# The "I's" have it **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-is-have-it/950652 "2021-09-14T15:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-is-have-it/950652/1 "2021-09-14T15:42:33Z")
The naming of hurricanes (North Atlantic) in alphabetical order began in the early 1950’s. Since then, 88 names have been “[retired](https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/archive)”, due to their ferocity, damage, and/or casualties - never to be used again. The most common first letter to be retired is the letter “I” - 12 times, followed by “C” and “F” - 9 times each. Every letter used (Q, U, V, X, Y, Z are not used) had has at least one name retired. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-is-have-it/950652/2 "2021-09-14T18:22:50Z")
That’s a very interesting bit of information. Do you know why those letters in particular are not used in the naming of hurricanes? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-is-have-it/950652/3 "2021-09-14T18:29:40Z")
To be clear, some of those letters are used in some regions. That said, the reason for excluding some letters is the perception that you won’t be able to come up with many names using them. > **[Why you won’t hear certain names during Atlantic hurricane season](https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/why-you-wont-hear-certain-names-during-atlantic-hurricane-season/355791)** > > On each of the six lists of names that are rotated every sixth Atlantic hurricane season, you’ll likely never see a Quincy, Ursula or Zachary.