The Names of These Hall-of-Fame Hurricanes Will Never Be Used Again

24/7 Wall St. Insights

Forecasters predict 8 to 13 hurricanes will form in the Atlantic during the 2024 season
If a storm is excessively deadly or costly, then the name is retired

Hurricanes are deadly forces of nature, capable of ripping houses apart due to high wind speeds. The flooding associated with these storms can be catastrophic. Each year, an average of six or seven hurricanes form in the North Atlantic, with roughly two hitting the United States. Hurricanes are the most expensive natural disasters. Damages due to these storms have amounted to 1.3 trillion since 1980. The areas most affected by hurricanes tend to be gulf coast states, with Florida, Texas, and Louisiana being hit the most often.

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.

In previous centuries, hurricanes were usually named after they had long dissipated, and they were often named 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, a yearly list of names is repeated every six years.

However, there are exception to this rule. If there are more than 21 storms in a year and the list of names is exhausted, which happened in 2005 and 2020, then 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 devastating hurricanes Eta and Iota — names that were later retired.

If a storm is excessively deadly or costly, and the reuse of its name in the future would be confusing, then the name is retired. This is decided during an annual meeting.

For example, in 2005 – a record-breaking year – several devastating hurricanes including Katrina, Rita, and Wilma 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.

The most recent hurricane names to be retired were Fiona and Ian, both from the 2022 hurricane season. Fiona was the strongest storm to ever hit Canada, while Cat 5 Ian slammed into Cuba, Florida, and the Carolinas, causing $113 billion in damages.

Below is a chronological list of retired names for Atlantic hurricanes. 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 We Are Covering This

Buffalo Bayou Park Houston, flooded after Hurricane Beryl

The 2024 hurricane season was initially predicted to be “well above normal,” due in part to the transition from El Niño to La Niña, which is expected to take place between August and October. Forecasters predict 8 to 13 hurricanes will form in the Atlantic. Of these, 4 to 7 will likely be major hurricanes (Cat 3, 4, or 5). As we edge toward the height of hurricane season, we will discover if these frightening predictions turn out to be true. And if so, how many storms will make landfall. So far, 2024 has already broken records with Beryl, the earliest Category 4 hurricane ever formed. Despite the ocean being hotter than it has ever been, meteorologists say the dry conditions have kept the season quiet thus far. However, these dry conditions are expected to dissipate soon.

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

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

4. Hurricane Connie

Atlantic+hurricane | NASA Satellite Captures Hurricane Danielle (06L) in the Atlantic Ocean

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

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

Atlantic hurricane | File:Cyclone Catarina from the ISS on March 26 2004.JPG

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

Atlantic+hurricane | Hurricanes Danielle and Earl in the Atlantic Ocean

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

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

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

The skies before hurricane Beryl

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

69. Hurricane Dean

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

Atlantic+hurricane | NASA Satellite Captures Hurricane Danielle (06L) in the Atlantic Ocean

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

77. Hurricane Irene

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

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

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

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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