Which Names Has China Contributed to the Typhoon Naming List? WUKONG, YUTU, and FENGSHEN Are Among Them
The 10 Names Contributed by Mainland China
The Western North Pacific typhoon naming list consists of 10 names contributed by each of its 14 members. The names contributed by mainland China are rich in imagery drawn from mythology and nature. As retired names are replaced, the list changes dynamically; the following is the commonly used list:
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| HAIKUI | Marine life (replaced the retired name "LONGWANG") |
| WUKONG | The Monkey King |
| YUTU | The divine rabbit in the lunar palace |
| BAILU | An auspicious mythical beast (replaced "HAIYAN") |
| FENGSHEN | The mythological god of wind |
| HAISHEN | The mythological god of the sea |
| DUJUAN | The name of a flower |
| DIANMU | The mythological goddess who controls lightning |
| MULAN | The female warrior Hua Mulan (replaced "HAIMA") |
| HAITANG | The name of a flower |
Naming Styles of Other Members
- Japan: A fan of constellations — TEMBIN, YAGI, USAGI, and KAMMURI are all derived from constellations
- South Korea/North Korea: A preference for nature and animals — CHEBI, JONGDARI, PODUL, and NALGAE
- Thailand: Mythological figures — RAMMASUN (the god of thunder) and KRATHON (a fruit)
- United States: Chamorro names from Guam — EWINIAR and MAWAR
- Hong Kong, China: Place names and personal names — KAI-TAK, LIONROCK, and MA-ON
- Macao, China: Landmarks — SANBA, MUIFA, and BEBINCA
Retired Mainland China Names
- LONGWANG (major disasters in Fujian in 2005) → replaced by "HAIKUI"
- HAIYAN (the 2013 catastrophe in the Philippines; although it was a China-contributed name, the disaster occurred in the Philippines) → replaced by "BAILU"
- HAIMA (the 2016 disaster in the Philippines) → replaced by "MULAN"
The Full Life Cycle of a Name
Take "WUKONG" as an example: it enters the naming list → is activated when its turn comes around (roughly one cycle every two to three years) → is retired if a particular "WUKONG" causes major disaster → and China submits a new name to fill the vacancy. Want to see how a particular name has performed in past typhoon seasons? The TyphoonSays page grouping storms by the same name allows you to compare the paths and intensities of "the same name" across different appearances.