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The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has drawn up alphabetical lists of male and female names to be used as hurricane designations from now until 2009. Unfortunately, the NHC doesn't explain the methodology it used to come up with these names. According to this comprehensive hurricane site, hurricanes began officially receiving names in 1950. For two years, they were stuck with standard call sign names -- Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, etc. Between 1953 and 1978, for reasons we are unwilling to surmise, hurricane names were exclusively female. In 1979, the situation became more progressive, and male names were added to the mix. Hurricanes
only receive a name once their status is elevated from tropical storm. The names of a few particularly destructive hurricanes, such as 1992's Andrew, have been permanently retired for reasons of sensitivity. Why do hurricanes have names in the first place? According to the NHC, the use of "short, distinctive given names" is quicker and less subject to error than using latitude-longitude identification methods.
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