When did they start naming any old storm that came along! When I was young, we just called it winter!
This is not being done by the NWS/NOAA, but by Weather Channel. WC was purchased by NBC in 2008. The MSM liberals at NBC have increasing used WC to preach the theology of "climate change". This named winter storms deal is used to create hype. And it works. I've seen internet posts by young minds full of mush indicating that "they had to start naming these because global warming has made them so much more powerful".
I just noticed it this winter. Kinda silly, if you ask me.