How do hurricanes get their names? Lets start with why do hurricanes get their names. They are assigned names so that it is easier to get the public’s attention and warn them about the danger coming. In 1950, storms were named after the Joint Army/Navy phonetic alphabet. Three years later in 1953, female names started being used; it was not until 1979 that male names came into play. There are many people who want the storms to be named after science-fiction characters or people who offer their names. This is due to people being offended when their name is used as the name of a storm.

Beginning in 1979 the World Meterological Organization has used a six list of names-both male and female names.  They are used in rotation given that each list contains a name for each letter of the alphabet.  Those letters excluded are Q, U, and Z.