How cyclones are named: the full process
The list drawn up by 13 countries, the names India gave, the naming rules, the categories of cyclones, and how they differ from hurricanes and typhoons.
Rohit Tandon · 28 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fani, Amphan, Biparjoy — who actually names the cyclones we hear about in the news? And why is a name never used again? Here is how cyclones are named in the North Indian Ocean, along with some key facts about cyclones.
Why are cyclones named?
Calling a cyclone by a short, simple name instead of a number or a technical code makes things much easier for people, the media and government agencies. When more than one cyclone is active at the same time, names prevent confusion. A simple name also helps warnings reach people quickly and clearly.
Who names them?
The names of cyclones that form in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea — the North Indian Ocean — are decided by the member countries of the "Panel on Tropical Cyclones" of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN's ESCAP. In this region, the job of naming belongs to the "Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre" (RSMC) of the India Meteorological Department in New Delhi.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Naming of cyclones begins in this region, with a list from 8 countries |
| 2018 | The panel grows to 13 countries |
| 2020 | A new list of 169 names — 13 from each of the 13 countries — is released |
The 13 member countries are Bangladesh, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The names are used in turn, in the order of the list.
The names India gave
In the 2020 list India contributed these 13 names: Gati, Tej, Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar, Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega. Many are words from Sanskrit and Indian languages linked with wind, water, speed or clouds — such as "Vyom", meaning sky, and "Jaladhi", meaning sea.
The naming rules
- A name must not be offensive to any politics, religion, culture or gender.
- It should be short (at most 8 letters) and easy to pronounce.
- It must not hurt the feelings of any member country.
- A name once used is never used again — it is removed from the list for good.
- A name is given only when a storm becomes a "cyclonic storm", with winds of about 62 km an hour or more.
Did you know? Cyclone "Amphan" of May 2020 (a name given by Thailand) was the last name on the old list. The next one, "Nisarga" (a name given by Bangladesh) in June 2020, was the first name from the new list. Far more cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea.
Categories of cyclones (IMD)
| Category | Wind speed (km/h) |
|---|---|
| Depression | 31–49 |
| Deep depression | 50–61 |
| Cyclonic storm — the name is given here | 62–88 |
| Severe cyclonic storm | 89–117 |
| Very severe cyclonic storm | 118–166 |
| Extremely severe cyclonic storm | 167–221 |
| Super cyclonic storm | 222 and above |
Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons
All three are the same kind of storm, with different names by region: "cyclone" in the Indian Ocean, "hurricane" in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, and "typhoon" in the western Pacific. The 1999 Odisha super cyclone killed about 10,000 people, but during Cyclone "Phailin" in 2013, about a million people were moved to safety in time and many lives were saved — a major success of better forecasting and preparation. Read more about the sea in The oceans of the world and The biggest tsunamis in history.
Key points
- Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named from a list drawn up by 13 countries.
- Naming is the job of the IMD's New Delhi centre (RSMC).
- A new list of 169 names was made in 2020; India gave 13 of them.
- A name once used never returns.
- A storm gets a name when its winds pass 62 km/h.
Frequently asked questions
Who names cyclones in India?
The regional centre (RSMC) of the India Meteorological Department in New Delhi, in order from the agreed 13-country list.
Is a cyclone's name ever used again?
No, each name on the North Indian Ocean list is used only once.
More articles: Geography · Geography questions.
Sources
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