[daveguy]

The US did this for a long time -- only numbering storms. In 1953 they switched to a list of names, female only. Then 25 years later to male and female names. It is kinda weird, and if they're destructive enough the name is retired. I think the idea is that people would pay more attention to human names in the warning process as the hurricanes approach land.

[BrawnyBadger53]

I could definitely see the support response to a major storm being better when it's easier to communicate and identify a specific storm.