Streetsign reading "Tallinn Streets dot com" Header

Work in progress

A pile of ro ad signs half-trashed and piled up on a building-site, to indicate the site is in construction.

Website under construction, a couple of entries still pending, no photos with the streets yet, layout not finalized...

This started with a book (last few pages under review) and so far 1889 of the 1891 articles entered, 1 or 2 links may go nowhere.

Logo of the Tallinn Children's Hospital Foundation

The Book

All author earnings of A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names to be donated to the foundation or donate here.

If anyone could help or advise as to the legal mechanism, it would be appreciated, thanks!

The Website

Not intended at the beginning, the present website is taking on a life of its own, with plans for relevant discussion forums, picture galleries and, over time, more non-streetname entries.

In theory, it will be funded by advertising relevant to people in Tallinn, to be determined.

A percentage of profits (also to be determined) to be donated to the foundation. 

Contact

Photograph of Simon Hamilton in Pikk street, Tallinn.

Apparently, a company that uses its owner's name is considered more trustworthy because they put themselves on the line.

This is me, in Tallinn this spring (2025), on a 3-month spree to check details, take photos (about 12K), explore (ave. 15K/day), and so on. I think I covered every street in Kesklinn (apart from Mõigu), most of Põhja-Tallinn and some Kristiine.

For information, please contact Simon at this address dot com, thanks!

Names

Reinvaldi A.

(Ado Reinvald, 1847-1922)

Described by one theatre critic (Luule Epner) as “an uneducated peasant and a God-gifted poet”. Given his schooling was a mere five months while aged 14, we can assume at least part of this is true. Hailed from Viljandi.

Reisijate (Reisijad [pl.])

Travelers, passengers. Sing. reisija. Street ambling vaguely – a gross understatement to say the least, stumbling about as it does like a drunk parking-lot – alongside Balti Jaam railway lines. 

Reketi (Reket)

Racquet, racket. Awaiting the municipal ink converting rubble to road. As to the name, not a tennis court in sight, the noise came from the former ski and racket factory nearby.

Remmelga (Remmelgas)

Willow. A seemingly less common name for Paju, used for these four species (literal translation of first part of names in parentheses):

  • Hõberemmelgas (silver), white willow, Salix alba
  • Raagremmelgas (bare-branched or leafless) goat willow, S. caprea
  • Rabe remmelgas (brittle, friable...), crack willow, S. fragilis
  • Raudremmelgas (iron), bay willow, S. pentandra

Renniotsa (Renniots)

Lit. Channel end. Pedestrian underpass continuing ESE from Veerenni beneath Järvevana and Peterburi.

Renteni (Arent von Renten 14-15th C)

One-time tower built (±1340-1355) under alderman and city head of defense Arent von Renten, believed completely demolished, but lower wall remains discovered at Lai 49 in 2003.

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Advertise...

Your business, store or consultancy next to your street address and a percentage of your fee (to be determined) goes the the Children's Hospital fund.

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Post your favorite local photo and sponsor the foundation. Your entire sponsorship goes go the the Children's Hospital fund

Wanted!

Beautiful photos of your street or Tallinn! Send them in! No remuneration planned for now, but will be attributed according to your preferences.