How a cyclone gets its name?

How a cyclone gets its name?

• Tropical cyclones passing over the northern part of the Indian Ocean are named by eight countries in the region, namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman and Thailand.
• The process only began in 2004, four years after World Meteorological Organization agreed in principle to allow them to name cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
• The alphabet system is used to designate the name of a cyclone, which means the name of the year’s first cyclone begins with A.
• Previously, till 1979, cyclones were only given female names. Male names were only introduced in the same year.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) maintains the database of cyclone/hurricane/typhoon names.
• There are six lists of names used in rotation and they are recycled every six years.
• The names are picked from this pre-designated list and are usually familiar with the people living in the region. India has so far contributed the following names: Agni, Bijli, Akash, Jal, Lehar, Megh, Sagar and Vayu.