Tropical Cyclone Names – Abdul, Fletcher, Timba, Vongfong
| 28 August 2009 |
Hurricane Bill didn’t make landfall last weekend, and Tropical Storm Danny probably won’t have much impact this weekend. It’s been a rather uneventful storm season for New England thus far.
So let’s spice things up with a selection of tropical cyclone names from areas other than the humdrum Atlantic Ocean:
| Australian Region | Bruce, Fletcher, Gillian, Hamish, Jasmine, Kirrily, Lam, Narelle, Olwyn, Tiffany |
| Central North Pacific | Akoni, Ele, Halola, Iolana, Keoni, Maka, Niala, Oliwa, Ulana, Walaka |
| Eastern North Pacific | Aletta, Blas, Fausto, Isis, Jova, Kiko, Orlene, Paine, Sergio, Wiley |
| Fiji Region | Atu, Beni, Cilla, Funa, Lusi, Nute, Tui, Vaianu, Zita, Zuman |
| Northern Indian Ocean | Baazu, Fanoos, Hudhud, Khai Muk, Mukda, Nargis, Ockhi, Pyarr, Titli, Vaali |
| Papua New Guinea Region | Abdul, Epi, Guba, Gule, Igo, Kamit, Matere, Rowe, Taka, Upia |
| Philippine Region | Basyang, Butchoy, Dencio, Igme, Ineng, Lawin, Ompong, Quiel, Siony, Yoyoy |
| Southwest Indian Ocean | Boloetse, Fame, Humba, Jaya, Olipa, Pindile, Timba, Wilby, Xylo, Zoelle |
| Western North Pacific | Ewiniar, Hagibis, Krovanh, Mindulle, Nock-ten, Phanfone, Songda, Vongfong, Wutip, Yutu |
Did you catch Kirrily up there in the Australian group? I’m really curious about that one. It’s a female name, but not listed in any of the name references I own. I don’t think it’s an indigenous name, as the Maori langauge doesn’t include an L-sound. The most logical explanation I’ve found so far is that it’s a blend of Kira/Kiri and Lee. If you know anything more, please leave a comment.
Maori is not an Australian language, so that shouldn’t matter. Sounds like many Aboriginal Australian words to me.
Ah yes, you’re right. I guess I figured Maori was spoken in Australia as well as in New Zealand. My bad.
And, if we go by what Wikipedia says, at least some of Australia’s Aboriginal languages do indeed include an L-sound…so could one of them be the origin of Kirrily?
The plot thickens!
Anyone else have a guess?
Perhaps it’s related to Kiril or Kirill. (Lots of hits for these, including: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiril)
Actually, a web search on “name Kirrily” turns up quite a few hits. It appears that it is a Polynesian name, perhaps crossed with an Irish spelling.