Mantis Shrimp or Panda? China unleashes storm of ideas for typhoon names
National appeal results in a flood of suggestions inspired by mythical creatures, literary characters and national icons
The Chinese terms for an internet-inspired meme and a national icon are on the shortlist to join China’s pool of typhoon names after meteorologists asked the public for suggestions.
The names of typhoons in the western Pacific are chosen from a list of submissions from 14 countries, with each nation suggesting 10.
China’s National Meteorological Centre (NMC) issued an online call for suggestions this month after it said it was retiring “Haima” – which has been used three times – because of the death and destruction a typhoon with the name wrought on the Philippines and southern China in November.
The appeal was forwarded nearly 100,000 times and attracted more than 44,000 comments and suggestions within a week of it going online.
Food, mythical animals and traditional Chinese medicine were the most common suggestions, but one contributor also offered her ex-boyfriend’s name as something worthy of loathing.