Hurricane names for 2009

By staff reports

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With Tropical Storm Claudette soaking the Florida Panhandle Monday morning, we thought we'd revisit names that may or may not become familiar with hurricane season in full swing.

The naming process

For every year, there is a pre-approved list of names for tropical storms and hurricanes. These lists have been generated by the National Hurricane Center since 1953. At first, the lists consisted of only female names; however, since 1979, the lists alternate between male and female.

Hurricanes are named alphabetically from the list in chronological order. Thus the first tropical storm or hurricane of the year has a name that begins with "A" and the second is given the name that begins with "B." The lists contain names that begin from A to W, but exclude names that begin with a "Q" or "U."

There are six lists that continue to rotate. The lists only change when there is a hurricane that is so devastating, the name is retired and another name replaces it.

2009 Hurricane Names

Ana

Bill

Claudette

Danny

Erika

Fred

Grace

Henri

Ida

Joaquin

Kate

Larry

Mindy

Nicholas

Odette

Peter

Rose

Sam

Teresa

Victor

Wanda

Retired names

Agnes (1972)

Alicia (1983)

Allen (1980)

Allison (2001)

Andrew (1992)

Anita (1977)

Audrey (1957)

Betsy (1965)

Beulah (1967)

Bob (1991)

Camille (1969)

Carla (1961)

Carmen (1974)

Carol (1954)

Celia (1970)

Cesar (1996)

Charley (2004)

Cleo (1964)

Connie (1955)

David (1979)

Dean (2007)