As easy as ABC: Met Office reveal 2025/6 storm season names
Every single one of them was submitted by the public - with more than 50,000 suggestions sent in
The Met Office, Met Éireann and KNMI in the Netherlands have jointly revealed the storm names for the new 2025/6 season - and this time, they've been made in tribute to loved ones and peoples' pets.
Every single one of them was submitted by the public - with more than 50,000 suggestions sent in.
Bosses say the final list reflects popular choices, as well as the deeply personal stories behind them too.
The people and pets behind this season's names
Amy was the most popular female name submitted to the Met Office.
The weather service say the name resonated with many who associated it with loved ones, one submission read: “My family love being outside, whether in the garden or walking/ cycling/scooting to school or the park. So the first thing we do each morning with breakfast is to check what the weather forecast is for the day.”
Other names submitted include Dave, described as “my beloved husband who can snore three times louder than any storm!”; Isla, the most popular ‘I’ name, with many submissions about little girls who leave chaos in their wake. And Violet, a daughter “every bit as fierce and unstoppable as a storm” after being born at 27 weeks while her mum was unwell.
Stevie was inspired by a little girl named after the Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) song Dreams, which includes the line: “Thunder only happens when it’s raining.” And Ruby, in honour of a cherished grandmother, and also the most popular name beginning with R.
Pets featured prominently too. One cat, Oscar, was described as “a good boy, but crazy when he gets the zoomies,” while another was remembered fondly for “loving the wind in his fur - he’d sit in the garden for ages just enjoying it.”
'It’s about making sure people take notice'
Rebekah Hicks, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, explained about the naming structure.
She said: “Naming storms isn’t just about giving them a label, it’s about making sure people take notice.
"When a storm has a name, it becomes easier for the media and public to talk about it, share information, and prepare. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in helping communities stay safe, protect their homes, and make informed decisions ahead of severe weather.
“We know that naming storms works. We know that for Storm Floris, just a few weeks ago, surveys found that 93% of people in the amber warning area were aware of the alerts, with 83% taking action to prepare.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen how naming storms helps raise awareness and ultimately, helps save lives. It’s a simple but powerful tool in helping communities stay safe when severe weather is on the way.”
A number of factors are considered for a name to be on the list, including how difficult it might be to pronounce, if it has different meanings across the different countries, if it is connected to a significant public figure and if it could be considered to be controversial in any way.
The Met Office and partners started naming storms in 2015. The list runs from early September to late August the following year to coincide with the start of autumn and the end of summer, when the likelihood of low-pressure systems and the potential for named storms increase.
The weather service say the 2024-5 storm season, which reached the letter 'F' on August 1st, was a quieter one, with 2023/4 a lot more active - with the most ever, as 12 named ones were recorded.
'Naming storms is a powerful tool'
Eoin Sherlock, Head of Forecasting Division at Met Éireann, said: “Naming storms is a powerful tool that supports us and other public safety organisations to increase awareness of severe and impactful weather alongside our weather warnings.
"We know that naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up to date forecast and safety-related information. A good example was Storm Éowyn last January, when our website, met.ie received more than 3 million visits in 2 days. This all aids in protecting life and property across Ireland.
"Even though the process of selecting the names was a fun and light-hearted task, ultimately, advising the public of the importance of being prepared for the upcoming storm season, and communicating safety messages for every forecast storm are our highest priorities. At the start of the storm season, we advise everyone to prepare now for possible severe weather events to come.”
Storm name list in full, with pronunciations and who submitted the names:
- Amy (Met Office)
- Bram (Met Éireann)
- Chandra (Ch-an-dra) (KNMI)
- Dave (Met Office)
- Eddie (KNMI)
- Fionnuala (Fee-new-lah) (Met Éireann)
- Gerard (Jer-ard) (Met Éireann)
- Hannah (KNMI)
- Isla (Met Office)
- Janna (Yah-nah) (KNMI)
- Kasia (Ka-shaa) (Met Éireann)
- Lilith (KNMI)
- Marty (Met Éireann)
- Nico (KNMI)
- Oscar (Met Office)
- Patrick (Met Éireann)
- Ruby (Met Office)
- Stevie (Met Office)
- Tadhg (Tie-g) (Met Éireann)
- Violet (Met Office)
- Wubbo (Vuh-boh) (KNMI)
Find out more about storm naming on the UK Storm Centre page.