Cyclone Names – How they get their names?

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A Cyclone is a wind spinning around a center point in either clockwise or anticlockwise direction. This center point is a low atmospheric pressure point. The low pressure causes the wind around it to spin at high speed towards that point. This point also referred to as an eye of the storm and the revolving air-mass as arms of the storm.

In other words, a cyclone is nothing but a storm. Based on the location of the storm origination, it may be called hurricane or typhoon or cyclone. For example, storms originated in the Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Pacific, are known as a hurricane. The Typhoon is a storm that originated from Northwest Pacific. Cyclones are the storms that originated from the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

Hurricane / Cyclone / Typhoon Storm Structure
Hurricane Storm Structure
Source: – wikimedia.org

Panels for Naming Cyclone Storms

Like any other thing that has a name, cyclones also have their names. Initially, people living in the Caribbean Islands started naming storms based on the day from the Roman Catholic Liturgical calendar. They name the storm for the day on which that hurricane or cyclone occurred. This continues until World War II.

The US weather service officially started naming storms in 1953 based on women’s names. In 1978, storms are also named on male names. Now, the process of naming cyclones involves several countries in the region and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

When wind speed crosses the speed of 34 nautical miles per hour, then it gets a name. There are five committees/panels which follow a strict procedure to name a storm. These committees are:

  • RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee
  • WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones
  • ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee
  • RA IV Hurricane Committee
  • RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee
Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Centers
Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Centers
Source: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

As shown in the picture above, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones is responsible to name storms in the Indian Ocean Region. This panel consist of the following countries:

  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Maldives
  • Myanmar
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand
  • Iran
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen

Guidelines for names

To avoid any conflicts by cyclone names each country has to adhere the below guidelines.The name should:

  • Not be rude and cruel.
  • Be neutral to politics and political figures, religious believes, cultures, and gender.
  • Be short, easy to pronounce, and should not be offensive to any member.
  • Not hurt the sentiments of any group of the population over the globe.
  • Be provided with its pronunciation and voice over.
  • Be unique.
  • Have a maximum of eight letters.

List of Cyclone names

Do you know that the very recent cyclone, Nisarga was named by Bangladesh? The cyclone, Amphan, was named by Thailand. Below is the list of names that are approved to be used for cyclones in the Indian Ocean region. (Source: en.wikipedia.org)

Names suggested by Bangladesh

  • Nisarga
  • Onil
  • Ogni
  • Nisha
  • Giri
  • Helen
  • Chapala
  • Ockhi
  • Fani
  • Biparjoy
  • Arnab
  • Upakul
  • Barshon
  • Rajani
  • Nishith
  • Urmi
  • Meghala
  • Samiron
  • Pratikul
  • Sarobor
  • Mahanisha

Names suggested by India

  • Agni
  • Akash
  • Bijili
  • Jal
  • Lehar
  • Megh
  • Sagar
  • Vayu
  • Gati
  • Tej
  • Murasu
  • Aag
  • Vyom
  • Jhar
  • Probaho
  • Neer
  • Prabhanjan
  • Ghurni
  • Ambud
  • Jaladhi
  • Vega

Names suggested by Iran

  • Nivar
  • Hamoon
  • Akvan
  • Sepand
  • Booran
  • Anahita
  • Azar
  • Pooyan
  • Arsham
  • Hengame
  • Savas
  • Tahamtan
  • Toofan

Names suggested by Maldives

  • Burevi
  • Midhili
  • Kaani
  • Odi
  • Kenau
  • Endheri
  • Riyau
  • Guruva
  • Kurangi
  • Kuredhi
  • Horangu
  • Thundi
  • Faana
  • Hibaru
  • Gonu
  • Aila
  • Keila
  • Madi
  • Roanu
  • Mekunu
  • Hikaa

Names suggested by Myanmar

  • Tauktae
  • Michaung
  • Ngamann
  • Kyarthit
  • Sapakyee
  • Wetwun
  • Mwaihout
  • Kywe
  • Pinku
  • Yinkaung
  • Linyone
  • Kyeekan
  • Bautphat
  • Pyarr
  • Yemyin
  • Phyan
  • Thane
  • Nanauk
  • Kyant
  • Daye
  • Kyarr

Names suggested by Oman

  • Yaas
  • Remal
  • Sail
  • Naseem
  • Muzn
  • Sadeem
  • Dima
  • Manjour
  • Rukam
  • Watad
  • Al-jarz
  • Rabab
  • Raad
  • Baaz
  • Sidr
  • Ward
  • Murjan
  • Hudhud
  • Nada
  • Luban
  • Maha

Names suggested by Pakistan

  • Gulab
  • Asna
  • Sahab
  • Afshan
  • Manahil
  • Shujana
  • Parwaz
  • Zannata
  • Sarsar
  • Badban
  • Sarrab
  • Gulnar
  • Waseq
  • Fanoos
  • Nargis
  • Laila
  • Nilam
  • Nilofar
  • Vardah
  • Titli
  • Bulbul

Names suggested by Qatar

  • Shaheen
  • Dana
  • Lulu
  • Mouj
  • Suhail
  • Sadaf
  • Reem
  • Rayhan
  • Anbar
  • Oud
  • Bahar
  • Seef
  • Fanar

Names suggested by Saudi Arabia

  • Jawad
  • Fengal
  • Ghazeer
  • Asif
  • Sidrah
  • Hareed
  • Faid
  • Kaseer
  • Nakheel
  • Haboob
  • Bareq
  • Alreem
  • Wabil

Names suggested by Sri Lanka

  • Asani
  • Shakhti
  • Gigum
  • Gagana
  • Verambha
  • Garjana
  • Neeba
  • Ninnada
  • Viduli
  • Ogha
  • Salitha
  • Rivi
  • Rudu
  • Mala
  • Rashmi
  • Bandu
  • Viyaru
  • Ashobaa
  • Maarutha
  • Gaja
  • Pawan

Names suggested by Thailand

  • Sitrang
  • Montha
  • Thianyot
  • Bulan
  • Phutala
  • Aiyara
  • Saming
  • Kraison
  • Matcha
  • Mahingsa
  • Phraewa
  • Asuri
  • Thara
  • Mukda
  • Khai-Muk
  • Phet
  • Phailin
  • Komen
  • Mora
  • Phethai
  • Amphan

Names suggested by U. A. E.

  • Mandous
  • Senyar
  • Afoor
  • Nahhaam
  • Quffal
  • Daaman
  • Deem
  • Gargoor
  • Khubb
  • Degl
  • Athmad
  • Boom
  • Saffar

Names suggested by Yemen

  • Mocha
  • Ditwah
  • Diksam
  • Sira
  • Bakhur
  • Ghwyzi
  • Hawf
  • Balhaf
  • Brom
  • Shuqra
  • Fartak
  • Darsah
  • Samhah
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