How Cyclones Like Hudhud and Montha Get Their Names

Cyclones like Hudhud, Titli, and the recent Montha draw attention not only for their power but also for their names. These names are not random. They come from an international system that helps weather agencies, the media, and the public communicate clearly during storms.

In the Indian subcontinent, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) gives a cyclone its name once wind speeds reach 62 km/h (34 knots). The IMD also acts as the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for the North Indian Ocean. It picks the next name from a list prepared by 13 countries in the region: Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Each country suggests 13 names in advance. The names are short, simple, and easy to pronounce. They cannot carry political, religious, or cultural meanings. Once a name is used, it is removed from the list to avoid confusion later.

Naming cyclones makes warnings easier to issue and remember. A name is much easier to follow than a technical code. It also helps avoid mix-ups when more than one storm is active.

Some well-known examples include Hudhud (2014), named by Oman after a bird; Nisarga (2020), meaning “nature” in Bengali; Biparjoy (2023), meaning “disaster” in Bengali; and Montha (2024), a Thai name meaning “beautiful flower.” Each name is a small reminder of regional cooperation and shared responsibility in facing natural disasters.