GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A committee has narrowed to 15 the list of possible nicknames for the University of North Dakota, including simply “North Dakota.”

The group started out with nearly 1,200 potential monikers. It was whittled to about five dozen and then to 15. That list will be narrowed once more before being put to a public vote.

State residents voted overwhelmingly in 2012 to dump UND’s “Fighting Sioux” nickname and accompanying American Indian head logo that had been in place since the 1930s. The NCAA threatened sanctions against the school, saying the nickname and logo were hostile and abusive and that UND was not endorsed by one of the state’s two namesake tribes. The state Legislature put a moratorium on replacing the nickname until this year.

The 15 names still in the running: North Dakota, Blaze, Cavalry, Explorers, Fighting Green, Fighting Hawks, Force, Green Hawks, Nodaks, North Stars, Pride, Roughriders, Spirit, Sundogs and Thunderhawks, WDAZ-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1GdnPJr). One possibility that was dumped Tuesday night was Flickertails, which the school used before adopting the Fighting Sioux nickname.

The 11-member committee, which is being advised by branding consultant Padilla CRT, has not set a date for its next meeting.

“Now it’s really time for conversation — for people to make their case for particular options — and that by definition usually takes more time,” UND spokesman Peter Johnson said.