Hurricanes That Were So Powerful They Retired Their Names

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

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

2. Hurricane Edna

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

3. Hurricane Hazel

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

4. Hurricane Connie

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

5. Hurricane Diane

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

6. Hurricane Ione

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

7. Hurricane Janet

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

8. Hurricane Audrey

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

9. Hurricane Donna

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

10. Hurricane Carla

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

11. Hurricane Hattie

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

12. Hurricane Flora

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

13. Hurricane Cleo

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

14. Hurricane Dora

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

15. Hurricane Hilda

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

16. Hurricane Betsy

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

17. Hurricane Inez

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

18. Hurricane Beulah

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

19. Hurricane Camille

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

20. Hurricane Celia

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

21. Hurricane Agnes

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

22. Hurricane Carmen

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

23. Hurricane Fifi

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

24. Hurricane Eloise

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

25. Hurricane Anita

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

26. Hurricane Greta

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

27. Hurricane David

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

28. Hurricane Frederic

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

29. Hurricane Allen

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

30. Hurricane Alicia

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

31. Hurricane Elena

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

32. Hurricane Gloria

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

33. Hurricane Gilbert

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

34. Hurricane Joan

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

35. Hurricane Hugo

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

36. Hurricane Diana

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

37. Hurricane Klaus

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

38. Hurricane Bob

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

39. Hurricane Andrew

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

40. Hurricane Luis

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

41. Hurricane Marilyn

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

42. Hurricane Opal

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

43. Hurricane Roxanne

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

44. Hurricane Cesar

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

45. Hurricane Fran

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

46. Hurricane Hortense

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

47. Hurricane Georges

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

48. Hurricane Mitch

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

49. Hurricane Floyd

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

50. Hurricane Lenny

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

51. Hurricane Keith

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

52. Hurricane Allison

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

53. Hurricane Iris

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

54. Hurricane Michelle

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

55. Hurricane Isidore

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

56. Hurricane Lili

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

57. Hurricane Fabian

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

58. Hurricane Isabel

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

59. Hurricane Juan

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

60. Hurricane Charley

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

61. Hurricane Frances

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

62. Hurricane Ivan

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

63. Hurricane Jeanne

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

64. Hurricane Dennis

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

65. Hurricane Katrina

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

66. Hurricane Rita

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
Change in babies named Rita, 2005-2010: -19.6%

67. Hurricane Stan

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
Change in babies named Stan, 2005-2010: +75.0%

68. Hurricane Wilma

Name retired: 2005
Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
Change in babies named Wilma, 2005-2010: +16.7%

69. Hurricane Dean

Name retired: 2007
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Dean, 2007-2012: +52.2%

70. Hurricane Felix

Name retired: 2007
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Felix, 2007-2012: +30.1%

71. Hurricane Noel

Name retired: 2007
Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
Change in babies named Noel, 2007-2012: -0.1%

72. Hurricane Gustav

Name retired: 2008
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Gustav, 2008-2013: -44.7%

73. Hurricane Ike

Name retired: 2008
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Ike, 2008-2013: -21.9%

74. Hurricane Paloma

Name retired: 2008
Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
Change in babies named Paloma, 2008-2013: -4.8%

75. Hurricane Igor

Name retired: 2010
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Igor, 2010-2015: -40.7%

76. Hurricane Tomas

Name retired: 2010
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Tomas, 2010-2015: -10.9%

77. Hurricane Irene

Name retired: 2011
Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
Change in babies named Irene, 2011-2016: +9.4%

78. Hurricane Sandy

Name retired: 2012
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Sandy, 2012-2017: -29.6%

79. Hurricane Ingrid

Name retired: 2013
Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
Change in babies named Ingrid, 2013-2018: -7.0%

80. Hurricane Erika

Name retired: 2015
Maximum sustained wind speed: 51.8 mph
Change in babies named Erika, 2015-2020: -36.6%

81. Hurricane Joaquin

Name retired: 2015
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Joaquin, 2015-2020: -0.1%

82. Hurricane Matthew

Name retired: 2016
Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
Change in babies named Matthew, 2016-2021: -41.0%

83. Hurricane Otto

Name retired: 2016
Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
Change in babies named Otto, 2016-2021: +73.9%

84. Hurricane Harvey

Name retired: 2017
Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
Change in babies named Harvey, 2017-2022: -7.2%

85. Hurricane Irma

Name retired: 2017
Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
Change in babies named Irma, 2017-2022: -1.4%

86. Hurricane Maria

Name retired: 2017
Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
Change in babies named Maria, 2017-2022: +4.4%

87. Hurricane Nate

Name retired: 2017
Maximum sustained wind speed: 92.1 mph
Change in babies named Nate, 2017-2022: +30.1%

88. Hurricane Florence

Name retired: 2018
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Florence, 2018-2023: +113.2%

89. Hurricane Michael

Name retired: 2018
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Michael, 2018-2023: -28.5%

90. Hurricane Dorian

Name retired: 2019
Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
Change in babies named Dorian, 2019-2023: -16.9%

91. Hurricane Eta

Name retired: 2020
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Eta, 2020-2023: N/A

92. Hurricane Iota

Name retired: 2020
Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
Change in babies named Iota, 2020-2023: N/A

93. Hurricane Laura

Name retired: 2020
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Laura, 2020-2023: -3.6%

94. Hurricane Ida

Name retired: 2021
Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
Change in babies named Ida, 2021-2023: -10.4%

95. Hurricane Fiona

Name retired: 2022
Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
Change in babies named Fiona, 2022-2023: -13.3%

96. Hurricane Ian

Name retired: 2022
Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
Change in babies named Ian, 2022-2023: +1.0%