University of North Dakota inches closer to a new nickname

The Frost Giants and Green Machine are out. But monikers still in the running to be the University of North Dakota's new nickname include Flickertails, Force, North Stars and Nodaks.

Those are among the 63 moving on to the next round of decision-making after the school's nickname committee narrowed down the list from 1,172 different submissions.

But it's not over yet. School spokesperson Peter Johnson said the task force will continue to whittle down the options for a public vote. Earlier this month, he said the shortlist would probably be in the single digits.

The committee is looking for names that are unique; promote pride and strength; represent the state and region; honor the traditions and heritage of the past; and can be a unifying and rallying symbol.

UND is searching for a new nickname after the controversial Fighting Sioux was retired in 2012.

Here is the list of names moving on to the next round:

• Aeronauts
• Aeros
• Arctic Blaze
• Arctic Force
• Aurora
• Aviators
• Badlanders
• Big Green
• Bison Slayers
• Blackhawks
• Blaze
• Blazing Stars
• Blizzard
• Blizzard Dogs
• Bombardiers
• Bombers
• Cavalry
• Charging Nokota
• Drillers
• Energy
• Explorers
• Fighting Green
• Fighting Greens
• Fighting Green Hawks
• Fighting Hawks
• Fighting Sundogs
• Fire
• Flame
• Flames
• Flickertails
• Fliers
• Force
• Force of North
• Global Hawks
• Green Bombers
• Green Hawks
• Green Pride
• Grey Hawks
• Night Hawks
• Night Riders
• Nighthawks
• Nodak
• Nodaks
• North Dakota
• North Force
• North Stars
• Northern Lights
• Prairie Hawks
• Pride
• Riders
• Roughriders
• Snow Dogs
• Snow Leopards
• Spirit
• Storm
• Sundog
• Sundogs
• Thunder Hawks
• Warhawks
• Warriors
• Warriors of the North
• Wings
• Woolly Mammoth