The meaning of Helene and how it became the name of the latest hurricane

Hurricane HelenePhoto byNASAonUnsplash

Who names the hurricanes?

Hurricane Helene has left a path of destruction, with 50 reported dead. Cardinal News reveals that one death was in Virginia. Have you ever wondered who names the storms and what significance a name may have?

According to Convoy of Hope, the World Meteorlogical Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, has named hurricanes and tropical storms since the 1950s.

The origin of Helene

In the current system, hurricane names on alphabetical lists alternate between male and female. These names are selected years in advance and are part of a rotating list series that repeats every six years.

Helene means shining light and is a feminine variant of Helen, which in Greek means "sun" or "light."