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The Tropical Prediction Center in Miami, FL keeps a constant watch on oceanic storm-breeding grounds. Once a system with counterclockwise circulation and wind speeds of 39 mph or greater is identified, Center gives storm a name from list for current year. The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not included because of scarcity of names beginning with those letters. Names associated with storms that have caused significant death and/or damage are usually retired from list.
For a list of allocated hurricane names visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml.
One final note on origin of word hurricane itself. The native Caribs lived in Yucatan region and worshipped their God of storms which was named Hurican. The Mayans of Guatemala also worshiped Hurican, for them he was God of sky and creator of storms. When region was invaded by Spanish, violent storms started to be named huracans. Since this type of storm does not occur in Europe, it is after contact with this region that English finally adopted hurricane word in their vocabulary.
Edward Vella has been developing and distributing software since 1987. Ten years later he started distribution through the internet. Seeing the positive response for his program named Personaemicon, he began research on people's first names and built a website where he now publishes his articles. This website, called Personaemicon Online, can be found at http://www.pantera-designs.com/pnec/pneconline.htm