Tropical Cyclones are given easily remembered names because they are quicker and less subject to error than latitude-longitude identification methods. They also reduce confusion when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time.

Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists by the National Hurricane Center. Today, the World Meteorological Organization maintains and updates the names. The original names of tropical cyclones only included women's names. In 1979, men's names were introduced. Today's storms alternate between women's and men's names. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2009 list will be used again in 2015. The only time there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity.