The new Reykjavik concert and conference centre currently under construction by the harbour, will be called Harpa following a naming competition open to the public.

The new name was revealed yesterday in a ceremony inside the now-structurally-sound building, Visir.is reports. Harpa means harp in Icelandic; but it is also a popular girls’ name and the name of one of the Viking months which runs from late April to late May in the modern calendar.

A naming competition was set up for the concert and conference centre in February and 4,166 entries were received. 54 entrants suggested the name Harpa – a sufficient number, given that it was a competition and not a vote.