A punk rock icon and a fermented Japanese rice have helped inspire the names of the next tropical cyclones in Australia.

The next six months has the potential for nine to 11 tropical cyclones, which is about average for Australia.

A handful of those can be expected to reach severe level, categorised by meteorologists as level three or stronger.

The first new tropical cyclone will be known as Fina, while the remainder include Iggy, synonymous with legendary rocker Iggy Pop, and Koji, a rice grain used to make Miso.

They run in alphabetical order and alternate between male and female. The 11 new names are: Fina, Grant, Hayley, Iggy, Jenna, Koji, Launa, Mitchell, Narelle, Oran and Peta.

Australia’s tropical cyclones have been named by the bureau since the mid 1960s.

Initially, the cyclones were only given female names – with the first official names being Audrey and Bessie in 1964.

During the past 62 years of wild weather, some of the most destructive cyclones in Australian history have been named Tracy, Larry, Olivia, Debbie and Alfred.

Earlier this year, the bureau decided to change the name of a major tropical cyclone off northern Queensland from Anthony to Alfred.

The move was made to avoid confusion with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of May’s federal election.