I found out that before 1978 hurricanes were given only women's names but some women complained that that was sexist so now they alternate. Also that:
"Six lists are now used in rotation, and are maintained by the World Meteorological Organization. The list changes only when a storm is so deadly that it is deemed inappropriate for the name to be used again. Any country affected by such a storm can ask that the storm name be retired. For example, this year's list of names was first used in 1986, though in that year the first storm was Andrew. After Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992, it was retired."
http://sptimes.com/2004/06/06/Hurricaneguide2004/Hurricanes_moved_from.shtml