Before rebranding as the New Orleans Pelicans to better reflect the local culture and wildlife of the Gulf Coast region, the franchise was known as the New Orleans Hornets. The team originally adopted the Hornets moniker when the franchise relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2002. Following several seasons operating under that historic identity—and even playing temporarily in Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina—the organization officially transitioned its team name to the Pelicans to establish a unique, permanent local identity.