The Internet Wants to Name This Research Vessel "Boaty McBoatface"

If there's one thing that history has taught us, it's that you should never give the Internet the power to name anything. The Verge reports that the UK's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) recently launched a poll on its website to find a name for its new $288 million polar research ship, and so far the name with the most votes is "Boaty McBoatface."

Other NERC ships have names that one would expect important vessels to have, including the RRS Discovery, but tens of thousands of people have cast their vote in the #NameOurShip poll for something far less conventional. The Verge points out that the name does not technically meet the standards set forth by the NERC, which stipulate that the name should be "inspirational and about environmental and polar science." But the NERC also asked that the name not be currently in use by another scientific vessel, and as far as we know, "Boaty McBoatface" is up for grabs. Other names submitted to the poll included the RRS NetflixAndEndureSubzero, RRS Seaward (an Arrested Development reference submitted by one George Bluth), and the RRS Ice Ice Baby.

This is not the first time that the Internet has shown its creativity when it comes to suggesting names. In 2014, expectant parents in British Columbia, Canada, asked the Internet to name their daughter. They ended up going with the name Amelia Savannah Joy McLaughlin, even though the top choice online was Cthulhu All-Spark. Mountain Dew also rejected the top pick for its Dub the Dew poll, which was supposed to provide a name for a new drink. Apparently, 4chan users wanted the drink to be called "Hitler Did Nothing Wrong," which prompted Mountain Dew to cancel the poll altogether.

The NERC poll ends on April 16, so there is still time to have your voice heard and potentially submit the winning name … or you can cast a vote for Boaty McBoatface.

Banner image via YouTube

[h/t The Verge]