Nine new typhoon names were approved at a UN typhoon session on Jeju Island, the Republic of Korea, replacing nine names retired for causing severe damage, the China Meteorological Administration said on Monday.
The new names approved at the 58th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)/World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Typhoon Committee are Koki, Gaeguri, Dim-sum, Hebi, Tomo, Tirou, Narae, Burapha, and Hoaban. They replace the retired names Kong-rey, Toraji, Man-yi, Usagi, Yagi, Ewiniar, Jebi, Krathon, and Trami.
The Chinese translations of typhoon names are jointly determined by the China Meteorological Administration, the Hong Kong Observatory, and the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau.
The naming must follow these rules: no more than nine English letters, easy pronunciation, a clear and non-offensive meaning, and no commercial names. These rules balance scientific principles with the cultural traditions of all committee members.
"Every member has certain habits and preferences of its own when naming typhoons. Generally they choose some positive, moderate and non-negative words, and many names embody their cultural features. For example, the Republic of Korea's 'Narae' means 'wing,' Vietnam's 'Hoaban' refers to a beautiful flower, Japan tends to name typhoons after constellations, such as 'Hebi' for Serpens and 'Tomo' for Puppis. Still other names come from local life and culture, like 'Dim-sum' of China's Hong Kong, which is full of the region's flavor, and Cambodia's 'Koki' is a type of large hardwood commonly used locally," said Zhao Wei, director of the Typhoon and Marine Meteorological Forecasting Center of China's National Meteorological Center.
Under WMO rules, the Typhoon Committee manages typhoon naming in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea. Fourteen members, including China, each contribute 10 names to a rotating list of 140. A name may be proposed for retirement if the typhoon causes severe damage or if the name is inappropriate. Upon unanimous agreement, the name is removed and replaced by a new name recommended by the original contributor.
The nine typhoons retired in 2024 all caused extremely severe damage. Typhoon Yagi, for instance, struck coastal areas in the Philippines, China's Hainan Island and a province of Vietnam, with its remnants moving westward across Southeast Asia. Yagi became the strongest autumn typhoon to hit China and the strongest ever to hit Vietnam, resulting in serious casualties and economic losses along its path.
Statistics show that since the introduction of the typhoon naming system in 2000, a total of 85 typhoons had been retired by 2025, with the highest number of retirements -- nine -- occurring in both 2022 and 2024.
UN session approves 9 new typhoon names
