Why Do Hurricanes Have Names? Jul 12, 2022 Katrina, Andrew, Sandy, Harvey, Sam, Ida…these are the names of some of the worst storms America has seen in the past decades. But why do hurricanes and tropical storms have names in the first place, and how are they chosen? Let’s dive right in. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers a simple explanation for the naming of ...