
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Irma, 2017-2022: -1.4%

86. Hurricane Maria

Jose Jimenez / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2017
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Maria, 2017-2022: +4.4%

87. Hurricane Nate

  • Name retired: 2017
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 92.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Nate, 2017-2022: +30.1%

88. Hurricane Florence

Sean Rayford / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2018
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Florence, 2018-2023: +113.2%

89. Hurricane Michael

Breawna Smith / iStock via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2018
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Michael, 2018-2023: -28.5%

90. Hurricane Dorian

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2019
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Dorian, 2019-2023: -16.9%

91. Hurricane Eta

  • Name retired: 2020
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Eta, 2020-2023: N/A

92. Hurricane Iota

File:Satellite Loop of Hurricane Iota 11-16-2020.gif by NOAA / BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
  • Name retired: 2020
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
  • Change in babies named Iota, 2020-2023: N/A

93. Hurricane Laura

Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2020
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Laura, 2020-2023: -3.6%

94. Hurricane Ida

Olga Kaya / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Name retired: 2021
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
  • Change in babies named Ida, 2021-2023: -10.4%

95. Hurricane Fiona

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  • Name retired: 2022
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Fiona, 2022-2023: -13.3%

96. Hurricane Ian

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  • Name retired: 2022
  • Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
  • Change in babies named Ian, 2022-2023: +1.0%

 

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