What’s in a name? Why naming storms, military operations and medical maladies matters

As the U.S. hurricane season approaches, tropical cyclones in the Pacific region are receiving a flurry of names. From Amanda and Boris to Arthur and Bertha, these names have a purpose beyond mere identification. They serve to tell stories and communicate warnings effectively. The World Meteorological Organization notes that assigning names is an efficient means of alerting the public and ensuring clarity when multiple storms are in motion.

Names for storms and significant events have been a part of human language for a very long time. They help differentiate between various occurrences, making them easier to remember and discuss. Shannon Murphy, CEO of Nameistry, explains that names attached to entities, whether human or objects, imbue them with meaning and facilitate conversation.

The practice of naming storms is managed by the World Meteorological Organization, which maintains a list of names used worldwide. This list is cyclical, returning every few years, and consists of 21 names for each region, alternating between male and female names. The Atlantic region, for instance, skips names beginning with Q, U, X, Y, and Z due to the limited availability of suitable names.

Interestingly, military operation names have also evolved over time. Initially, they were designed to be secretive and differentiate one operation from another. However, Winston Churchill recognized their importance in World War II and introduced a more structured naming convention. Naming military operations became a way to avoid implying a boastful sentiment, disparage the operation, or use names that could cause distress to families.

Today, the U.S. military tends to use two-word operation names, while the United Kingdom generally employs one-word names. This difference can sometimes lead to divergent operation names, as seen during the Gulf War where the U.S. referred to it as "Operation Desert Storm" and the United Kingdom used "Operation Granby."