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

The U.S. hurricane season is approaching, and with it, the continuous naming of tropical cyclones in the Pacific region. But why do these storms bear names each year? Or at all? Naming human-made and natural phenomena has been a part of language since its inception, yet formal naming practices for storms and other significant events are a more recent development.

Military operations, diseases, and even companies also require names for various reasons beyond mere differentiation. These names serve to tell stories and evoke emotions.

Shannon Murphy, CEO of Nameistry, explains that naming objects we care about imbues them with meaning, making them more relatable and discussable. Similarly, naming tropical storms is a proven method to convey warnings, raise public awareness, and promote preparedness. It also helps avoid confusion when multiple cyclones are in motion and aids in research and record-keeping.

The World Meteorological Organization manages the naming of tropical storms worldwide, using predetermined alphabetical lists decided by five tropical cyclone regional bodies. The Atlantic region skips names starting with Q, U, X, Y, and Z due to the scarcity of suitable examples. Until 1979, the United States used only female names, but now the lists alternate between male and female names.

For instance, Boris is the successor to Amanda in the Eastern North Pacific storm region, with Arthur and Bertha already seen in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Atlantic region. Military operation names have also evolved over time, initially created to maintain secrecy and differentiate one operation from another. Winston Churchill revolutionized this nomenclature during World War II, setting the stage for the broader aims of the allies.