Hurricanes That Were So Powerful They Retired Their Names

Weather

Published: July 29, 2024 9:50 am

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

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

Name retired: 1954
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Carol, 1954-1959: -18.5%

2. Hurricane Edna

Name retired: 1954
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Edna, 1954-1959: -29.8%

3. Hurricane Hazel

Humber River, looking north from Islington Ave. east of Woodbridge (Vaughan, Ontario). by Toronto Public Library Special Collections

Humber River, looking north from Islington Ave. east of Woodbridge (Vaughan, Ontario). (BY-SA 2.0) by Toronto Public Library Special Collections

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

4. Hurricane Connie

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Connie, 1955-1960: -11.2%

5. Hurricane Diane

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
Change in babies named Diane, 1955-1960: -23.1%

6. Hurricane Ione

Hurricane Ione (1955) Radar Image by ForceThirteen

Hurricane Ione (1955) Radar Image (BY 2.0) by ForceThirteen

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

7. Hurricane Janet

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Janet, 1955-1960: -20.5%

8. Hurricane Audrey

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

9. Hurricane Donna

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

Name retired: 1961
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Carla, 1961-1966: -22.4%

11. Hurricane Hattie

Name retired: 1961
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Hattie, 1961-1966: -48.2%

12. Hurricane Flora

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

Name retired: 1964
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Cleo, 1964-1969: -42.9%

14. Hurricane Dora

Dora Pacific 1964 track (BY-SA 3.0) by Anhamirak

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.

Name retired: 1964
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Hilda, 1964-1969: -30.7%

16. Hurricane Betsy

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

Name retired: 1966
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Inez, 1966-1971: -18.3%

18. Hurricane Beulah

Name retired: 1967
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Beulah, 1967-1972: -60.0%

19. Hurricane Camille

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

20. Hurricane Celia

09-5026-1 (PDM 1.0) by NavyMedicine

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

21. Hurricane Agnes

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.

Name retired: 1974
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Carmen, 1974-1979: -8.3%

23. Hurricane Fifi

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

24. Hurricane Eloise

Name retired: 1975
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Eloise, 1975-1980: -23.7%

25. Hurricane Anita

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

Name retired: 1978
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Greta, 1978-1983: -13.1%

27. Hurricane David

BrowardTownhousesHurricaneDavid1979 by Relative of Infrogmation (talk) Preferred Credit: 'Family of Infrogmation of New Orleans'

BrowardTownhousesHurricaneDavid1979 (BY-SA 4.0) by Relative of Infrogmation (talk) Preferred Credit: 'Family of Infrogmation of New Orleans'

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

28. Hurricane Frederic

Name retired: 1979
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Frederic, 1979-1984: -48.4%

29. Hurricane Allen

Corpus Christi TX Ruins after Hurricane Allen 1980 by Jay Phagan

Corpus Christi TX Ruins after Hurricane Allen 1980 (BY 2.0) by Jay Phagan

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

30. Hurricane Alicia

Name retired: 1983
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Alicia, 1983-1988: -10.5%

31. Hurricane Elena

Name retired: 1985
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Elena, 1985-1990: +4.4%

32. Hurricane Gloria

1985_09_27_HurricaneGloriaDamage4 by Ken Mayer

1985_09_27_HurricaneGloriaDamage4 (CC BY 2.0) by Ken Mayer

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

33. Hurricane Gilbert

Name retired: 1988
Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
Change in babies named Gilbert, 1988-1993: -10.0%

34. Hurricane Joan

Name retired: 1988
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Joan, 1988-1993: -17.7%

35. Hurricane Hugo

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

36. Hurricane Diana

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.

Name retired: 1990
Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
Change in babies named Klaus, 1990-1995: -40.0%

38. Hurricane Bob

Kids Riding Bikes in Flood Wat... by Salem State University Archives and Special Collec

Kids Riding Bikes in Flood Wat... (CC BY 2.0) by Salem State University Archives and Special Collec

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

39. Hurricane Andrew

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

40. Hurricane Luis

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Luis, 1995-2000: +24.0%

41. Hurricane Marilyn

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Marilyn, 1995-2000: -9.8%

42. Hurricane Opal

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

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Roxanne, 1995-2000: -34.0%

44. Hurricane Cesar

Name retired: 1996
Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
Change in babies named Cesar, 1996-2001: +19.5%

45. Hurricane Fran

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

Name retired: 1996
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Hortense, 1996-2001: N/A

47. Hurricane Georges

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

48. Hurricane Mitch

Name retired: 1998
Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
Change in babies named Mitch, 1998-2003: -48.3%

49. Hurricane Floyd

Name retired: 1999
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Floyd, 1999-2004: -2.6%

50. Hurricane Lenny

Name retired: 1999
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Lenny, 1999-2004: +89.6%

51. Hurricane Keith

Hurricane Keith damage belize (198083343) by Ian Mackenzie from Ottawa, Canada

Hurricane Keith damage belize (198083343) (BY 2.0) by Ian Mackenzie from Ottawa, Canada

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

52. Hurricane Allison

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

53. Hurricane Iris

Name retired: 2001
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Iris, 2001-2006: +20.7%

54. Hurricane Michelle

Name retired: 2001
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Michelle, 2001-2006: -18.8%

55. Hurricane Isidore

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.

Name retired: 2002
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Lili, 2002-2007: -22.3%

57. Hurricane Fabian

File:Fabiandamage.jpg by Lisa Vickers. Lisa on Flickr

File:Fabiandamage.jpg (BY-SA 3.0) by Lisa Vickers. Lisa on Flickr

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

58. Hurricane Isabel

Name retired: 2003
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Isabel, 2003-2008: -9.5%

59. Hurricane Juan

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

60. Hurricane Charley

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Charley, 2004-2009: +53.3%

61. Hurricane Frances

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Frances, 2004-2009: -18.6%

62. Hurricane Ivan

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

63. Hurricane Jeanne

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
Change in babies named Jeanne, 2004-2009: -33.8%

64. Hurricane Dennis

hurricane dennis bores down on jamaica, july 7, 2005 by Edu-Tourist

hurricane dennis bores down on jamaica, july 7, 2005 (BY-SA 2.0) by Edu-Tourist

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

65. Hurricane Katrina

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Katrina, 2005-2010: -76.4%

66. Hurricane Rita

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

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
Change in babies named Stan, 2005-2010: +75.0%

68. Hurricane Wilma

Flood102405 (CC BY 3.0) by Averette (Marc Averette)

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

69. Hurricane Dean

Hurricane Dean from NOAA (CC BY 2.0) by Wapster

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

70. Hurricane Felix

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.

Name retired: 2007
Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
Change in babies named Noel, 2007-2012: -0.1%

72. Hurricane Gustav

Name retired: 2008
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Gustav, 2008-2013: -44.7%

73. Hurricane Ike

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

74. Hurricane Paloma

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

75. Hurricane Igor

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

76. Hurricane Tomas

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

77. Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene Nears Landfall. Irene, the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season, was poised on August 26 to be the first to make landfal Elements of this image furnished by NASA. (Shutterstock.com) by BEST-BACKGROUNDS

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

78. Hurricane Sandy

Name retired: 2012
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Sandy, 2012-2017: -29.6%

79. Hurricane Ingrid

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

80. Hurricane Erika

Name retired: 2015
Maximum sustained wind speed: 51.8 mph
Change in babies named Erika, 2015-2020: -36.6%

81. Hurricane Joaquin

Hurricane Joaquin Seen From GO... by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Hurricane Joaquin Seen From GO... (CC BY 2.0) by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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

82. Hurricane Matthew

Name retired: 2016
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Matthew, 2016-2021: -41.0%

83. Hurricane Otto

Name retired: 2016
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Otto, 2016-2021: +73.9%

84. Hurricane Harvey

Name retired: 2017
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Harvey, 2017-2022: -7.2%

85. Hurricane Irma

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

86. Hurricane Maria

Name retired: 2017
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Maria, 2017-2022: +4.4%

87. Hurricane Nate

Hurricane Nate 2017 10 07 by anttilipponen

Hurricane Nate 2017 10 07 (BY 2.0) by anttilipponen

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

88. Hurricane Florence

Name retired: 2018
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Florence, 2018-2023: +113.2%

89. Hurricane Michael

Name retired: 2018
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Michael, 2018-2023: -28.5%

90. Hurricane Dorian

Name retired: 2019
Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
Change in babies named Dorian, 2019-2023: -16.9%

91. Hurricane Eta

Picnic Table View (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carol VanHook

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

92. Hurricane Iota

Name retired: 2020
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Iota, 2020-2023: N/A

93. Hurricane Laura

Name retired: 2020
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Laura, 2020-2023: -3.6%

94. Hurricane Ida

Name retired: 2021
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Ida, 2021-2023: -10.4%

95. Hurricane Fiona

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

96. Hurricane Ian

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

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Read more: Weather, hurricane beryl, hurricane eta, hurricane ian, hurricane iota, Hurricane Katrina, hurricane names, hurricane naming convention, hurricane rita, hurricane wilma, hurricanes, powerful hurricanes, retired hurricane names

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