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How Typhoons Get Their Names

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1. Names Rotate Among 14 Member Countries

Typhoon names are used in a set rotation from a list submitted by the 14 member countries of the Typhoon Committee, including South Korea, North Korea, the US, Japan, China, and the Philippines, each contributing 10 names. A total of 140 names are split into 5 groups and cycled through, with one full rotation typically taking 4–5 years.

2. Examples of Submitted Names

Member countries submit a wide range of names β€” often drawn from nature, animals, or local words. For example, South Korea has submitted names like Nari, Jangmi (rose), Noru (roe deer), and Jebi (swallow), often inspired by plants, animals, or natural phenomena.

3. A Shared Naming Style Across Neighboring Countries

Since the Typhoon Committee includes multiple East Asian countries, several submitting nations follow broadly similar naming conventions, often drawing on native-language words for animals or nature β€” offering an interesting glimpse into shared regional traditions even where languages differ.

4. Names of Especially Damaging Typhoons Are Permanently Retired

If a specific typhoon causes major loss of life or property, the affected country can request that its name be permanently removed from the list and replaced with a new one. Well-known retired names include some of the most destructive storms in a given region's history.

5. Typhoons Also Get a Sequential Number

Alongside its unique name, each typhoon is also assigned a number indicating the order in which it formed that year (for example, "Typhoon No. 9"), and both the name and number are often used interchangeably in reporting.

6. Why Typhoons Are Named at All

Since multiple typhoons can form in the same year, referring to them only by number can get confusing β€” giving each one a distinct, memorable name makes it easier to communicate about them accurately.

Typhoon Names Follow a Real System

Since several typhoons form every year, the names you hear in weather reports actually follow a defined system. Knowing which countries submit which names, and how the rotation works, can make typhoon news more interesting to follow.

How This Differs From Hurricanes and Cyclones

It's worth noting that the same type of storm is called something different depending on the region β€” a "typhoon" in the western Pacific is the same phenomenon as a "hurricane" in the Atlantic or a "cyclone" in the Indian Ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides typhoon names?

The Typhoon Committee (with 14 member countries) maintains the list of names submitted by each country, while the actual naming and announcement, in sequence, is handled by the Japan Meteorological Agency's Typhoon Center.

Can a country get a typhoon name changed?

Yes β€” a country can request that a name be retired if that typhoon caused major damage domestically, and once approved, that country submits a new name to replace it.