247 Tempo

Hurricanes That Were So Powerful They Retired Their Names

By D.J. Myers,

14 days ago

When a baseball player is so iconic, so legendary, so one-of-a-kind that no other player can even imagine wearing their number on their back, the team that they played for bestows upon them the honor of retiring their number. In the same vein, when a hurricane is so powerful that it goes down in history, the NOAA retires its name out of sensitivity to those impacted. These hurricanes all have that dubious distinction.

When we talk about named hurricanes, we’re usually referring to Atlantic hurricanes, even though different organizations have the responsibility of naming hurricanes across the globe. Atlantic hurricanes are named by the Hurricane Committee of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), who has the system down to a science. They maintain six lists, each with 21 alphabetically-listed names, and go through one list every year. By this math, a name will be reused (at maximum) once every six years.

Every spring, the WMO Hurricane Committee gathers, and (among other points of order) they decide if any of the previous season’s hurricanes were so deadly and powerful that they warrant having their name retired. If a name is indeed retired, it’s replaced with another name that starts with the same letter.

While Atlantic hurricanes are named based on a predetermined list of names established by the World Meteorological Organization, every few years there is a storm so deadly that future use of the name is considered inappropriate and the name is retired. To determine the hurricanes that were so powerful they retired their names, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on hurricane names from the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Atlantic hurricane names that were retired are listed chronologically. 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.

Hurricane season is here, so cross your fingers that none of this season’s cyclones are so powerful that their names are retired. If you happen to find yourself in an area that’s prone to hurricanes, these are the preparation tips you need to know about .

1. Hurricane Carol

Source: Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Name retired: 1954
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Carol, 1954-1959: -18.5%

2. Hurricane Edna

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1954
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Edna, 1954-1959: -29.8%

3. Hurricane Hazel

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

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

4. Hurricane Connie

Source: StacieStauffSmith Photos / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Connie, 1955-1960: -11.2%

5. Hurricane Diane

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
Change in babies named Diane, 1955-1960: -23.1%

6. Hurricane Ione

Source: Sergey Zaykov / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Ione, 1955-1960: -39.5%

7. Hurricane Janet

Source: Photograph Curator / Public Domain / Flickr

Name retired: 1955
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Janet, 1955-1960: -20.5%

8. Hurricane Audrey

Source: Rix Pix Photography / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1957
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Audrey, 1957-1962: -23.2%

9. Hurricane Donna

Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Name retired: 1960
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Donna, 1960-1965: -42.3%

10. Hurricane Carla

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1961
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Carla, 1961-1966: -22.4%

11. Hurricane Hattie

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1961
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Hattie, 1961-1966: -48.2%

12. Hurricane Flora

Source: ILEGRI / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1963
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Flora, 1963-1968: -52.9%

13. Hurricane Cleo

Source: BEST-BACKGROUNDS / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1964
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Cleo, 1964-1969: -42.9%

14. Hurricane Dora

Source: Theodore Trimmer / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1964
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Dora, 1964-1969: -40.6%

15. Hurricane Hilda

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1964
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Hilda, 1964-1969: -30.7%

16. Hurricane Betsy

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Name retired: 1965
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Betsy, 1965-1970: -47.2%

17. Hurricane Inez

Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images

Name retired: 1966
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Inez, 1966-1971: -18.3%

18. Hurricane Beulah

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1967
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Beulah, 1967-1972: -60.0%

19. Hurricane Camille

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1969
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Camille, 1969-1974: -41.2%

20. Hurricane Celia

Source: BEST-BACKGROUNDS / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1970
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Celia, 1970-1975: -42.3%

21. Hurricane Agnes

Source: keyslibraries / Flickr

Name retired: 1972
Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
Change in babies named Agnes, 1972-1977: -47.9%

22. Hurricane Carmen

Source: Arkadij Schell / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1974
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Carmen, 1974-1979: -8.3%

23. Hurricane Fifi

Source: Bettmann / Bettmann via Getty Images

Name retired: 1974
Maximum sustained wind speed: 109.3 mph
Change in babies named Fifi, 1974-1979: N/A

24. Hurricane Eloise

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1975
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Eloise, 1975-1980: -23.7%

25. Hurricane Anita

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1977
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Anita, 1977-1982: -33.3%

26. Hurricane Greta

Source: ZargonDesign / E+ via Getty Images

Name retired: 1978
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Greta, 1978-1983: -13.1%

27. Hurricane David

Source: Rob Atherton / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1979
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named David, 1979-1984: -8.6%

28. Hurricane Frederic

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1979
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Frederic, 1979-1984: -48.4%

29. Hurricane Allen

Source: njmucc / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1980
Maximum sustained wind speed: 189.9 mph
Change in babies named Allen, 1980-1985: -0.9%

30. Hurricane Alicia

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1983
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Alicia, 1983-1988: -10.5%

31. Hurricane Elena

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1985
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Elena, 1985-1990: +4.4%

32. Hurricane Gloria

Source: Ken Mayer / Flickr

Name retired: 1985
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Gloria, 1985-1990: +18.4%

33. Hurricane Gilbert

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1988
Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
Change in babies named Gilbert, 1988-1993: -10.0%

34. Hurricane Joan

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1988
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Joan, 1988-1993: -17.7%

35. Hurricane Hugo

Source: Gary Williams / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Name retired: 1989
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Hugo, 1989-1994: +4.6%

36. Hurricane Diana

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1990
Maximum sustained wind speed: 97.8 mph
Change in babies named Diana, 1990-1995: -10.9%

37. Hurricane Klaus

Source: Munimara / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1990
Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
Change in babies named Klaus, 1990-1995: -40.0%

38. Hurricane Bob

Source: Radomir Rezny / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 1991
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Bob, 1991-1996: -53.0%

39. Hurricane Andrew

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1992
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Andrew, 1992-1997: -17.6%

40. Hurricane Luis

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Luis, 1995-2000: +24.0%

41. Hurricane Marilyn

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Marilyn, 1995-2000: -9.8%

42. Hurricane Opal

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Opal, 1995-2000: +60.0%

43. Hurricane Roxanne

Source: emicristea / iStock via Getty Images

Name retired: 1995
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Roxanne, 1995-2000: -34.0%

44. Hurricane Cesar

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1996
Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
Change in babies named Cesar, 1996-2001: +19.5%

45. Hurricane Fran

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1996
Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
Change in babies named Fran, 1996-2001: N/A

46. Hurricane Hortense

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1996
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Hortense, 1996-2001: N/A

47. Hurricane Georges

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1998
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Georges, 1998-2003: N/A

48. Hurricane Mitch

Source: Bernard Bisson / Sygma via Getty Images

Name retired: 1998
Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
Change in babies named Mitch, 1998-2003: -48.3%

49. Hurricane Floyd

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1999
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Floyd, 1999-2004: -2.6%

50. Hurricane Lenny

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 1999
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Lenny, 1999-2004: +89.6%

51. Hurricane Keith

Source: Iren_Key / Getty Images

Name retired: 2000
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Keith, 2000-2005: -24.1%

52. Hurricane Allison

Source: Joe Raedle / Newsmakers / Getty Images

Name retired: 2001
Maximum sustained wind speed: 57.5 mph
Change in babies named Allison, 2001-2006: -10.6%

53. Hurricane Iris

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 2001
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Iris, 2001-2006: +20.7%

54. Hurricane Michelle

Source: Jorge Rey / Getty Images

Name retired: 2001
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Michelle, 2001-2006: -18.8%

55. Hurricane Isidore

Source: Susana Gonzalez / Getty Images

Name retired: 2002
Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
Change in babies named Isidore, 2002-2007: -10.0%

56. Hurricane Lili

Source: BEST-BACKGROUNDS / Shutterstock.com

Name retired: 2002
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Lili, 2002-2007: -22.3%

57. Hurricane Fabian

Source: Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Name retired: 2003
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Fabian, 2003-2008: +2.8%

58. Hurricane Isabel

Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images

Name retired: 2003
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Isabel, 2003-2008: -9.5%

59. Hurricane Juan

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Name retired: 2003
Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
Change in babies named Juan, 2003-2008: -10.2%

60. Hurricane Charley

Source: Tim Boyles / Getty Images

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Charley, 2004-2009: +53.3%

61. Hurricane Frances

Source: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Frances, 2004-2009: -18.6%

62. Hurricane Ivan

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Ivan, 2004-2009: -13.8%

63. Hurricane Jeanne

Source: Joshua Rodas / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Name retired: 2004
Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
Change in babies named Jeanne, 2004-2009: -33.8%

64. Hurricane Dennis

Source: Handout / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Dennis, 2005-2010: -30.2%

65. Hurricane Katrina

Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Katrina, 2005-2010: -76.4%

66. Hurricane Rita

Source: Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
Change in babies named Rita, 2005-2010: -19.6%