Why do we name hurricanes with human names?

I realize this is totally petty, but I hate having my sweet daughter's name linked to a natural disaster that has debilitated a whole region. Why do we name hurricanes the way we do? I remember reading that they were only named after women until a few years ago. Well, now we have equal opportunity to destroy (if only in the short term) the good name of both men and women...now I feel so much better. Why not use a letter and number combo? Why not use something else to remind people that the storm is not a person, but a natural disaster.

I had a hard time with a computer virus named after me....and working for a "small software company out of Redmond, WA" meant my name was taken in vain in my presence often for a short period of time. It's really not fun. Now my poor sweet 2 year old wonders why people are saying her name on the radio. So, she won't know why, but I do...and I'm her Mom. I love her name, and I hate to have it linked to tragedy.

She may be a 2 year old...and she may act like a 2 year old, but she isn't a natural disaster who kills and displaces people. And NO, it's not funny, so don't tell me how funny it is!