Hurricane Isaac 5489

A list of Atlantic hurricane names is already available for the coming years. Since 1953, The National Hurricane Center produces and pre-approves this list. Only female names were included in the list before 1979. The sets of lists currently approve use male and female names alternately.

The names of hurricanes are arranged alphabetically. The first hurricane of the year has a name that starts with letter "A" and the next one's name starts with letter "B." The list consists of names that start from letter "A" to letter "W." The names that begin with letter "Q" and letter "U" are left out.

List of Hurricane Names for 2009

1. Ana
2. Bill
3. Claudette
4. Danny
5. Erika
6. Fred
7. Grace
8. Henri
9. Ida
10. Joaquin
11. Kate
12. Larry
13. Mindy
14. Nicholas
15. Odette
16. Peter
17. Rose
18. Sam
19. Teresa
20. Victor
21. Wanda

List of Hurricane Names for 2010

1. Alex
2. Bonnie
3. Colin
4. Danielle
5. Earl
6. Fiona
7. Gaston
8. Hermine
9. Igor
10. Julia
11. Karl
12. Lisa
13. Matthew
14. Nicole
15. Otto
16. Paula
17. Richard
18. Shary
19. Tomas
20. Virginie
21. Walter

List of Hurricane Names for 2011

1. Arlene
2. Bret
3. Cindy
4. Don
5. Emily
6. Franklin
7. Gert
8. Harvey
9. Irene
10. Jose
11. Katia
12. Lee
13. Maria
14. Nate
15. Ophelia
16. Philippe
17. Rina
18. Sean
19. Tammy
20. Vince
21. Whitney

List of Hurricane Names for 2012

1. Alberto
2. Beryl
3. Chris
4. Debby
5. Ernesto
6. Florence
7. Gordon
8. Helene
9. Isaac
10. Joyce
11. Kirk
12. Leslie
13. Michael
14. Nadine
15. Oscar
16. Patty
17. Rafael
18. Sandy
19. Tony
20. Valerie
21. William

Six lists are alternately used to give names to hurricanes. The list will only change if the hurricane is so devastating. The name of the hurricane is removed or retired from the list and another name takes its place.
Here's a list of hurricane names that have been retired:

1954- Carol
1954- Hazel
1955- Connie
1955- Diane
1955- Ione
1955- Janet
1957- Audrey
1960- Donna
1961- Carla
1961- Hattie
1963- Flora
1964- Cleo
1964- Dora
1964- Hilda
1965- Betsy
1966- Inez
1967- Beulah
1968- Edna
1969- Camille
1970- Celia
1972- Agnes
1974- Carmen
1974- Fifi
1975- Eloise
1977- Anita
1979- David
1979- Frederic
1980- Allen
1983- Alicia
1985- Elena
1985- Gloria
1988- Gilbert
1988- Joan
1989- Hugo
1990- Diana
1990- Klaus
1991- Bob
1992- Andrew
1995- Luis
1995- Marilyn
1995- Opal
1995- Roxanne
1996- Cesar
1996- Fran
1996- Hortense
1998- Georges
1998- Mitch
1999- Floyd
1999- Lenny
2000- Keith
2001- Allison
2001- Iris
2001- Michelle
2002- Isidore
2002- Lili
2003- Fabian
2003- Isabel
2003- Juan
2004- Charley
2004- Frances
2004- Ivan
2004- Jeanne
2005- Dennis
2005- Katrina
2005- Rita
2005- Stan
2005- Wilma

The 2010 list of hurricane names is the same list used for 2004. However, four of the hurricanes in 2004 were devastating that their corresponding names were retired in the list. Colin takes the place of Charley, Fiona takes the place of Frances, Igor takes the place of Ivan and Julia takes the place of Jeanne.

The 2011 list of hurricane names is the same list used for 2005. Four of the hurricane names from 2005 were retired because of the devastation brought about by the hurricanes. Don takes the place of Dennis, Katia takes the place of unforgettable Katrina, Rina takes the place of Rita, Sean replaces Stan and Whitney replaces Wilma.