Study: Male hurricane names taken more seriously than female ones

Study: Male hurricane names taken more seriously than female ones
Hurricane Isaac over the Gulf of Mexico as seen from a NASA satellite. (Photo courtesy NASA)

I have to admit, I never really give much thought to hurricane names, especially since we don't have to deal with them out here. Since 1979, names have alternated between male and female names and run on a six-year rotation, so that this year's list is nearly identical to the one that ran in 2008, save for any names that get retired when they cause destruction.

The World Meteorological Organization chooses the names -- how a name makes the list is secret but it has to be easy to understand and come from names that represent the cultures of the areas affected. (So for example, in the Caribbean, you have a mix of English, Spanish, Dutch and French names on the hurricane list in deference to the nationalities represented in the many islands there.)

Oh sure, there's the occasional puzzlement. For example, this year the "T" storm is "Teddy" which I think has journalists salivating at who will come up with the most clever headline: ("Teddy bears down on Florida!" -- that one I call dibs on.)

But now comes a study that indicates the names do matter, particularly whether they are a male or female name, as it appears people take the male-named storms more seriously. Seems we could solve this whole thing by ditching standard male/female names and using famous villains instead? I bet Hurricane Maleficent might grab a few eyeballs.

Anyway, here is the full story by AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein:















