Let's debate: should there be ethnic minority names (e.g. Asian, Islamic, African-American, etc) names on the naming lists?
In my opinion, there should be some ethnic minority names (about 5%) on the current naming lists for the Atlantic and East Pacific basins in the future. East Pacific storms nowadays like to cross over to Hawaii, with a large (and majority) east Asian population. English names popular with east Asian-Americans (e.g. Vivian) should be on the EPac naming lists as a result. The abundance of Hispanic names in the EPac should remain as there is a growing Filipino population in Hawaii as well as some storms' tendencies to cross into Central America.
In addition to what I stated above, the Australian basin already has ethnic Asian names on their lists (e.g. Koji (m) and Mingzhu (f)) alongside Alessia, an Italian female name (the Southern European diaspora is huge down under) and I believe because of the growing numbers of Asian/Islamic peoples settling in North America, there should be names to reflect this.
What I also would change (to make way for the changes as well as in addition to them)[]
- Removal of incredibly outdated names (e.g. Gert, Claudette, Bertha, some of the 2022 EPac naming list). Take for example Gert, which is used as a female name in the Atlantic (short for Gertrude). Most Gertrudes are now deceased and this name is most likely not coming back into fashion anytime soon. However, Gert as a standalone male name is common in some Germanic European countries. Gert should either be changed to a male name or be outed from the lists completely.
- Sex change of some names (e.g. Darby, should be listed as female as statistically, most living Darbies (and Darcies) are female).
- More British/Caribbean English-sounding names should be used in the Atlantic among English-language names, and reduce the amount of more "American Redneck/Southerner" sounding English names. As well as the former British colonies of the Caribbean, the UK and Ireland can even get remnants of Atlantic systems (we are starting to see more of these types of names with the recent addition of Margot and Nigel). More "British"-sounding names in the EPac (e.g. Seymour, Howard, Kenneth, Norbert, etc) should move to the Atlantic.
- Among Americanised names, include some from the African-American population/Millennials/Gen Z names as well as Boomer names (e.g. Dalton, Caleb, Braxton, Alyssa, Aaliyah).
- Add (about 5% of the lists) Asian/Islamic names (as well as the current selections of Nana (Japanese/Korean) and Omar (Islamic)) as the Eastern population in the West is growing, but Mohammed should be avoided (e.g. Safiya, Shiori, Jimin, Abdul)
- Nonsensical names (e.g. Jova (f), Polo (m), Paine (f)) should be removed completely.
- Include more continental European names of a wider variety (e.g. Astrid, Linnea, Malin, Svea, Luna, Elizabeta) as well as the current selection we have right now (e.g. Humberto, Lorenzo, Edouard). The 2019 Atlantic naming list, as well as the 2020 East Pacific naming list, is a classic example of a truly mixed bag of origins.
- A mixture of classic/old-fashioned and more modern names rather than the majority being dated.
What I would keep[]
- All continental European-sounding and Hispanic names (e.g. majority of the 2019 Atlantic naming list), considering the large Hispanic population in the US and the French/Dutch-speaking population in the Caribbean.
- Names should be easy to pronounce.