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The Natural Environment Research Council has decided to name its British polar research vessel "RRS Sir David Attenborough," despite the overwhelming results of an internet poll which voted for the name "Boaty McBoatface."

"New polar research ship to be named RRS Sir David Attenborough in tribute to a great broadcaster & natural scientist," tweeted Jo Johnson, the Minister for Universities and Science. 

Johnson added that the name "Boaty McBoatface" would still be used as the namesake of a remotely operated submarine, which will "support the research crew, and the polar science education program that will bring their work to life."

(MORE: Boaty McBoatface Wins Internet Poll to Name British Research Ship)

"The public provided some truly inspirational and creative names, and while it was a difficult decision I'm delighted that our state-of-the-art polar research ship will be named after one of the nation's most cherished broadcasters and natural scientists," Johnson added in a press release. "The ship has captured the imaginations of millions, which is why we're ensuring that the Boaty name lives on through the sub-sea vehicle that will support the research crew, and the polar science education programme that will bring their work to life."

The NERC seemingly didn't anticipate the overwhelming support for "Boaty" when it originally reached out to the public to come up with names for its estimated $3 million research ship earlier this year.

A proposed 7,000 different ideas were suggested —Attenborough’s name was also one of the top suggestions with over 11,000 votes—but "Boaty McBoatface" won the hearts and minds of the internet with 124,109 votes. 

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