Until the early 1950s, tropical storms and hurricanes were tracked by year and the order in which they occurred during that year. This used to create confusion and false rumors, for instance, when storm advisories broadcast from radio stations were mistaken for warnings concerning an entirely different storm located hundreds of miles away.
Over time, it was learned that the use of short, easily remembered names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and reduces confusion when...
https://safety4sea.com/noaa-why-we-name-tropical-storms-and-hurricanes/