Let me call my friend, he's an expert in boat names.

Despite being the overwhelming favourite, Boaty McBoatface is not going to be the new name of a UK polar ship.

Instead the £200 million ($423 million) vessel will be known as RRS Sir David Attenborough after the famous broadcaster and naturalist.

Boaty was the clear winner in an online poll to name the ship.

But the BBC reports that Boaty will live as it will be the name of one of the remotely operated sub-sea vehicles.