Every year, there is a pre-approved list of names for tropical storms and hurricanes.

These lists have been generated by the National Hurricane Centre in the United States since 1953. At first, the lists consisted of only female names; however, since 1979, the names alternate between male and female.{{more}}

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.

The names for 2006 are Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William.